crystal materials

Researchers report new work on controlling crystal growth to improve solar cell materials, an approach that could make photovoltaic technology more efficient and cheaper to produce. The findings are drawing attention in energy and materials science circles as demand grows for better-performing, more affordable solar technology worldwide.

MIT researchers are working on improving how artificial intelligence understands and models materials, aiming to give AI what they describe as a 'crystal clear' view of the materials world. The effort points to advances in applying machine learning to materials discovery and analysis, an area seen as key for developing new technologies, energy solutions and industrial applications.

Researchers report in Nature that semimetallic rhombohedral hexalayer graphene exhibits both superconductivity and ferroelectric orbital magnetism. The finding adds a new member to the family of graphene multilayers whose stacked crystal structure produces unusual electronic states, suggesting a platform where superconducting and magnetic orders coexist and can be studied in a single carbon-based material.

A new effort in chemistry aims to give artificial intelligence a 'crystal clear' view of the materials world, improving how AI models understand and predict the properties of chemical substances. The work points to growing interest in applying AI to materials science, where better data and imaging could accelerate the discovery of new compounds and industrial materials.

MIT researchers have unveiled new machine learning research that gives AI models a detailed, three-dimensional understanding of crystalline materials and enables them to reason about the materials' properties. The work, covered by MIT News, could improve how AI is applied to materials science and discovery. Observers are sharing the study as a notable advance in applying machine learning to the physical sciences.

Advanced lanthanum bromide scintillator crystals are changing the field of radiation detection, offering superior energy resolution that allows scientists and security professionals to identify radioactive materials more precisely than with conventional detectors. Physics World explores how these crystals are being applied in areas such as nuclear security, medical imaging and environmental monitoring, marking a significant step forward in detection technology.

Scientists have developed a method that translates the geometric structures of crystalline materials into text, allowing AI models to analyse materials with far greater clarity. By converting crystal geometry into language-based representations, the approach aims to speed up the discovery and design of new materials for technology and industry.