A new palladium-loaded amorphous InGaZnO_x (a-IGZO) catalyst achieved over 91% selectivity when converting carbon dioxide to methanol, report researchers from Japan. Unlike traditional catalysts, this system leverages the electronic properties of semiconductors to generate all the species necessary for the conversion reaction. This study demonstrates novel design principles for sustainable catalysis based on electronic structure engineering.

Indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO)-based displays suffer from instability caused by atomic-scale defects. Now, a new study provides the first insights into these instabilities in single-crystal IGZO. Researchers grew high-quality IGZO single crystals and uncovered how oxygen vacancies and structural disorder create unwanted electronic states—details that were unclear in previous studies using amorphous IGZO samples. These findings could guide the development of more stable and longer-lasting displays for smartphones, televisions, and other devices.

In a paper published in National Science Review, a team of researchers utilized an astronomical telescope equipped with a quantum-limited superconducting mixer as the receiver. The experiment successfully demonstrated real-time high-definition video wireless transmission at 500 GHz over a record distance of 1.2 km at a dry site situated 4445 meters above sea level. This experiment offers valuable insights for the future development of satellite and airborne-to-ground communication technologies and their applications.

Scientists have developed an innovative emergency power source by transforming warm paste into functional batteries. The hydrogel-based iron-air battery can operate in temperatures as low as -20 °C and provides ampere-hour level capacity, offering a promising solution for emergency power in harsh outdoor environments.

A recent review published in National Science Review delves into the significance and potential of synchronous electrolytes for aqueous zinc-halogen batteries. The review examines challenges such as zinc corrosion and halogen instability, while proposing advanced strategies like gradient hydrogels and biphasic electrolytes to simultaneously optimize both sides. These insights pave the way for practical applications in grid-scale energy storage.

Neuromorphic computing has the potential to overcome limitations of traditional silicon technology in machine learning tasks. Recent advancements in large crossbar arrays and silicon-based asynchronous spiking neural networks have led to promising neuromorphic systems. However, developing compact parallel computing technology for integrating artificial neural networks into traditional hardware remains a challenge. Organic computational materials offer affordable, biocompatible neuromorphic devices with exceptional adjustability and energy-efficient switching. Here, the review investigates the advancements made in the development of organic neuromorphic devices. This review explores resistive switching mechanisms such as interface-regulated filament growth, molecular-electronic dynamics, nanowire-confined filament growth, and vacancy-assisted ion migration, while proposing methodologies to enhance state retention and conductance adjustment. The survey examines the challenges faced in implementing low-power neuromorphic computing, e.g., reducing device size and improving switching time. The review analyses the potential of these materials in adjustable, flexible, and low-power consumption applications, viz. biohybrid spiking circuits interacting with biological systems, systems that respond to specific events, robotics, intelligent agents, neuromorphic computing, neuromorphic bioelectronics, neuroscience, and other applications, and prospects of this technology.