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The smoothness and feel of human hair are strongly influenced by the friction between strands. Typically, friction is controlled by surface roughness across a wide range of length scales. In this work, we study the nanoscale friction between two model…

Bismuth trichloride as a molecular precursor for silicon doping Atomic-scale device fabrication in semiconductor materials is a developing field with potential for revolutionary payoffs in quantum technologies. One key challenge in realizing this potential is the development of suitable precursor…

Extracellular vesicles (EV) have become a promising source of biomarkers for disease diagnostics via liquid biopsies from readily accessible bodily fluids but challenges remain on the sensitivity, specificity and clinical implementation of current analytical workflows. In this work, we are investigating the…

This paper presents the first model capable of predicting the electromechanical and fracture behaviour of self-sensing carbon nanotube (CNT)-based composites. The model captures the nano-scale mechanisms and constitutive behaviour of CNTs using a mixed micromechanics formulation. This is combined with…

In this paper, we looked at the α-cristobalite phase of silica (SiO2) and compared it to the better-studied α-quartz phase. We did this to explore how these two different phases would change when an oxygen atom was removed from the…

Part of the set-up for creating medium-density amorphous ice: ordinary ice and steel balls in a jar. Credit: Christoph Salzmann

Polymer brushes, which are composed of polymer chains attached at high densities from their ends to a surface, are prevalent in nature (e.g., synovial joints) and have attracted considerable attention due to their ability to modify the surface properties by…

N. V. Tepliakov, J. Lischner, E. Kaxiras, A. A. Mostofi and M. Pizzochero Symmetry is an ubiquitous concept in physics that helps us rationalise a wide spectrum of physical properties and phenomena. Certain materials exhibit a higher degree of symmetry…

Capturing solar energy requires a joint between two electrical conductors. It is at the join that the magic happens and the high energy electrons are swept away to operate a device or charge a battery before their energy is lost.…

A paper recently published in Physical Review B presents various emergent prethermal phases of matter in a periodically-driven frustrated system. Frustration arises in the presence of competing interactions leading to a (near) degeneracy of a vast number of states. The…