Thermoelectric material with high-conductivity but slow thermal transfer

Thermoelectric materials like germanium telluride (GeTe) can convert waste heat into electricity, offering a promising energy solution. To better harness this potential, researchers used a novel “neutron camera” technique to study GeTe’s structure. They found that while GeTe maintains its overall crystalline form—essential for conducting electricity—it also exhibits dynamic disorder, where parts of the structure move and slow heat conduction. This unique combination enhances thermoelectric efficiency, making GeTe a strong candidate for advanced solid-state devices like heat pumps and generators. The study also resolved previous inconsistencies in structural measurements.

Near-perfect defects in 2D material could serve as quantum bits

Scientists worldwide are striving to scale quantum technologies, which hinges on reliably generating qubits—the basic units of quantum information. One promising material for this is hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), a two-dimensional substance known for hosting solid-state single-photon emitters (SPEs). These atomic structures can emit individual photons, making them strong candidates for building scalable quantum systems.

Scientists discover an unusual chiral quantum state in a topological material

Chirality, or “handedness,” is a fundamental property where an object differs from its mirror image, seen across nature from molecules to DNA. In a breakthrough, Princeton University researchers have discovered a hidden chiral quantum state in a material previously believed to be non-chiral. This finding not only challenges existing assumptions in physics but also deepens our understanding of quantum phenomena, potentially opening new avenues in quantum research.

One minute Mentor: Numerical Simulation in practice

 The comparison of the change in length, e.g. after hardening and tempering, is the next step in the model validation. The figure shows the comparison in the change in length of the cylinder. In the left part the change in length after hardening with nitrogen and additional tempering is shown; in the right part one […]

Daido Steel launches new vacuum arc remelting plant to meet semiconductor industry demand

Daido Steel Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan, announced the successful start of operations at its new vacuum arc remelting (VAR) plant at the company’s Chita site. Developed in collaboration with ALD Vacuum Technologies, the plant is designed to increase production capacity for high-purity stainless steels and nickel alloys used in high-performance applications, particularly within the semiconductor […]