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.
Aerogel materials serve a vital role as protective materials needed for many fields, including as electromagnetic interference shielding material for 5G technology, thermally insulating material in high-rise buildings and ...
Nanomaterials
Jul 19, 2022
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176
Graphene-related materials (GRMs) are often used to reinforce polymers. In small concentrations of up to five weight percent, GRMs can significantly enhance the strength, electrical conductivity and thermal transport of composites ...
Bio & Medicine
Jun 16, 2022
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122
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death across the globe, responsible for about 17.9 million (32%) of all deaths worldwide every year. Monitoring and treatment may reduce the incidence of death, but the health ...
Bio & Medicine
Jun 13, 2022
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136
Inspired by the structure of muscles, an innovative new strategy for creating fiber actuators could lead to advances in robotics, prosthetics, and smart clothing, according to a Penn State led team of scientists who discovered ...
Nanomaterials
Jun 3, 2022
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311
Researcher Laura Rossi and her group at TU Delft have found a new way to build synthetic materials out of tiny glass particles—so-called colloids. Together with their colleagues from Queen's University and the University ...
Nanomaterials
May 27, 2022
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749
In a new report now published in Matter, Licong An, and a team of scientists in materials engineering, industrial engineering, and the nanotechnology center at Purdue University, U.S., and Wuhan University, China, described ...
The cellular forms of natural materials are the inspiration behind a new lightweight, 3D printed smart architected material developed by an international team of engineers.
Nanomaterials
May 10, 2022
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358
New materials will enable novel technologies to turn sunlight into electricity and fuels. Combinations of molecules and tiny nanoparticles make these materials a reality. The molecules in these materials are very good at ...
Nanophysics
Apr 29, 2022
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161
Turmeric, a spice found in most kitchens, has an extract that could lead to safer, more efficient fuel cells.
Nanophysics
Apr 18, 2022
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583
The Hercules beetle native to South America has a fascinating trait of changing its shell colors depending on the external humidity conditions. This is because the inside of the beetle's shell consists of porous lattice structure ...
Nanophysics
Apr 13, 2022
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