surface-science

Nature Communications, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-77566-1 The authors demonstrate the synthesis of a metastable SmO2/Sm2O3 mosaic-like lateral. heterostructure using molten eutectic salt. This structural asymmetry induces an intrinsic built-in dipole, a nonlinear optical response, and room temperature interface ferroelectric polarization.

This review examines how the rheology, surface oxidation, and interfacial properties of liquid metals shape their printability and performance in stretchable electronics. The authors show how advances in material formulation and 2D-to-4D printing are enabling highly conductive, deformable devices, while identifying scalability, encapsulation, recyclability, and reliable integration as key barrier…

Scientific Reports, Published online: 05 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-68463-0 Effect of geometry, wettability, and Janus amphiphilicity on the interfacial attachment strength of peanut-shaped solid particles in Pickering emulsions

An ultra-clean crystal surface allowed individual molecules to preserve quantum coherence at the fundamental Fourier limit. A molecule placed on a surface should be easier to probe and manipulate than one hidden inside a solid or suspended in vacuum. In practice, however, surface contamination creates an unstable, noisy environment that can quickly degrade the molecule’s [...]

3D atomic imaging of advanced materials provides new insights into transitions such as liquids freezing into solids. For nearly a century, scientists have relied on classical nucleation theory to explain how phase transitions such as freezing and condensation get started. The theory describes how small, ordered regions called nuclei emerge within disordered matter, and a [...]

Scientists long attributed rain damage to physical abrasion and chemical degradation from acidic substances. A new study offers a third idea, which could help researchers develop longer-lasting coatings and preserve important objects

Nature Communications, Published online: 04 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-77398-z Entropy engineering, as a design strategy, regulates oxygen octahedral geometry to optimizedielectric constant, quality factor, and thermal stability. The authors fabricate a dielectric antenna, demonstrating the potential applications.

3D atomic imaging of advanced materials provides new insights into transitions such as liquids freezing into solids. For nearly a century, scientists have relied on classical nucleation theory to explain how phase transitions such as freezing and condensation get started. The theory describes how small, ordered regions called nuclei emerge within disordered matter, and a […]

Scientific Data, Published online: 03 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41597-026-08231-x Measured group birefringence and group velocity dispersion of elliptical-core ZBLAN fibres for mid-infrared supercontinuum generation

Scientific Reports, Published online: 03 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-69342-4 Field-Induced Metallization and enhanced thermodynamic responses in bilayer γ-graphyne: Effects of Stacking Configuration

.Scientists from the University of Regina used neutron imaging at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to examine fossilized bones from dinosaurs, including a broken rib from Scotty, the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton discovered. Neutron imaging allowed researchers to nondestructively examine the rib and corroborate earlier X-ray findings of a rare network of mineralized b…

Nature Communications, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-77273-x Fast ion transport in solid electrolytes is often attributed to anion rotation. Simulations of six materials show that rotation, translation or vibration can dominate transport, depending on how rapidly anions reorient relative to cation hopping.

Nature Communications, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-77181-0 Developing a simple and broadly applicable strategy for tailoring the organ tropism of nanoparticles has been a long-standing challenge. Here, the authors address this challenge by introducing a metal–organic network coating approach that enables selective organ tropism across a wide range of established na…

Metal-insulator transitions (MITs), in which a material changes from a metallic state with low resistivity to an insulating state because of a change in an external parameter, such as temperature, pressure or an electric field, are a central topic in fundamental physics research. In materials that undergo MITs, it has also been observed that in […]

Nature Communications, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-77201-z Topological valley photonics enables robust on-chip light transport, but valley edge states lie outside the light cone, blocking free-space excitation. Here, authors fold these states into topological valley quasi-bound states in the continuum, enabling free-space coupling while preserving low-loss terahert…

Diamond was thought to be incapable of producing electricity through mechanical deformation, but ultrathin flexible diamond membranes have now shown a strong and repeatable piezoelectric effect. The unexpected discovery could open the door to diamond-powered sensors, tiny energy systems, and self-powered medical implants.

Penn State researchers have developed a state-of-the-art tiny mirror that can potentially slim down and speed up future optical systems used in brain imaging, augmented reality goggles and precision manufacturing.

Particle size, size distribution and particle count are major characteristics in the field of particle technology. Contamination analysis and classification of nanomaterials according 2011/696/EU require precise data of the number based particle size distribution and particle concentration. LUM GmbH...

This essay proposes a methodological review of the optical-mechanical interactions between electromagnetic radiation and macroscopic conductive and dielectric media. Through the analysis of classical and quantum solutions for light propagation, we demonstrate that contemporary formulations face structural ambiguities in describing the transfer of linear momentum without attributing photonic mass.…