Sep 09, 2026 Changing only the surface groups of metal-organic polyhedra alters the conformation of surrounding polymer chains, enabling unprecedented control over viscosity and temperature-dependent carbon dioxide access while leaving pore volume completely unchanged. (Nanowerk News) Porous liquids combine permanent nanoscale cavities with fluidity, making them promising for applications like...
Molecular antennae make photoswitches far more sensitive to visible light
Sep 10, 2026 Molecular antennae boost the visible-light sensitivity of azobenzene photoswitches while preserving switching efficiency and thermal stability. (Nanowerk News) Molecules that change shape when illuminated are promising building blocks for smart materials, molecular machines and medicines that could one day be controlled with light. But many of these...
Natural clay channels mimic biological ion control at the angstrom scale
Sep 10, 2026 Natural clay channels can regulate ion flow in response to pressure, voltage and acidity, mimicking key behaviour of biological ion channels at the angstrom scale. (Nanowerk News) Researchers at the National Graphene Institute have shown that naturally occurring channels within a common clay mineral can respond to...
Graphene grown on textured copper improves heat spreading for processor cooling
Sep 10, 2026 Graphene layers on copper improve lateral heat spreading for processor cooling, while textured surfaces also enhance condensation and wick free vapor chamber performance. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Heat is easiest to get rid of when it is spread out. A warm surface the size of a hand can shed...
New evidence reveals the Sun’s potential for superflares
Sep 10, 2026 A reanalysis of the record-breaking 1947 sunspot group provides new evidence that the Sun can generate active regions capable of producing powerful superflares. (Nanowerk News) The Sun is capable of great things. In massive eruptions, it repeatedly hurls particles and radiation into space. This solar bombardment can...
Hidden atomic handedness may help solve the mystery of how dolomite forms
Sep 10, 2026 Researchers found that dolomite crystal surfaces and their first water layer are chiral, revealing a previously overlooked factor that may influence how the mineral forms. (Nanowerk News) When they hear the word “Dolomite,” most people think of long hikes, fast ski runs, or daring climbing expeditions. Geologically,...
Subtle wave plate imperfections enable billion-fold laser suppression
Sep 10, 2026 Subtle variations in wave plates can reshape light beams, enabling billion-fold laser suppression and more sensitive optical measurements. (Nanowerk News) Tiny manufacturing imperfections in optical components normally go unnoticed. Yet they can alter light in surprisingly significant ways. An international research team led by TU Darmstadt has...
Researchers shape nanopores atom by atom in ‘white graphene’
Sep 10, 2026 Researchers reveal how oxygen and electron beams control nanopore shape in hexagonal boron nitride, enabling precise atomic-scale engineering. (Nanowerk News) A research team at the University of Vienna led by physicist Jani Kotakoski demonstrates how the shape of nanopores in hexagonal boron nitride - the electrically insulating...
New two-layer crystal reveals a design rule for topological magnets
Sep 09, 2026 A new compound fills the structural gap between known materials, linking crystal layer count to magnetic order and Dirac-like electronic bands. (Nanowerk News) Changing the number of spacer layers in a crystal can alter both its magnetic order and its unusual electronic bands, offering a systematic way...
Lab catalyst turns methane into syngas with one-tenth the nickel
Sep 09, 2026 A nickel oxide surface rebuilt itself into active atomic sites, helping a 0.8% nickel catalyst convert 92% of methane with 87% syngas selectivity. (Nanowerk News) Nickel catalysts may need far less metal than scientists thought to turn methane into syngas. In laboratory tests at 650 °C, a...