Research

Research Overview


The School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences is home to internationally-renowned research groups pursuing cutting-edge research in chemistry, the mathematical sciences, and physics. Please visit the divisions’ individual research pages for more information:

CBC Research

Chemistry Research
MAS Research

Mathematics Research
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Physics Research

Recent Research Highlights from SPMS

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​Harnessing Machine Learning for Quantum Physics

A new device concept, the Quantum Reservoir Processor, can tackle difficult problems in quantum physics.
30 Oct 2020
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​Ultra-Fast Terahertz Chip for Wireless Communications

A chip based on photonic topological insulators may enable the next generation of ultra-fast wireless communications.
9 Sep 2020
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​Probing the Ultimate Limits of Quantum Detection

The ultimate detection limits imposed by the laws of quantum physics have been derived, solving a decade-old open problem in quantum theory.
29 Jul 2020
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Discovery of a Two-Dimensional Carborane Cluster

Chemists have isolated a new form of carborane, a flat cluster of carbon and boron atoms, overturning established theoretical rules of cluster chemistry.
20 Jul 2020
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Uncovering the Properties of Wild Edible Bird’s Nest

Chemistry researchers discover why edible bird's nest harvested in the wild differs from farmed bird's nest.
9 Jul 2020
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​A Four-Dimensional Electric Metamaterial

A specially designed electric metamaterial behaves as though it is four dimensional, higher than the three dimensional space around us.
15 May 2020

Topological Insulators Light the Way to Photonic Applications

A new class of materials, chalcogenide topological insulators, has been found to be especially suitable for creating optical devices.
17 Apr 2020

Statistical Swings in Epidemic Models

Mathematical researchers have derived the conditions under which statistical swings can bring an epidemic to an end.
13 Apr 2020

A New Framework for Dividing Resources Fairly

An NTU team has won the AAAI Outstanding Student Paper Award for finding a mathematically fair way to allocate mixed resources.
19 Feb 2020

The First Electrically-Driven Topological Laser

A new type of ‘topological’ laser routes light waves around corners, reducing the sensitivity to manufacturing defects.
13 Feb 2020

Unique Features of 2D Liquids Discovered

Researchers have proven that 2D and 3D liquids are fundamentally different, resolving a 50-year-old puzzle in statistical mechanics.
20 Jan 2020

First Ultrafast Observation of Water Radical Ions

One of the fastest chemical processes known to mankind has been observed for the first time.
15 Jan 2020

Novel Photocatalyst Breaks Down Plastic Waste

A newly-developed method harnesses sunlight to turn plastic waste into useful chemicals.
12 Dec 2019

New Technology to Identify Airborne Chemicals

A new technique can identify airborne chemicals instantly and at a distance, using a porous nanomaterial and Raman spectroscopy.
16 Oct 2019

How Radiation Damages Molecules Over Femtoseconds

Using ultra-fast lasers, researchers have observed how ionizing radiation alters water-dissolved organic molecules over femtosecond time scales.
23 Sep 2019

Tiny Kinks in Light Make An Optical Ruler

Using the phenomenon of superoscillation, NTU researchers have created the world's most precise optical ruler, capable of measuring nanometers.
9 Sep 2019

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Advanced Materials

NTU researchers have developed an environmentally friendly method for making a class of advanced materials, lead-free metal halide perovskites, without solvents.
14 Aug 2019

Theory of Light-induced Magnetism

A new theory predicts that a non-magnetic metal can be turned into a magnet when illuminated by linearly polarised laser light.
5 Jul 2019

Detecting Disease Through the Interplay of Light and Sound

A team led by Prof. Bengang Xing has developed a new optoacoustic imaging scheme that can detect different types of chemicals in the bloodstream, without the need to draw blood.
14 Jun 2019

The Topological Hall Effect

Experiments reveal that tiny magnetic entities called skyrmions are responsible for the exotic electrical phenomenon known as the Topological Hall Effect.
9 May 2019

Quantum Device Views All Possible Futures

Prof. Mile Gu and his collaborators have developed a quantum device that can simultaneously generate all possible futures in a quantum decision process.
10 Apr 2019

NTU Researchers Win Cryptography Competition

Cryptography researchers at NTU won 3 of the 6 prizes at CAESAR, a technical competition sponsored by NIST for developing the next generation of authenticated cryptography schemes.
8 Mar 2019