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Hydrogel stiffens 27,000-fold in seconds when heated then softens back when cooled

Mar 19, 2026 A new hydrogel stiffens 27,000-fold upon heating by transforming weak internal bonds into strong permanent ones, then gradually softens at room temperature. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Most synthetic polymers cannot change their mechanical properties after manufacturing. A rubber band stays stretchy; a hard plastic stays rigid. Biological tissues, by...

New doping method solves the contact problem limiting perovskite electronics

Mar 19, 2026 Researchers have discovered a way to dramatically improve how electrical current enters perovskite semiconductors, an emerging class of materials with enormous potential for next-generation electronics. (Nanowerk News) A longstanding challenge has been the metal–perovskite interface, where electrical current often struggles to pass efficiently from the metal electrode...

Aromatic hydrocarbons suppress diffusion in carbon nanotubes during gasification

Mar 19, 2026 Aromatic molecules adsorb onto carbon nanotube walls via pi-pi interactions, slowing supercritical water flow and reducing gasification efficiency, a new simulation study finds. (Nanowerk News) A molecular dynamics study shows that aromatic hydrocarbons form strong π–π interactions with carbon nanotube walls, severely reducing the diffusion of both...

AI rebuilds molecules from exploding fragments

Mar 19, 2026 Scientists trained a neural network that can use ion momentum to work backward and predict the pre-blast geometry of a molecule. (Nanowerk News) Researchers at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and collaborating institutions recently built a generative AI model that can recreate molecular structures...