Functional materials are physical systems engineered so that their intrinsic properties—such as electrical conductivity, magnetization, optical response, ionic mobility, or mechanical deformation—can be deliberately modulated by external stimuli (e.g., electric or magnetic fields, light, temperature, stress, or chemical environment) to perform specific tasks. They encompass classes such as ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics, magnetoresistive and thermoelectric materials, shape-memory alloys, solid electrolytes, and stimuli-responsive polymers. In research and device design, functional materials serve as active components enabling sensing, actuation, energy conversion, information storage, and signal processing, with performance governed by their structure–property relationships across atomic, mesoscale, and macroscopic length scales.
In a remarkable feat of chemistry, a Northwestern University-led research team has developed the first two-dimensional (2D) mechanically interlocked material.
Nanomaterials
Jan 16, 2025
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247
A team of researchers has discovered a new way to control the magnetic behavior of quantum materials using applied voltages. Specifically, the material lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO), which is magnetic and metallic ...
Condensed Matter
Jan 16, 2025
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141
Every day, people are reaping the benefits of work by scientists and engineers to make more effective X-ray machines, computers, cell phones and televisions. Florida State University researchers are pushing the boundaries ...
Nanophysics
Jan 10, 2025
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72
Two years ago, a medical professional approached scientists at the University of Tabriz in Iran with an interesting problem: Patients were having headaches after pacemaker implants. Working together to investigate, they began ...
Bio & Medicine
Dec 10, 2024
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28
A discovery by an international team of scientists has revealed room-temperature ferroelectric and resistive switching behaviors in single-element tellurium (Te) nanowires, paving the way for advancements in ultrahigh-density ...
Nanophysics
Nov 29, 2024
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96
As electronic devices get smaller, it's becoming harder to achieve high-quality connections that are both reliable and safe from short circuits. Researchers developed the array-ACF (anisotropic conductive adhesives film) ...
Nanomaterials
Nov 13, 2024
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26
Amidst the ongoing surge in demand for bio-MEMS, wearable/implantable electronics and bio-tissue therapeutics, the pursuit of piezoelectric biomaterials has become a priority, thanks to their remarkable electromechanical ...
Biosensors play a key role in medical research and diagnostics. At present, however, they generally have to be specially developed for each application. A team led by LMU chemist Philip Tinnefeld has developed a general, ...
Bio & Medicine
Nov 8, 2024
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45
A recent study has aimed to create hydrophobic paper by exploiting the mechanical properties and water resistance of cellulose nanofibers, and so produce a sustainable, high-performance material suitable for packaging and ...
Nanomaterials
Nov 5, 2024
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117
Nuclear fusion could be an ideal solution to mankind's energy problem, guaranteeing a virtually limitless source of power without greenhouse gas emissions. But there are still huge technological challenges to overcome before ...
Plasma Physics
Nov 5, 2024
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150
