Due to their error-prone hardware, quantum computers have not yet found practical use. One promising solution is quantum error correction: special methods are used to find and correct errors in the calculations of quantum computers in order to achieve reliable results. In the snaQCs2025 project, neQxt GmbH, Fraunhofer IAF and Point 8 GmbH are working on the coordinated development of quantum error correction methods and quantum algorithms. The project aims at significantly advancing the practical applicability of quantum computers. The project kick-off took place in Cologne on January 14, 2026. The BMFTR is funding snaQCs with €2.5 million over three years.

University of Tennessee, Knoxville Assistant Professor Dien Nguyen has won an Early Career Award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, an $875,000 investment in understanding how materials are arranged at the fundamental level.

Hexagonal tungsten oxide nanorods are highly promising for sodium-based near-infrared electrochromic windows. However, conventional dopants limit the performance of these devices. In a new study, researchers have leveraged thermally removable dopants to unlock the electrochromic capacity of sodium-based smart windows, paving the way for enhanced thermal regulation and efficient energy consumption in buildings and automobiles.  

Ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier and fertilizer, with growing potential as a low-carbon fuel. However, conventional production is highly energy-intensive and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. In a new study, researchers developed a dual chemical looping strategy for ammonia synthesis that avoids several energy-intensive steps used in traditional processes. An integrated 4E analysis showed improved efficiency and robustness while reducing production costs.

A nanostructure made of silver and an atomically thin semiconductor layer can be turned into an ultrafast switching mirror device that may function as an optical transistor – with a switching speed around 10,000 times faster than an electronic transistor. An international team of researchers led by the University of Oldenburg, Germany, describes this effect in a paper published in the current issue of Nature Nanotechnology. Ultrafast light switches offer interesting prospects for optical data processing, chip manufacturing, optical sensors or quantum computers.