The discovery of graphene created great interest in two-dimensional (2D) materials, but it is tricky to synthesize 2D materials comprised solely of metals. The synthesis of monolayer gold has so far been limited to free-standing several-atoms-thick layers, or monolayers confined on or inside templates. Gold nanoparticles are of interest due to their application in electronics, […]
Interest has been growing in the development of nanostructured hybrid composite materials, where nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are used alongside microscale-fiber composite laminates. Composite materials have one main vulnerability: the space between layers, which is typically filled with polymer “glue” to bond the layers together. In the event of an impact or strike, […]
The need for sustainable and clean energy sources has never been greater, and solar energy has emerged as a promising solution. To meet the growing demand for efficient and cost-effective solar cells, researchers are constantly exploring emerging and innovative approaches to enhance the performance of solar cells. One exciting development in this field is an […]
The first plasma-focused ion beam (FIB) scanning electron microscope (SEM) in Finland has just become operational at VTT in Espoo, Finland. This multi-million investment will significantly contribute to materials research for applications such as hydrogen economy, microelectronics, and the marine industry, as well as to material damage investigation.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM), is a widely used technique that can quantitatively map material surfaces in three dimensions, although its accuracy is limited by the size of the microscope’s probe. A new artificial intelligence (AI) technique overcomes this limitation and allows microscopes to resolve material features smaller than the probe’s tip.
