Category archives: DIPC

Periodic responses to nonperiodic energy inputs, such as oscillations, are hallmarks of living systems. Researchers have devoted considerable efforts to understanding and mimicking natural self-assembled structures and functions to systems composed of nonbiological components. This has rendered remarkable developments in regulating interparticle interactions to form static and dynamic self-assemblies. Dynamic assemblies can, under suitable stimuli […]

Adopting a more sustainable energy portfolio is imperative to address and alleviate the impacts of climate change. A key process is energy harvesting versus energy “production”. In this vein, a potentially viable approach involves the conversion of dissipated heat into electrical energy via the use of thermoelectricity. This method has the potential to contribute significantly […]

The evolution of the cosmic star formation rate density paints a dynamic picture of galaxy evolution, with rapid stellar build-up at redshifts above 2, followed by a stark drop in SFRs of galaxies towards the present day. The origins of this down-turn are likely due to a mixture of feedback processes, broadly categorized as caused […]

The bottom-up design of hierarchically organized nanostructures is a powerful strategy to achieve new materials with innovative functionalities. To a large extent, this approach takes inspiration from the ability of living organisms to engineer hybrid nanocomposites both for structural and functional purposes. Intense research has been dedicated to synthesizing biologically inspired textures and shapes mimicking […]

The development of luminescent organic radicals has resulted in materials with excellent optical properties for near-infrared (NIR) emission, like organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Light generation in this range could be used for healthcare diagnosis and treatment to surveillance, communications and other security applications. Although an external quantum efficiency greater than 20% in electroluminescence has been […]

Topology has been at the forefront of condensed matter physics for the past two decades, influencing our understanding of quantum materials and phenomena. More recently, it has however become clear that a more general concept, that of quantum geometry, manifests itself in a series of quantum phenomena involving flat electronic bands. In condensed matter physics […]

Carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation (2CO + O2 → CO2) on platinum (Pt) group metal surfaces is the model heterogeneous gas/surface catalytic reaction. Pt itself is of the upmost importance as a catalyst for car exhaust cleaning or for the water gas shift reaction, whereas Pt crystal surfaces are model systems for investigating the catalytic CO […]

“Helicene” is the name introduced by Newman in 1955, to describe the benzologues of phenanthrene in which the extra ortho -condensed rings give rise to a (regular) cylindrical helix. The pioneer work of Newman in this field cannot be overemphasized; his brillant synthesis and resolution of [6]helicene will remain as a landmark, for it opened […]

Electrical transport in non-centrosymmetric materials departs from the well-established phenomenological Ohm’s law. Instead of a linear relation between current and electric field, a non-linear conductivity emerges along specific crystallographic directions. This non-linear transport is fundamentally related to the lack of spatial inversion symmetry. Ohm’s law is one of the most established relations in Physics and […]

The urban heat island effect has become a critical issue in urban areas, intensifying heat-related problems and increasing energy consumption. Urban areas tend to experience higher temperatures compared to those of surrounding rural areas, this is known as the urban heat island effect. The elevated temperature in cities is primarily attributed to the high density […]