Materials – Page 18
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Research
Mystery of whether or not kekulene is superaromatic unravelled after 41 years
Second-ever synthesis and first atomic resolution images of superbenzene reveal its electronic nature
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Secret of super-tough scales of giant Amazonian fish uncovered
Spiral-staircase structure prevents the scales being penetrated by piranhas
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Cryogenic properties could promote silkworm fibres into space exploration
Combination of intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms allows silks to retain both toughness and ductility at extremely low temperatures
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Template molecules round-up extra-large cyclodextrins from enzymatic synthesis
Scientists rethink how they use enzymes in chemical synthesis by exerting thermodynamic, rather than kinetic, control
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Research
Another 43 new kinds of carbon could still be out there to find
Predictions could lead to forms of carbon that are even harder than diamond
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’Blackest black’ ever made is 10 times darker than previous record holder
Serendipitous discovery produces darkest material in existence using carbon nanotubes
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Research
Large gold nanoclusters are surprisingly stable paramagnets
An odd electron makes the magnetism
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Research
Aluminium makes water-harvesting MOF 10 times thirstier
New MOF harvests up to 0.7 litres of water per day in the Mojave Desert – the driest place in North America
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Glucose derivative replaces BPA in sustainable polycarbonate plastic
Transparent engineered plastic ditches hormone disruptor and lung irritant
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Can organic solar cells stand the test of time?
Devices road-tested in blistering conditions equivalent to that of 37 suns
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New way to create huge protein polymer chains
Strategy constructs synthetic protein polymers that weigh 0.5MDa
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Research
Nanoscale graphene sheets folded into atomic crêpes
Atom-thick sheets stacked with precise twist angle and tubular edge could be made into quantum nanomachines
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Nanowires become smallest-ever spectrometers
50–100µm devices are small enough to squeeze into smartphones – but must first become easier to make into arrays
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High throughput robotics score big in hunt for new porous liquids
Materials research borrows technique from drug discovery
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Subaquatic spiders inspire CO2 reduction catalyst
Structures that mimic the diving bell spider’s air-trapping hairs boost the catalytic activity of copper electrodes
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New form of pure carbon made by manipulating atoms
Elusive 18-carbon ring pinned down on surface
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Research
Gravity-defying droplets race upside down on super slippery surface
Charged superamphiphobic surface propels water, blood and other liquids up vertical slopes and even upside down
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Research
Self-threading monomer provides protection for carbon nanotubes
Strategy assembles three-component nanostructure with nanoscale precision
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Selective graphene membranes could invigorate carbon capture technology
Concept shows promise as a way to sidestep the energy penalties of numerous industrial separations
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Research
Superheavy oganesson is a semiconductor
The heaviest element known continues to defy the rules of the periodic table