Materials physics researchers at Linköping University revolutionize the synthesis of 2D materials, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements

In a blend of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced supercomputer simulations, scientists at Linköping University have opened the door to a new era of 2D materials. These ultra-thin materials, comprised of just a few atoms, possess extraordinary properties that make them highly desirable for applications including energy storage, catalysis, and water purification. The team's groundbreaking method for synthesizing hundreds of novel 2D materials has now been published in the prestigious journal Science.

Since the discovery of graphene, the field of research into 2D materials has experienced an exponential surge. These exceptionally thin materials boast a remarkably high surface area-to-volume ratio, resulting in a plethora of unique physical phenomena and properties. Among these properties are exceptional conductivity, remarkable strength, and heat resistance. As such, 2D materials have captured the attention of researchers worldwide, both for fundamental scientific investigations and practical applications.

Professor Johanna Rosén, a materials physicist at Linköping University, explains, "In a film only a millimeter thin, there can be millions of layers of these materials. The spaces between layers offer immense potential for chemical reactions and, as a result, 2D materials can be employed for energy storage or fuel synthesis."

The expansive family of materials known as MXenes has long dominated the field of 2D materials synthesis. MXenes are derived from a three-dimensional precursor material called a MAX phase, which consists of three elements: a transition metal (M), an (A-group) element (A), and carbon or nitrogen (X). Through a process called exfoliation, the A element is removed, resulting in the formation of a 2D material. Until now, MXenes were the only material family created in this way.

Linköping researchers, however, have made a significant breakthrough in expanding the universe of 2D materials. They have developed a theoretical model capable of predicting other three-dimensional materials suitable for transformation into 2D materials, and they have indeed confirmed the model's consistency with reality.

The researchers meticulously followed a three-step process. First, they devised the theoretical model to identify parent materials suitable for synthesis. Drawing upon the immense computational power of the National Supercomputer Centre, the researchers scrutinized a database comprising a staggering 66,643 materials, ultimately identifying 119 promising three-dimensional candidates.

Next came the laboratory experiments. Assistant Professor Jie Zhou, from the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, explains, "We screened the 119 candidates for chemical stability and selected the most promising ones. Synthesizing the 3D material itself was a challenging task. Finally, we achieved a high-quality sample that allowed us to exfoliate and etch away specific atomic layers using hydrofluoric acid."

By removing yttrium (Y) from the parent material YRu2Si2, the team successfully obtained a two-dimensional material called Ru2SixOy.

To validate their breakthrough in the lab, the researchers turned to the state-of-the-art scanning transmission electron microscope Arwen at Linköping University. This remarkable equipment enabled them to visualize the material's atomic structure and composition with unprecedented precision.

Jonas Björk, an associate professor at the division of Materials Design, enthused, "We were able to confirm that our theoretical model worked extremely well and that the resulting material indeed consisted of the correct atoms. The images of the exfoliated material resembled the pages of a book. Putting this theory into practice has expanded the concept of chemical exfoliation beyond the realm of MXenes into numerous other material families."

This breakthrough discovery ushers in an era of seemingly endless possibilities for unique 2D materials and their remarkable properties. These materials could serve as the foundation for an array of technological applications. Moving forward, the researchers intend to explore additional precursor materials and expand their experimental scale. Professor Rosén believes that the potential applications for 2D materials are nearly limitless, envisioning their utilization in carbon capture and water purification projects. The researchers also emphasize the need for sustainable synthesis methods as they scale up their experiments.

This study was made possible thanks to the generous support of several organizations including the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE), the Göran Gustafsson Foundation for Research in Natural Sciences and Medicine, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, the European Union, the Swedish Research Council, and the Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials (AFM) at Linköping University.

This cutting-edge research project combines diverse perspectives from around the globe, utilizing artificial intelligence and supercomputer simulations to unleash the transformative potential of 2D materials.

Researchers at Linköping University are using AI and supercomputers to explore the possibilities of 2D materials.

Collaboration between citizen astronomers, artificial intelligence, and the Subaru Telescope sheds light on ring galaxies

In an intriguing convergence of citizen science and cutting-edge technology, astronomers have made an astonishing discovery of approximately 30,000 ring galaxies alongside some 400,000 spiral galaxies in data obtained from the renowned Subaru Telescope. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and combining it with the latest supercomputer simulations, this groundbreaking research is pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the cosmos.

The project, a collaboration between professional astronomers and citizen astronomers, capitalizes on the collective efforts of more than 10,000 volunteers involved in the citizen science initiative "GALAXY CRUISE." With the Subaru Telescope's vast datasets containing a multitude of galaxies, it became clear that traditional manual classification would be an arduous task. That's where the potential of AI stepped in.

Artificial Intelligence possesses the remarkable capability to swiftly analyze and classify data. However, before embarking on the galactic classification, the AI system must first be trained on a wealth of pre-existing examples prepared by humans. In this case, an AI model was developed and trained by a team led by Rhythm Shimakawa, associate professor at Waseda University, using a set of 20,000 galaxies classified by citizen astronomers within the GALAXY CRUISE project.

Once the AI was primed with this knowledge, it was unleashed upon the entirety of the Subaru Telescope's dataset, which comprised an awe-inspiring 700,000 galaxies. Through this process, the AI successfully classified 400,000 galaxies as spiral galaxies and identified an astonishing 30,000 ring galaxies. This invaluable dataset of ring galaxies, accounting for less than 5% of all galaxies, provided scientists with a substantial sample for detailed statistical analysis and comparison.

What is even more remarkable is that the statistical analysis revealed that ring galaxies exhibit intermediate characteristics between spiral and elliptical galaxies. These findings align with the latest supercomputer simulations and provide another intriguing hint about the intricacies of galactic evolution.

Rhythm Shimakawa, the lead researcher, expressed deep gratitude towards the GALAXY CRUISE project and the invaluable contributions of citizen astronomers. Shimakawa emphasized the crucial role played by the project's data, stating, "Although AI classification takes less than one hour even for 700,000 galaxies, this work cannot be done without the data collected by GALAXY CRUISE over the past two years. We would like to thank all the citizen astronomers who participate in the project. I hope to see more collaborative outcomes in the future."

The groundbreaking results of this study were recently published as "GALAXY CRUISE: Spiral and ring classifications for bright galaxies at z = 0.01-0.3" in the academic journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan (PASJ) on January 29, 2024.

This ground-breaking research has drawn attention and admiration from diverse perspectives within Japan. It highlights the immense potential of combining AI technology, citizen science, and advanced telescopes like the Subaru Telescope to unlock new frontiers of astronomical discovery. The involvement of citizen astronomers in the GALAXY CRUISE project showcases the power of collective human intellect in pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration.

The Subaru Telescope, a remarkable optical-infrared telescope operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, with the support of the MEXT Project to Promote Large Scientific Frontiers, played a pivotal role in this groundbreaking endeavor. Situated in Maunakea, Hawaii, the observatory offers a unique vantage point to unravel the mysteries of the universe, combining cultural, historical, and natural significance.

This latest discovery opens up exciting possibilities for further exploration into the remarkable world of ring galaxies and encourages scientists to continue pushing the boundaries of what artificial intelligence can achieve in deepening our understanding of the cosmos.