Topic description and stories

̽»¨Ö±²¥demand continues for materials that are stronger, cheaper, lighter, more conductive – simply better.

Computer visualisation of villi-like battery material

Next-generation smartphone battery inspired by the gut

26 Oct 2016

A new prototype of a lithium-sulphur battery – which could have five times the energy density of a typical lithium-ion battery – overcomes one of the...

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Polariton fluid emits clockwise or anticlockwise spin light by applying electric fields to a semiconductor chip.

Liquid light switch could enable more powerful electronics

08 Aug 2016

Researchers have built a record energy-efficient switch, which uses the interplay of electricity and a liquid form of light, in semiconductor...

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Would you live in a city made of bone?

23 Jun 2016

̽»¨Ö±²¥cities of today are built with concrete and steel – but some Cambridge researchers think that the cities of the future need to go back to nature...

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Polymer Opals

Squeezing out opal-like colours by the mile

03 Jun 2016

Researchers have devised a new method for stacking microscopic marbles into regular layers, producing intriguing materials which scatter light into...

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Excitation of a spin liquid on a honeycomb lattice with neutrons.

New state of matter detected in a two-dimensional material

04 Apr 2016

Researchers have observed the ‘fingerprint’ of a mysterious new quantum state of matter in a two-dimensional material, in which electrons break apart...

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Structure with symmetric hydrogen bonds induced by the quantum behavior of the protons, represented by the fluctuating blue spheroids

Quantum effects at work in the world’s smelliest superconductor

28 Mar 2016

Researchers have found that quantum effects are the reason that hydrogen sulphide – which has the distinct smell of rotten eggs –behaves as a...

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Artistic rendering of self-assembled nanowires composed of different crystal structures that spontaneously grow with the help of a catalytic nanoparticle at the tip of each nanowire.

Farming at nanoscale dimensions

18 Mar 2016

Researchers from Cambridge, IBM and Lund ̽»¨Ö±²¥ have discovered how tiny 'nanowires' of a widely-used semiconductor self-assemble. Dr Frances...

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Graphene Neuron Interface

Graphene shown to safely interact with neurons in the brain

29 Jan 2016

Researchers have shown that graphene can be used to make electrodes that can be implanted in the brain, which could potentially be used to restore...

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Bloom Energy Fuel Cell

Fuel cell electrolyte developed to offer cleaner, more efficient energy

20 Jan 2016

A new thin-film electrolyte material that helps solid oxide fuel cells operate more efficiently and cheaply than those composed of conventional...

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New origami-like material may help prevent brain injuries in sport

23 Dec 2015

Researchers are developing the next generation of advanced materials for use in sport and military applications, with the goal of preventing brain...

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Some of the products and prototypes on display at Cambridge Graphene Technology Day.

Graphene means business – two-dimensional material moves from the lab to the UK factory floor

06 Nov 2015

A major showcase of companies developing new technologies from graphene and other two-dimensional materials took place this week at the Cambridge...

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Venus transits the rising Sun

Mirage maker

30 Oct 2015

Aditya Sadhanala wanders over to the wall, turns a pulley, and a wooden box about a metre squared swings up and away. Below it gleams an array of...

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