{
  "id": 17778152,
  "title": "A flexible new route to designer materials built from nanoparticles",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/a-flexible-new-route-to-designer-materials-built-from-nanoparticles",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-02T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MIT News Research",
    "slug": "mit-news-research",
    "url": "https://news.mit.edu/2026/flexible-new-route-designer-materials-from-nanoparticles-1102"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new method for creating materials using nanoparticles has been developed by researchers from MIT. The technique involves using super-flexible connector molecules that can regulate the packing of nanoparticle networks by deforming based on their surrounding environment. This approach allows for greater control over the structure of the materials at the smallest scale, enabling the creation of new types of nanoparticle-based materials for various applications. The lead researcher, Rob Macfarlane, explains that this is a significant departure from previous methods, which required rigid connector ligands and limited the functionality of the materials. The flexible ligands allow the particles to spontaneously align and form bonds, leading to new and previously unseen crystal structures. The researchers believe this new approach could pave the way for more customizable materials with unique properties for various industries, such as photonics, chemical catalysis, medicine, and agriculture.",
  "summary": "Pliable connector molecules could be key to creating nanoparticle-based materials for photonics, chemical catalysis, medicine, and more.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Phys.org",
        "title": "Flexible connectors enable new designer materials built from nanoparticles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/flexible-connectors-enable-new-designer-materials-built-from",
        "published": "2026-11-02T15:40:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}