The ability to store and convert thermal energy in various ways makes phase-change materials very handy for everything from heating pads to medical applications to heating and cooling equipment.

One example is germanium telluride (GeTe), a semiconductor which also has potential for thermoelectric and phase-change memory applications. Researchers used GeTe as a research model to gain deeper insight into phonon dynamics and thermal conductivity in phase-change materials.

Many organisms have developed sophisticated systems to detect light and then convey signals to sensory systems that respond. However, these reactions work on very fast timescales and not much is known about the structural intermediates that are involved. In a recent publication, a collaborative team reported on results that provide new structural and mechanistic insights to further illuminate this process.

In the 3D printing process, a highly focused laser beam scans rapidly across a bed of metallic powder to melt it but tends to leave behind pores that weaken the material. Now scientists using the Advanced Photon Source have identified new pore formation mechanisms and shown that applying the right magnetic force can significantly reduce the problem.

A major facet of transitioning from fossil fuels to green and renewable energy solutions involves the removal, capture and storage of carbon dioxide from the environment. One method is by CO₂ hydrogenation. Researchers used the Advanced Photon Source to study the behavior and structural and chemical properties of a catalyst under CO₂ hydrogenation. 

Humans have been using enzymes to create new products for thousands of years. Now, using the Advanced Photon Source, an international team shows how HACL/S enzymes work on an atomic level. Their findings can serve as the basis for increasing the enzymes’ yield and versatility while drawing down as precursors atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane.