Ingrid Fadelli

Being able to precisely manipulate interacting spins in quantum systems is of key importance for the development of reliable and highly performing quantum computers. This has proven to be particularly challenging for nanoscale systems with many spins that are based on quantum dots (i.e., tiny semiconductor devices).

Moiré materials, such as twisted bilayer graphene, are materials generally formed by stacking two or more layers of 2D materials on top of each other with a small lattice mismatch. This slight mismatch creates a unique pattern known as the moiré pattern, which is associated with desirable optical and electronic properties.

In recent years, bio-medical engineers have been developing promising techniques that could help diagnose diseases or precisely target specific regions inside the human body. Among these promising therapeutic strategies are methods that rely on the use of nanoparticles (NPs), tiny particles between 1 and 100 nm in size.

Recent experiments at CERN have shed new light on the nuclear properties of atomic nuclei (i.e., the central regions of atoms accounting for most of their mass). A key objective of recent research into atomic nuclei has been to better understand the properties of Tin-100 (100Sn), a rare isotope with 50 protons and 50 neutrons.

The efficiency and performance of photovoltaics (PVs) have improved significantly over the past decades, which has led to an increase in the adoption of solar technologies. To further enhance the performance of solar cells, energy researchers worldwide have been devising and testing alternative design strategies, leveraging different materials and cell structures.

To effectively adapt to change, living organisms rely on their ability to rapidly detect and process sensory information in their surroundings. The sensory information available at a given time continuously changes, which means that it can typically only be observed partially and for a limited amount of time.

In the context of quantum mechanics and information, "magic" is a key property of quantum states that describes the extent to which they deviate from so-called stabilizer states. Stabilizer states are a class of states that can be effectively simulated on classical computers.

Dark photons are hypothetical particles that resemble light particles (i.e., photons), but interact weakly with normal matter, which would make them impossible or very difficult to detect using conventional experimental methods. These particles are dark matter candidates, meaning that they could contribute to the invisible and elusive form of matter accounting for approximately 85% of the universe's mass.

The efficient conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2)—one of the main compounds contributing to climate change—into useful fuels and chemicals is a long sought-after research goal. Recent studies have introduced various catalysts that could be used to initiate the so-called electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction in electrolyzers (i.e., devices that drive specific chemical reactions using electricity).

In recent years, researchers have synthesized various new materials that could be used to develop more advanced robotic systems, devices and human-machine interfaces. These materials include graphene aerogels, ultralight, porous and graphene-based materials comprised of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a 2D honeycomb lattice.