8 ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | MARCH 2025 strontium titanate (STO) substrate. The scientists found that FeSe has a transition-to-superconductivity temperature of 65 K, approximately -340°F, making it the highest-temperature super- conductor in its class. They witnessed a close relationship between electron- phonon coupling and the uniformity of the FeSe/STO interface. This greater homogeneity means a higher temperature at which superconductivity occurs. “Our vibrational spectroscopy approach enabled us to achieve highly detailed imaging of the vibrations at the superconducting material’s interface with its substrate,” says researcher and materials science professor Xiaoqing Pan. “The observed variation in the interlayer spacing correlates with the superconducting gap, which demonstrates the crucial role of spacing in electron-phonon coupling strength and superconductivity.” Pan added that his TESTING | CHARACTERIZATION HEXAGONAL BORON NITRIDE BREAKTHROUGH Researchers at the University of Surrey, U.K., report a new development in decoding the growth process of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a 2D material, and its nanostructures on metal substrates. They say this discovery could lead to more efficient electronics, cleaner energy solutions, and more environmentally benign chemical manufacturing. Often called “white graphene,” one-atom-thick hBN is an extremely thin and resilient material that blocks electrical currents, withstands extreme temperatures, and resists chemical damage. The research team also demonstrated the formation of nanoporous hBN, a unique material with structured voids that allows for selective absorption and advanced catalysis, greatly expanding potential environmental applications. Examples include sensing and filtering pollutants as well as enhancing advanced energy systems such as hydrogen storage and electrochemical catalysts for fuel cells. Working in collaboration with Graz University of Technology, Austria, researchers combined density functional theory and micro- kinetic modeling to map the growth process of hBN from borazine precursors. They examined key molecular processes such as diffusion, decomposition, adsorption and desorption, polymerization, and dehydrogenation. This approach helped them develop an atomic scale model that enables the material to be grown at any temperature. www.surrey.ac.uk. SPECTROSCOPY EXPLORES SUPERCONDUCTIVITY Researchers at the University of California (UC), Irvine, say they have uncovered the atomic- scale mechanics that enhance superconductivity in an iron- based material. Using advanced spectroscopy instruments at the UC Irvine Materials Research Institute (IMRI), the team was able to image atom vibrations and thereby observe new phonons at the interface of an iron selenide (FeSe) ultrathin film layered on a Xiaoqing Pan displays IMRI equipment that allowed his team to image atom vibrations at the interface between a superconductor and a substrate. Courtesy of Steve Zylius/UC Irvine. Model of “white graphene” maps the growth process of hBN. Courtesy of University of Surrey. LK Metrology Ltd., U.K., acquired Nikon Corp.’s laser scanning and Focus Inspection point cloud software business. The deal includes all of Nikon Metrology’s laser scanning R&D, service, and production resources. lkmetrology.com. Exact Metrology, Milwaukee, is partnering with Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Sweden. Hexagon manufactures digital reality products that integrate sensors, software, and autonomous technologies. Industries served include aerospace, automotive, defense, medical, industrial manufacturing, and clean energy. exactmetrology.com. BRIEFS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTYyMzk3NQ==