News from the NNI Community - Research Advances Funded by Agencies Participating in the NNI

Scientists at Rice University have developed a technique to turn pyrolyzed plastic ash, a product of plastic recycling, into graphene. The technique produces turbostratic graphene flakes that can be directly added to other substances, such as films of polyvinyl alcohol, that better resist water in packaging. Last October, the same scientists reported on a process to convert waste plastic into graphene. This time, the new process turns plastic that is not recovered by recycling into a useful product.

Scientists at Rice University have developed a technique to turn pyrolyzed plastic ash, a product of plastic recycling, into graphene. The technique produces turbostratic graphene flakes that can be directly added to other substances, such as films of polyvinyl alcohol, that better resist water in packaging. Last October, the same scientists reported on a process to convert waste plastic into graphene. This time, the new process turns plastic that is not recovered by recycling into a useful product.

When two atomically thin layers of a material are stacked and twisted slightly on top of one another, they can develop radically different properties. They may become superconducting or even develop magnetic or electronic properties due to the interaction of their two layers. Now, a research team from the United States and Germany has developed a groundbreaking method to map the interaction between such ultra-thin double layers.

When two atomically thin layers of a material are stacked and twisted slightly on top of one another, they can develop radically different properties. They may become superconducting or even develop magnetic or electronic properties due to the interaction of their two layers. Now, a research team from the United States and Germany has developed a groundbreaking method to map the interaction between such ultra-thin double layers.

Physicists at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered how to locally add electrical charge to an atomically thin graphene device by layering flakes of another thin material on top of it. Gaining control of the flow of electrical current through atomically thin materials is important to potential future applications in photovoltaics or computing.

Physicists at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered how to locally add electrical charge to an atomically thin graphene device by layering flakes of another thin material on top of it. Gaining control of the flow of electrical current through atomically thin materials is important to potential future applications in photovoltaics or computing.

Physicists at the University of Arkansas have discovered a unifying framework in the dipolar patterns of two-dimensional ferroelectrics, a finding which could help advance the development of high-density information coding systems in computers and other electronics. Ferroelectric films are atomically thin materials that hold promise for dense information storage at the nanoscale.

Physicists at the University of Arkansas have discovered a unifying framework in the dipolar patterns of two-dimensional ferroelectrics, a finding which could help advance the development of high-density information coding systems in computers and other electronics. Ferroelectric films are atomically thin materials that hold promise for dense information storage at the nanoscale.

Scientists at Rice University have extended their technique to produce graphene in a flash to tailor the properties of other 2D materials. The scientists have successfully “flashed” bulk amounts of 2D dichalcogenides, changing them from semiconductors to metallics. Such materials are valuable for electronics, catalysis, and as lubricants.

Scientists at Rice University have extended their technique to produce graphene in a flash to tailor the properties of other 2D materials. The scientists have successfully “flashed” bulk amounts of 2D dichalcogenides, changing them from semiconductors to metallics. Such materials are valuable for electronics, catalysis, and as lubricants.