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Deep learning accelerates discovery of complex nanomaterials

A physics-infused heterogeneous graph neural network has been developed to address challenges in designing complex nanomaterials with spatially varying compositions. This fully differentiable model enables the rapid optimization and discovery of photon upconverting nanoparticle heterostructures that are 6.5-fold brighter than any nanoparticle in the training set.

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Fig. 1: Deep learning approach to enable nanoparticle discovery.

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This is a summary of: Sivonxay, E. et al. Gradient-based optimization of complex nanoparticle heterostructures enabled by deep learning on heterogeneous graphs. Nat. Comput. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43588-025-00917-3 (2025).

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Deep learning accelerates discovery of complex nanomaterials. Nat Comput Sci 6, 19–20 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43588-025-00918-2

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