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Should computational materials science be recognized as a field with a role in the community comparable to computational physics or chemistry? With the emergence of multiscale modelling, the answer is a resounding 'yes'.
A contact-free method for generating precise patterns in polymers is an exciting advance in soft lithography. By exploiting the interactions of two polymers with an electric field, the scale of the patterns can be reduced still further.
Owing to their exceptional stiffness and strength, some of the first materials to use them were reinforced polymer composites. As toughening agents, carbon nanotubes now face a bigger challenge — reinforcing brittle ceramics.
Photonic crystals can manipulate the flow of light, making them attractive materials for new types of optical components. The ability to tune the optical properties of a photonic crystal over femotosecond timescales adds to their technological appeal.
A microporous substance that expands under external hydrostatic pressure is unexpected. Even more surprising is one that can retain its expanded volume after release of the pressure. A zeolite has been found to do just that.
