Researchers have discovered that ferroelectric fluids can harness an overlooked transverse electrostatic force (TEF) to rise over 80 mm, without magnets or high voltages. By exploiting the fluid’s spontaneous polarization and exceptionally high dielectric constant, they achieved a strong TEF, previously thought unattainable in conventional electrostatics. This breakthrough enables creation of a lightweight, magnet-free motor, opening possibilities for compact, energy-efficient actuators and suggesting a transformative approach to converting electrical energy into mechanical motion at low voltages.

Perovskites are promising materials for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM). Recently, a team of researchers from Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan, has designed Ca-modified BaTiO₃ as a promising catalyst for this reaction. Ca forms unique reduced structural motifs on the surface of BaTiO₃, facilitating the generation of reactive oxygen species and promoting methane activation. This technology can guide the development of new catalysts for OCM and other organic reactions.

Researchers have developed a novel Nickel-Cobalt bimetallic nanocomposite material. Its built-in dual electric field significantly enhances electromagnetic energy dissipation, achieving ultra-wideband absorption.

A highly efficient, wearable self-charging power system is reported, which consists of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with fabric coated by MXene paste as conductive layer and micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) with graphene films as electrode.

Researchers have developed new means of recycling a common pollutant associated with groundwater and agricultural runoff: nitrate.  By developing an electrocatalyst that turns nitrate into ammonia, they have also helped make ammonia production more green.

Super-resolution imaging is essential for visualizing fine biological structures beyond the diffraction limit. To advance this field, Scientists in Korea developed a super-resolution imaging system based on a novel multifocal metalens. This ultrathin metalens generates dense, uniform focal arrays optimized for image scanning microscopy (ISM), achieving twice the resolution of conventional wide-field (WF) imaging. The technique successfully revealed fine neuronal structures in brain organoids and is expected to open new avenues for advanced optical microscopy systems.

Persistent organic pollutants such as DDT and lindane still pollute the environment and affect humans decades after their use. ETH researchers have developed a new electrochemical process that completely dehalogenates these long-lived toxins and converts them into valuable industrial chemicals. 

The method uses cheap equipment, prevents side reactions and could be used on contaminated landfills, soils or sludge. Mobile systems could be used on site in the future – an important step towards the remediation of contaminated sites and the creation of a sustainable circular economy.