Topic description and stories

The demand continues for materials that are stronger, cheaper, lighter, more conductive – simply better.

Person in laboratory holding a flask

Miniature grinding mill closes in on the details of ‘green’ chemical reactions

30 Nov 2021

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a new approach for observing mechanochemical reactions — where simple ingredients are ground...

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Super jelly

‘Super jelly’ can survive being run over by a car

25 Nov 2021

Researchers have developed a jelly-like material that can withstand the equivalent of an elephant standing on it, and completely recover to its...

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Artistic representation of electrons funneling into high quality areas of perovskite material

Mystery of high-performing solar cell materials revealed in stunning clarity

22 Nov 2021

Researchers have visualised, for the first time, why perovskites – materials which could replace silicon in next-generation solar cells - are...

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Sustainable, biodegradable glitter – from your fruit bowl

11 Nov 2021

Cambridge researchers have developed a sustainable, plastic-free glitter for use in the cosmetics industry – and it’s made from the cellulose found...

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Luminating composite glass

LEDs and smartphone screens could be made from next-generation glass

29 Oct 2021

Cracked and blurry phone screens could someday be a thing of the past, suggests a new study from the University of Cambridge and the University of...

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Sohini Kar-Narayan

Cambridge researcher named one of Top 50 Women in Engineering

23 Jun 2021

Dr Sohini Kar-Narayan from Cambridge’s Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy has been named one of the top 50 Women in Engineering 2021 by...

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Artist’s impression of glowing halide perovskite nanocrystals

Atom swapping could lead to ultra-bright, flexible next generation LEDs

07 Jun 2021

An international group of researchers has developed a new technique that could be used to make more efficient low-cost light-emitting materials that...

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Hard disk drive

Ultra-high-density hard drives made with graphene store ten times more data

04 Jun 2021

Graphene can be used for ultra-high density hard disk drives (HDD), with up to a tenfold jump compared to current technologies, researchers at the...

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Illustration of graphene structure

Following atoms in real time could lead to better materials design

12 Apr 2021

Researchers have used a technique similar to MRI to follow the movement of individual atoms in real time as they cluster together to form two-...

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Illustration of the magnetic structure of FePS3

‘Magnetic graphene’ forms a new kind of magnetism

08 Feb 2021

Researchers have identified a new form of magnetism in so-called magnetic graphene, which could point the way toward understanding superconductivity...

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Reconstructed vortex rings inside a magnetic micropillar

Magnetic vortices come full circle

30 Nov 2020

The first experimental observation of three-dimensional magnetic ‘vortex rings’ provides fundamental insight into intricate nanoscale structures...

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Light bulbs

New green materials could power smart devices using ambient light

17 Nov 2020

Researchers have developed environmentally friendly materials that could harvest enough energy from indoor light to power wireless smart devices.

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