Articles
Our team of experts produce regular content to shine a light on the latest news and trending topics within key areas of research. Read our latest articles to find out more about our new product lines, customer research highlights and corporate milestones.
Advent-Supplied Cobalt Wire Powers New Thin-Film Sensor Method at Chiang Mai University
Researchers at Chiang Mai University have created a porous Co₃O₄ thin film for humidity sensing using a spark discharge process with high-purity cobalt wire from Advent Research Materials. The method offers faster sensor response, eco-friendly production, and real potential for industrial use.
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Ordering Research Materials by PO: A Quick Guide for UK Universities
We pride ourselves on supporting UK researchers and already supply many of the country’s leading universities. This quick PO guide shows what to include, when credit terms apply for most labs/departments, typical dispatch times, and how to access CoAs—plus VAT and company details.
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Early Brain Changes in Huntington’s Disease: New Study Uses Advent Research Materials in Breakthrough Findings
Researchers from the University of Dundee and Cardiff University have used precision metals supplied by Advent Research Materials to study early brain changes in the zQ175 mouse model of Huntington’s disease. Their findings reveal that synaptic dysfunction appears months before behavioural symptoms, providing new insight into how the disease develops and a valuable reference point for future neurodegenerative research.
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Printed Polymer Transistors with Platinum Electrodes: A New Tool for Cardiac Electrophysiology
Researchers from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and Politecnico di Milano, working with partners at the University of Barcelona, the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, and the University of Milano-Bicocca, have developed a non-invasive method to record action potentials from human stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes. Using printed polymer transistors with platinum wire electrodes (99.99% purity) supplied by Advent, the Nature Communications study demonstrates patch clamp–like fidelity while opening the door to scalable, high-throughput cardiac electrophysiology for drug testing and heart-on-chip applications.
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Turning Birch Waste Into Energy Storage: Research from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have shown how sawdust from real birch trees can be turned into high-performance carbon electrodes for aluminum batteries and supercapacitors. Using Advent’s 99.999% pure aluminum foils in testing, the study demonstrates a sustainable path for converting forestry by-products into advanced materials for clean energy storage.
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Mining Metals in Space: What the Latest Mission Tells Us About the Future of Critical Materials
Asteroid mining is back in the spotlight as private companies test spacecraft designed to locate platinum group metals in space. While commercial extraction may be decades away, researchers already depend on ultra-high purity PGMs here on Earth to drive breakthroughs in clean energy, catalysis, and advanced technologies.
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Tungsten Wires from Advent in Breakthrough Alzheimer’s Research
Researchers from the University of Barcelona and collaborating institutes have developed a new double transgenic J20/VLW mouse line, used as an animal model to study why some people with Alzheimer’s brain changes never develop dementia. Using Advent’s tungsten wires to record hippocampal activity, the study revealed preserved memory and brain rhythms despite amyloid and tau build-up.
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Tracking Redox Reactions with Precision: How Top UK and EU Labs Used Advent Wires in Electrochemical-EPR Research
A recent collaboration between leading research groups at Queen Mary University of London, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the University of Turin has demonstrated a powerful new method to study redox processes in proteins—using materials supplied by Advent Research Materials.
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PDMS Optical Fibers in Optogenetics: Supporting Breakthroughs in Biocompatible Light Delivery
In a collaborative study from Lund University and the University of Copenhagen, researchers have demonstrated the in vivo performance of thin, flexible PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) optical fibers as a more biocompatible alternative to glass for optogenetic applications. The goal? To deliver light deep into brain tissue with minimal immune response—an essential step for long-term neural modulation and electrophysiological recordings.
From Stents to Soft Robotics: Why Nitinol Is a Material to Watch
Nitinol is quickly becoming one of the most versatile and in-demand materials in research and development. Known for its unique ability to "remember" shapes and return to its original form after deformation, this nickel-titanium alloy is being used across biomedical, robotics, aerospace, and academic research fields.
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High-Purity Titanium for Biomedical Implants: How Titanium Nanotube Size Affects Protein Binding - Insights from a Peer-Reviewed Study Using Advent Foil
High-purity titanium is a key material in biomedical research, particularly when it comes to understanding and improving how implants interact with the body. A 2015 peer-reviewed study published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine explored how the surface structure of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotubes affects the binding of plasma proteins—an essential early step in the body's response to implanted materials. The titanium foil used in this research was supplied by Advent Research Materials.
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Spotlight on Bismuth: A Low-Toxicity Metal with Untapped Potential in Quantum Devices, Green Electronics, and Medical Imaging
Bismuth is a heavy metal with an unexpectedly light environmental footprint. Unlike its toxic cousin lead, bismuth is non-toxic and bio-safe—earning it a place in some of today’s most innovative research, from quantum devices to green electronics. At Advent Research Materials, we supply high-purity bismuth (99.99%) in lab-ready formats, helping researchers and developers explore its full potential in science and technology.
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Case Study: Boosting Solar Panel Efficiency with Sparked Titanium Coatings
A team of researchers from Chiang Mai University in Thailand has developed an innovative coating that enhances the performance of solar panels—using high-purity titanium wires supplied by Advent Research Materials. Their work, published in Scientific Reports, details a low-cost, scalable process that delivers three crucial benefits to photovoltaic (PV) systems: reduced reflection, improved self-cleaning properties, and increased power output.
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Antistatic Biodegradable Films: Chiang Mai University Researchers Use Advent Metal Wires in Cutting-Edge Study
A new study published in Polymers by MDPI (June 2025) highlights the development of flame-retardant, antistatic biodegradable polymer composites—pointing to new applications in electronics, automotive components, and sustainable packaging. The research was led by a multi-disciplinary team from Chiang Mai University (Thailand) and Sungkyunkwan University (Republic of Korea), focusing on a composite blend of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), epoxy resin, and magnesium oxide (MgO).
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Case Study: Custom Electrodes Using 99.99% Silver Wire and Platinum/Iridium Wire for Deep-Brain Stimulation Research
Researchers studying deep-brain stimulation in awake animal models face complex technical challenges, particularly when combining DBS with MRI imaging. This project demonstrates how high-purity materials from Advent Research Materials contributed to a successful custom setup, supporting advanced neuroscience research in a clinical MRI environment.