Scientists developed a single molecule combining p-type and n-type semiconductor components that self-assembles into two distinct nanoscale p/n heterojunctions, key structures for converting sunlight to electricity. Their findings highlight the importance of nanoscale structural control in bottom-up, single-component organic thin-film solar cells.

Researchers from the School of Engineering at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have pioneered a mechanical bond strategy to create quasi-solid-state electrolytes (QSSEs) for lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). This marks the first use of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) in covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to achieve high-performance battery operation, harnessing the unique chemistry of interlocked systems to enable safe, stable, and high-energy-density LMBs.

The research group Functional Materials for Sustainability and Resilience (FunMat4SuRe) at University of Seville (Spain) has demonstrated the efficacy of a new "criticality-aware design strategy," creating a MnNiSi-containing high-entropy alloy (HEA) system optimized for magnetic refrigeration. By utilizing co-substitution of iron and copper, the structural transition temperature of the starting material is effectively reduced by more than 900 K, enabling a first-order magnetostructural transformation to occur near room temperature. Magnetostructural coupling remarkably enhances the magnetocaloric response of the alloys, surpassing previous records for cobalt (Co)-, germanium (Ge)-free magnetocaloric HEAs by 360%. This study establishes a solid framework for designing low-criticality high entropy alloys employed in magnetic refrigeration technologies.

New research shows how Jupiter and Saturn developed dramatically different vortices at their north poles. The findings may elucidate not only the planets’ surface weather patterns but also what lies beneath the clouds, within the planetary interiors. 

Physicists have uncovered a link between magnetism and a mysterious phase of matter called the pseudogap, which appears in certain quantum materials just above the temperature at which they become superconducting. The findings could help researchers design new materials with sought-after properties such as high-temperature superconductivity, in which electric current flows without resistance.

As AI and IoT drive explosive global data growth, energy-efficient information devices have become critical for sustainability. Kyushu University researchers demonstrate that inserting an atomic-scale gadolinium layer into multilayered magnetic materials enables skyrmions—nanoscale magnetic structures—to achieve high storage density, high speed, and low power consumption simultaneously while maintaining stability. Their results open up new possibilities for exploring new materials in next-generation information devices.

So-called forever chemicals or PFAS compounds are a growing environmental problem. An innovative approach to treating PFAS-contaminated water and soil now comes from accelerator physics: high-energy electrons can break down PFAS molecules into harmless components through a process called radiolysis. A recent study published in PLOS One shows that an accelerator developed at HZB, based on a SRF photoinjector, can provide the necessary electron beam.

Quantum key distribution (QKD) uses quantum mechanics to ensure secure communication between two parties. Despite being one of the most performance degrading factors, pointing error has not been comprehensively investigated in previous studies. Now, researchers present a new framework for understanding the effects of pointing error on key QKD performance metrics, offering valuable insights for practical deployment.