Topic description and stories

The demand continues for materials that are stronger, cheaper, lighter, more conductive – simply better.

Artist's impression of perovskite structures

‘Messy’ production of perovskite material increases solar cell efficiency

11 Nov 2019

Discovery means simpler and cheaper manufacturing methods are actually beneficial for the material’s use in next-generation solar cells or LED...

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Air conditioner

Electronic solid could reduce carbon emissions in fridges and air conditioners

09 Oct 2019

A promising replacement for the toxic and flammable greenhouse gases that are used in most refrigerators and air conditioners has been identified by...

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Sheen Gurrib

Women in STEM: Sheen Gurrib

19 Sep 2019

Sheen Gurrib is a PhD candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, where she is researching ways to improve chronic lower back...

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Cells with metal-organic frameworks carrying siRNA

Nanoparticles used to transport anti-cancer agent to cells

17 Sep 2019

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a platform that uses nanoparticles known as metal-organic frameworks to deliver a...

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Artist's impression of single-nanowire spectrometer

Nanowires replace Newton’s famous glass prism

05 Sep 2019

Scientists have designed an ultra-miniaturised device that could image single cells without the need for a microscope or make chemical fingerprint...

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AI learns the language of chemistry to predict how to make medicines

03 Sep 2019

Researchers have designed a machine learning algorithm that predicts the outcome of chemical reactions with much higher accuracy than trained...

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Colour-changing artificial ‘chameleon skin’ powered by nanomachines

21 Aug 2019

Researchers have developed artificial ‘chameleon skin’ that changes colour when exposed to light and could be used in applications such as active...

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Robotic hand made of self-healing material that can heal at room temperature

Machine learning to help develop self-healing robots that ‘feel pain’

07 Aug 2019

Researchers from the University of Cambridge will use self-healing materials and machine learning to develop soft robotics as part of a new...

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Graphene goes to space

25 Jun 2019

Partners in the European Commission’s Graphene Flagship, including the University of Cambridge, launched a rocket this week to test graphene – a two-...

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Cambridge and Tsinghua sign joint research initiative

11 Jun 2019

The University of Cambridge and Tsinghua University signed a joint research initiative on Monday as part of efforts by both universities to tackle...

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Washable, wearable battery-like devices could be woven directly into clothes

16 May 2019

Washable, wearable ‘batteries’: based on cheap, safe and environmentally-friendly inks and woven directly into fabrics, have been developed by...

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Crystalline metal–organic framework

Machine learning predicts mechanical properties of porous materials

15 May 2019

Machine learning can be used to predict the properties of a group of materials which, according to some, could be as important to the 21st century as...

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