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879 General — Nanotechnology Entries

General — Nanotechnology — March 15th, 2024

A new world of 2D material is opening up
(Nanowerk News) Since the discovery of graphene, the field of research in extremely thin materials, so-called 2D materials, has increased exponentially. The reason is that 2D materials have a large surface area in relation to their volume or weight. This gives rise to a range of physical phenomena and distinctive properties, such as good conductivity, high strength or heat resistance, making 2D materials of interest both within fundamental research and applications.
March 14th, 2024Source

Advancing force microscopy with a novel calibration method for FluidFM micropipette cantilevers
(Nanowerk News) A study introduces a novel method for calibrating the spring constant of FluidFM micropipette cantilevers, crucial for the accurate measurement of forces in microfluidic environments. This method addresses the limitations of current calibration techniques, offering a significant advancement in the field of force microscopy.
March 14th, 2024Source

Boosted exciton mobility approaching the Mott-Ioffe-Regel limit in a 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite
A study, published in Nature Communications and led by Prof. Liu Xinfeng from the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), recently reported an enhancement in exciton mobility in a two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden-Popper perovskite (RPP).
March 14th, 2024Source

Comprehensive model predicts complex dynamics in free-radical photopolymerization
(Nanowerk Spotlight) The ability to rapidly transform liquid monomers into solid polymers using light has been a transformative technology for over half a century. This process, known as photopolymerization, enables the fast fabrication of coatings, adhesives, dental fillings, and intricate 3D printed structures on demand.
March 14th, 2024Source

Driving photochemistry with sub-molecular precision
Absorption of light initiates many natural and artificial chemical processes, for example, photosynthesis in plants, human vision, or even 3D printing. Until now, it seemed impossible to control a light-driven chemical reaction at the atomic scale, where only a specific part of one molecule is addressed.
March 14th, 2024Source

Integrated light as a key to future computers
(Nanowerk News) While computer chips are getting smaller and faster every year, one challenge remains unsolved: combining electronics and photonics on a single chip. Although components such as micro LEDs are available as individual chips and waveguides as tiny fibre optic cables, the materials required are too different for a harmonised chip.
March 14th, 2024Source

New electron microscopy technique for thermal diffusion measurements
A NIMS research team has developed a technique that enables the nanoscale observation of heat propagation paths and behavior within material specimens. This was achieved using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) capable of emitting a pulsed electron beam and a nanosized thermocouple—a high-precision temperature measurement device developed by NIMS. The research is published in Science Advances.
March 14th, 2024Source

New research suggests that our universe has no dark matter
The current theoretical model for the composition of the universe is that it’s made of ‘normal matter,’ ‘dark energy’ and ‘dark matter.’ A new uOttawa study challenges this.
March 14th, 2024Source

New technique in tiny tool tuning: Making microscopic measurements more accurate
Fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM) combines the sensitivity of atomic force microscopy with microfluidics' capabilities, necessitating precise calibration of its cantilevers for reliable data. Traditional methods, however, struggle with the unique internal structure of FluidFM cantilevers, leading to inaccuracies.
March 14th, 2024Source

Not just a lodger: Novel host-guest assembly provides enhanced reactivity
By design, synthetic molecules typically have specific jobs to prevent or accelerate reactions between other molecules. To help control more complicated reactions, researchers may harness spare space in one molecule to synthesize another chemical structure. The host-guest assembly can better induce the specific desired reaction than either component individually—if the scientists designing the assembly get it right.
March 14th, 2024Source

Printed polymer allows researchers to explore chirality and spin interactions at room temperature
(Nanowerk News) A printable organic polymer that assembles into chiral structures when printed has enabled researchers to reliably measure the amount of charge produced in spin-to-charge conversion within a spintronic material at room temperature. The polymer’s tunable qualities and versatility make it desirable not only for less expensive, environmentally friendly, printable electronic applications, but also for use in understanding chirality and spin interactions more generally.
March 14th, 2024Source or Source

Probing Nanomaterial Dynamics With X-Ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform technologies as diverse as solar panels, in-body medical sensors and self-driving vehicles. But these applications are already pushing today's computers to their limits when it comes to speed, memory size and energy use.
March 14th, 2024Source

Reliability effects of lateral filament confinement by nano-scaling the oxide in memristive devices
Write-variability and resistance instability are major reliability concerns impeding implementation of oxide-based memristive devices in neuromorphic systems. The root cause of the reliability issues is the stochastic nature of conductive filament formation and dissolution, whose impact is particularly critical in the high resistive state (HRS).
March 14th, 2024Source

Scientists develop a new system to record 2D crystal synthesis in real time
(Nanowerk News) Two-dimensional materials such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) exhibit unique properties that hold immense promise for applications in electronics, sensors, energy storage, biomedicine and more. However, their complex growth mechanisms — inconsistent correlations exist between how the conditions for growth affect the shapes of crystals — have posed a significant challenge for researchers.
March 14th, 2024Source

Scientists develop new system to record 2D crystal synthesis in real time
Materials scientists at Rice University are shedding light on the intricate growth processes of 2D crystals, paving the way for controlled synthesis of these materials with unprecedented precision.
March 14th, 2024Source

Speaking without vocal cords, thanks to a new AI-assisted wearable device
(Nanowerk News) People with voice disorders, including those with pathological vocal cord conditions or who are recovering from laryngeal cancer surgeries, can often find it difficult or impossible to speak. That may soon change.
March 14th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — March 11th, 2024

A simple and robust method to add functional molecules to peptides
Peptides are short strands of amino acids that are increasingly used therapeutically, as biomaterials and as chemical and biological probes. The capacity to isolate, manipulate and label peptides and larger proteins is limited, however, by the ability to reliably attach functional molecules, such as fluorescent compounds, to peptides in locations that won't affect the three-dimensional structure and function of the short amino acid strand.
March 11th, 2024Source

Combined Microscopy for Light-Driven Polymer Observations
Expanding our understanding of a particular process, material, or mechanism usually requires taking a close look at what is going on. Researchers in Japan have now observed the nanoscale behavior of azo-polymer films when triggered with laser light.
March 11th, 2024Source or Source or Source

Design rules and synthesis of quantum memory candidates
In the quest to develop quantum computers and networks, there are many components that are fundamentally different than those used today. Like a modern computer, each of these components has different constraints.
March 11th, 2024Source

MoS2 2D materials induce spinal cord neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity affecting locomotor performance in zebrafish
MoS2 nanosheets belong to an emerging family of nanomaterials named bidimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs). The use of such promising materials, featuring outstanding chemical and physical properties, is expected to increase in several fields of science and technology, with an enhanced risk of environmental dispersion and associated wildlife and human exposures.
March 11th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — March 8th, 2024

2D bimetallic MOF-derived selenium electrocatalysts for water splitting
Transition metal selenides have been considered to be a good choice for electrocatalytic water splitting. In addition, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been used to make catalysts with good electrocatalytic capabilities. Traditionally, the MOF-derived selenides are produced via the self-sacrificing MOF template methods.
March 8th, 2024Source

Deciphering catalysts: Unveiling structure-activity correlations
In a new step towards combating climate change and transitioning to sustainable solutions, a group of researchers has developed a research paradigm that makes it easier to decipher the relationship between catalyst structures and their reactions.
March 8th, 2024Source

Nano Microscope Offers Simultaneous Measurement of Properties
A team of researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has created a hybrid nano-microscope that can measure a variety of nano-material properties simultaneously.
March 8th, 2024Source

Researchers use 2D bimetallic MOFs to create Se-containing electrocatalysts for overall water splitting
Transition metal selenides have been considered to be a good choice for electrocatalytic water splitting. In addition, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been used to make catalysts with good electrocatalytic capabilities. Traditionally, the MOF-derived selenides are produced via the self-sacrificing MOF template methods. However, this strategy is high-energy consuming, and it is difficult to precisely control the structure and component homogeneity of the product during pyrolysis.
March 8th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — March 6th, 2024

CRAIC Technologies Launches LightBlades™ Spectrometers: Redefining Spectral Measurement Performance and Precision for Microspectroscopy
CRAIC Technologies, a leading innovator in spectroscopic instrumentation, proudly announces the release of Lightblades™ Spectrometers, a new generation of high-performance spectrometry solutions designed to set a new standard in spectral measurement accuracy, sensitivity, and versatility.
March 6th, 2024Source

Completely recycled viscose for the first time
(Nanowerk News) At present, viscose textiles are made of biomass from the forest, and there is no such thing as fully recycled viscose. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now succeeded in making new viscose – from worn-out cotton sheets.
March 6th, 2024Source or Watch Video

Enhancing covalent organic framework diversity through isomerism
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology for the first time discovered the selective generation of three types of structural isomers (a set of different nanostructures with an identical chemical composition) of three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (3D-COFs), emerging nanoporous solids proposed for many applications, creating new freedom for structural and property controls of 3D-COFs.
March 6th, 2024Source

Graphjet Technology Accelerates Production Timeline at State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Plant in Malaysia
Graphjet Technology (“Graphjet” or “the Company”), a leading developer of patented technologies to produce graphite and graphene directly from agricultural waste, today announced it has accelerated the timeline for its planned manufacturing plant in Malaysia.
March 6th, 2024Source

Making quantum bits fly
(Nanowerk News) Quantum computers are considered the next big evolutionary step in information technology. They are expected to solve computing problems that today's computers simply cannot solve – or would take ages to do so. Research groups around the world are working on making the quantum computer a reality. This is anything but easy, because the basic components of such a computer, the quantum bits or qubits, are extremely fragile.
March 6th, 2024Source

Nanodevices can produce energy from evaporating tap or seawater
Evaporation is a natural process so ubiquitous that most of us take it for granted. In fact, roughly half of the solar energy that reaches the Earth drives evaporative processes. Since 2017, researchers have been working to harness the energy potential of evaporation via the hydrovoltaic (HV) effect, which allows electricity to be harvested when fluid is passed over the charged surface of a nanoscale device.
March 6th, 2024Source

New nano-microscope enables simultaneous measurement of nano-composite material properties
The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has developed a hybrid nano-microscope capable of simultaneously measuring various nano-material properties. This nano-microscope is essential for researching the properties of nano-composite materials and is also suitable for commercialization. It is expected to promote the development of industries for related materials and equipment.
March 6th, 2024Source or Source

'Ruler for light' could enable detailed measurement in personal devices
(Nanowerk News) Stanford researchers have unveiled a new type of frequency comb, a high-precision measurement device, that is innovatively small, ultra-energy efficient, and exceptionally accurate. With continued development, this breakthrough “microcomb” – which is detailed in a study published in Nature ("Integrated frequency-modulated optical parametric oscillator") – could be the basis for mass-market adoption of the devices in everyday electronics.
March 6th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — March 4th, 2024

Correlation spectroscopy research shows network of quantum sensors boosts precision
Quantum sensor technology promises even more precise measurements of physical quantities. A team led by Christian Roos at the University of Innsbruck has now compared the signals of up to 91 quantum sensors with one another and thus successfully eliminated the noise caused by interactions with the environment.
March 4th, 2024Source

Hyper-spectral-resolution stimulated Raman spectroscopy with amplified fs pulse bursts
Stimulated Raman scattering, observed first in 1962, has become a versatile tool in diverse fields such as biological imaging, environmental gas sensing, materials characterization, and molecular dynamics tracking. The choice of laser sources for exciting molecules or materials is critical, as it determines spectral resolution and the approach to obtain the Raman spectrum.
March 4th, 2024Source

Innovative nanosheet method revolutionizes brain imaging for multi-scale and long-term studies
The human brain has billions of neurons. Working together, they enable higher-order brain functions such as cognition and complex behaviors. To study these higher-order brain functions, it is important to understand how neural activity is coordinated across various brain regions.
March 4th, 2024Source

Micro mirage: Researchers fabricate the world's smallest QR code using infrared information carrier
Credit cards embedded chips, national mints printed watermarks, and high-profile locations installed retina scanners all for the same reason—to protect information. As attackers grow smarter, so must defense.
March 4th, 2024Source

Multiparticle nanostructures for building better quantum technologies
In Nature Physics, the LSU Quantum Photonics Group offers fresh insights into the fundamental traits of surface plasmons, challenging the existing understanding. Based on experimental and theoretical investigations conducted in Associate Professor Omar Magaña-Loaiza's laboratory, these novel findings mark a significant advancement in quantum plasmonics, possibly the most noteworthy in the past decade.
March 4th, 2024Source

Nano-thin printing of electronics hardware could slash costs
Engineering researchers have developed a 2D printing process using liquid metals that they say could create new ways of creating more advanced and energy efficient computing hardware that is manufactured at the nanoscale.
March 4th, 2024Source

Nanoscale topcoat can turbocharge supported gold nanoparticle catalysts
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a way to add single nanosheets of mixed metal oxide to gold nanoparticles supported on silica to enhance their catalytic activity.
March 4th, 2024Source

Network of quantum sensors boosts precision
Quantum sensor technology promises even more precise measurements of physical quantities. A team led by Christian Roos at the University of Innsbruck has now compared the signals of up to 91 quantum sensors with each other and thus successfully eliminated the noise caused by interactions with the environment. Correlation spectroscopy can be used to increase the precision of sensor networks.
March 4th, 2024Source

Novel nanosheet method revolutionizes brain imaging for multi-scale and long-term studies
The human brain has billions of neurons. Working together, they enable higher-order brain functions such as cognition and complex behaviors. To study these higher-order brain functions, it is important to understand how neural activity is coordinated across various brain regions.
March 4th, 2024Source

Novel nanocomposites proposed for highly efficient removal of hexavalent chromium in complex environments
Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) is often used to remove chromium (VI), a heavy metal contaminant, because of its large specific surface area and high reducing activity. However, its effectiveness in removing trace heavy metals appears to be modest and sensitive to environmental pH.
March 4th, 2024Source

Scientists reveal role of neighboring adsorbates and quantum tunneling in surface diffusion of hydrogen atoms
A research group led by Prof. Yang Yong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed the role of neighboring adsorbate and quantum tunneling in the diffusion of hydrogen on a graphene surface, which opens a possible way for ultrahigh precision measurement based on atomic systems, in particular, exploring the existence of a minimum length.
March 4th, 2024Source

Spontaneous curvature the key to shape-shifting nanomaterials, finds study
Inspired by nature, nanotechnology researchers have identified 'spontaneous curvature' as the key factor determining how ultra-thin, artificial materials can transform into useful tubes, twists and helices.
March 4th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — March 2nd, 2024

Nanoscale topcoat can turbocharge supported gold nanoparticle catalysts
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a way to add single nanosheets of mixed metal oxide to gold nanoparticles supported on silica to enhance their catalytic activity.
March 2nd, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — March 1st, 2024

AI-enabled atomic robotic probe to advance quantum material manufacturing
Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have pioneered a new methodology of fabricating carbon-based quantum materials at the atomic scale by integrating scanning probe microscopy techniques and deep neural networks.
March 1st, 2024Source

High-tech fab in Dresden receives state-of-the-art electron-beam lithography system
Investment in new production tool for the semiconductor equipment industry - Jenoptik is investing a low double-digit million-euro amount in a state-of-the-art system for the high-tech fab currently under construction in Dresden.
March 1st, 2024Source

It's not only opposites that attract: New study shows like-charged particles can come together
"Opposites charges attract; like charges repel" is a fundamental principle of basic physics. But a new study from Oxford University, published today in Nature Nanotechnology, has demonstrated that similarly charged particles in solution can in fact attract each other over long distances.
March 1st, 2024Source

New class of 2D material displays stable charge density wave at room temperature
Quantum materials have generated considerable interest for computing applications in the past several decades, but non-trivial quantum properties—like superconductivity or magnetic spin—remain in fragile states.
March 1st, 2024Source

Producing quantum materials with precision, with the help of AI
A team of NUS researchers led by Associate Professor Lu Jiong from the Department of Chemistry and Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, together with their international collaborators, have developed a novel concept of a chemist-intuited atomic robotic probe (CARP).
March 1st, 2024Source

Scientists make nanoparticles dance to unravel quantum limits
The question of where the boundary between classical and quantum physics lies is one of the longest-standing pursuits of modern scientific research and in new research, scientists demonstrate a novel platform that could help us find an answer.
March 1st, 2024Source

Sustainable aerogels transform food and electronic waste into pure gold
Electronic waste poses one of the fastest growing waste challenges worldwide, with over 50 million tons generated annually. Yet hidden in obsolete devices lies substantial amounts of precious gold used in electronics manufacturing. Recovering these scarce and valuable metals in a scalable, eco-friendly manner remains an enduring technical hurdle.
March 1st, 2024Source

Synergy palladium single atoms and twinned nanoparticles for efficient CO2 photoreduction
The challenge of regulating the electronic structures of metal single-atoms (M-SAs) with metal nanoparticles (M-NPs) lies in the synthesis of a definite architecture. Such a structure has strong electronic metal-support interactions and maintains electron transport channels to facilitate carbon dioxide photoreduction (CO2PR).
March 1st, 2024Source

Umbrella for atoms: The first protective layer for 2D quantum materials
As silicon-based computer chips approach their physical limitations in the quest for faster and smaller designs, the search for alternative materials that remain functional at atomic scales is one of science's biggest challenges.
March 1st, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 28th, 2024

Light stimulates a new twist for synthetic chemistry
Researchers at Hokkaido University, led by Assistant Professor Akira Katsuyama and Professor Satoshi Ichikawa at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, have extended the toolkit of synthetic chemistry by making a new category of molecules that can be induced to undergo an internal rotation on interaction with light.
February 28th, 2024Source

Robotic unveiling of crystal structures
Researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan have automated a complex and labour-intensive process for analysing the results of X-ray diffraction studies, which are used to determine the structure of crystalline materials. The team described the development and application of their technique in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods ("Automatic Rietveld refinement by robotic process automation with RIETAN-FP").
February 28th, 2024Source

Study unlocks nanoscale secrets for designing next-generation solar cells
Perovskites, a broad class of compounds with a particular kind of crystal structure, have long been seen as a promising alternative or supplement to today's silicon or cadmium telluride solar panels. They could be far more lightweight and inexpensive, and could be coated onto virtually any substrate, including paper or flexible plastic that could be rolled up for easy transport.
February 28th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 27th, 2024

AI-driven lab speeds catalysis research
Researchers have developed a "self-driving" lab that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and automated systems to provide in-depth analyses of catalytic reactions used in chemical research and manufacturing.
February 27th, 2024Source

Innovative polymer coatings against ice
Ice-repellent coatings have been around for some time, but until now they have been very sensitive and detach quite quickly from the surfaces they are meant to protect. A research team led by Anna Maria Coclite and Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez from the Institute of Solid State Physics at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has now succeeded in remedying this shortcoming.
February 27th, 2024Source

Merons realized in synthetic antiferromagnets
The electronic devices we use on a day-to-day basis are powered by electrical currents. This is the case with our living room lights, washing machines, and televisions, to name but a few examples. Data processing in computers also relies on information provided by tiny charge carriers called electrons.
February 27th, 2024Source

Nanoparticles emitted from gas stoves
A study ("Dynamics of nanocluster aerosol in the indoor atmosphere during gas cooking") quantifies the emission of extremely tiny particles by gas stoves and finds that the particles could harm human health. Airborne nanoparticles between 1--3 nm, referred to as nanocluster aerosol or NCA, are known to be bioactive and toxic, but measuring such minute particles has been a challenge.
February 27th, 2024Source

Trapping and excitation of the simplest molecule
H2+ was one of the first molecules to form after the Big Bang. It consists of the most fundamental components that were formed very early on in the universe: two hydrogen nuclei (the protons) and one electron. The electron binds the two protons together to form the molecule. In the interplay of particle movements and forces, the two protons vibrate and rotate.
February 27th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 26th, 2024

Laser-focused look at spinning electrons shatters world record for precision
Scientists are getting a more detailed look than ever before at the electrons they use in precision experiments.
February 26th, 2024Source

Powering nitrogenases: Researchers find new targets for improving biocatalysts
Nitrogenases are considered promising candidates for the sustainable enzymatic production of ammonia and carbon compounds. Unfortunately, one bottleneck in this complex process, the supply of electrons to the enzymes, has remained a mystery until now.
February 26th, 2024Source

Steering and accelerating electrons at the microchip scale
Stanford researchers are getting closer to building a tiny electron accelerator based on "accelerator-on-a-chip" technology with broad potential applications in studying physics as well as medical and industrial uses.
February 26th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 25th, 2024

Interface-engineered molybdenum oxide catalyst significantly boosts sustainable amine synthesis
Secondary amines are an indispensable category of chemicals with extensive applications across industries such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and polymers. As the demand for amines continues to grow, researchers have been investigating efficient and sustainable methods to synthesize these compounds.
February 25th, 2024Source

Measuring the properties of light: Scientists realise new method for determining quantum states
Scientists at Paderborn University have used a new method to determine the characteristics of optical, i.e. light-based, quantum states. For the first time, they are using certain photon detectors - devices that can detect individual light particles - for so-called homodyne detection.
February 25th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 23rd, 2024

New structural insights could lead to mechanical enhancement in alloys
A new class of metallic materials with potential applications in airplane turbines, nuclear reactors and equipment for space exploration can withstand extreme temperatures and resist fractures, but scientists haven't understood why until now. According to a new study co-led by Penn State researchers, the answer could relate to the material's short-range order, or the local arrangement of atoms within a material.
February 23rd, 2024Source

New technique for sorting micro-particles uses sound waves
Thanks to the rapid progress in tiny tech, we've been mainly using microfluidics to sort tiny particles by size. But now, there's a new way to sort them by shape, which could be a big deal for medical tests and chemistry.
February 23rd, 2024Source

Scientists closer to solving mysteries of universe after measuring gravity in quantum world
Scientists are a step closer to unravelling the mysterious forces of the universe after working out how to measure gravity on a microscopic level.
February 23rd, 2024Source

Studying the Interaction of Forces in the Small Pores
Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VaCNT) membranes can be used to clean or desalinate water with a high flow rate and low pressure. Recently, researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and collaborators conducted steroid hormone adsorption experiments to investigate the interaction of forces in microscopic pores.
February 23rd, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 21st, 2024

A Safer Method For High-Quality Graphene Oxide Production
A novel method for synthesizing graphene oxide has been discovered by Umeå researchers, and the resulting materials have much fewer flaws than those made using the most popular approach.
February 21st, 2024Source

Angle-dependent holograms made possible by metasurfaces
The expression "flawless from every angle" is commonly used to characterize a celebrity's appearance. This doesn't simply imply that they appear attractive from a specific viewpoint, but rather that their appeal remains consistent and
February 21st, 2024Source or Source

Berlin Nanotechnology Institute launches Artist-in-Residency Program inspiring new perspectives on science
The Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronik (PDI) in Berlin has launched its inaugural Artist-in-Residency Program, aimed at inspiring unique perspectives on science and presenting new opportunities for engaging with the community.
February 21st, 2024Source

Electrons become fractions of themselves in graphene
The electron is the basic unit of electricity, as it carries a single negative charge. This is what we're taught in high school physics, and it is overwhelmingly the case in most materials in nature.
February 21st, 2024Source

Membrane technology: Looking deep into smallest pores
Membranes of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VaCNT) can be used to clean or desalinate water at high flow rate and low pressure. Recently, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and partners carried out steroid hormone adsorption experiments to study the interplay of forces in the small pores.
February 21st, 2024Source or Source

Nanoscale manipulation of exciton-trion interconversion in a MoSe2 monolayer via tip-enhanced cavity-spectroscopy
In a significant advancement for next-generation semiconductors, a collaborative research team, led by Professor Kyoung-Duck Park and Mingu Kang in the Department of Physics at POSTECH, Professor Yong Doug Suh in the Department of Chemistry at UNIST, who concurrently holds the position of Associate Director at the IBS Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials (CMCM), and Professor Hyun Seok Lee in the Department of Physics at Chungbuk National University, has made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors.
February 21st, 2024Source

Unraveling the pH-dependent oxygen reduction performance on single-atom catalysts
Metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) single-atom catalysts are a promising type of catalyst that could help provide cost-effective alternatives to platinum-based ones. However, there are still some aspects of their behavior that are misunderstood. To rectify this, a group of researchers delved into the intricacies of M-N-C catalysts, yielding promising results.
February 21st, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 19th, 2024

Advancing Catalytic Reaction Selectivity
Researchers from Utrecht University, Harvard Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, and Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have reported on a previously obscure method to enhance the selectivity of catalytic reactions.
February 19th, 2024Source

Applying green chemistry principles to iron catalysis
At the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock, Dr. Johannes Fessler has developed new methods for the synthesis of drug precursors using catalysts made of iron, manganese and cobalt.
February 19th, 2024Source

Defect-laden vertical graphene MOF assembly enables simple, sustainable production of chemicals
Chemical manufacturing underpins modern civilization – fuels, plastics, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals all rely on it. Yet many legacy production routes exact heavy tolls on the planet and human health. New catalytic techniques aim to leapfrog current processes with drastically lower carbon footprints and less waste.
February 19th, 2024Source

Safe Development of Graphene, the 'Wonder' Material
The world's thinnest, strongest, and most flexible material, graphene, could be inhaled under carefully regulated conditions without having any negative short-term consequences on lung or cardiovascular function, according to a study.
February 19th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 16th, 2024

Cracking the metal code
A new approach uses data from one type of test on small metal alloy samples to extract enough information for building databases that can be used to predict the properties and potentials of new materials.
February 16th, 2024Source

Nanodiamonds Could Hold Key to Cool Clothing
Researchers from RMIT University are using nanodiamonds to create smart textiles that can cool people down faster.
February 16th, 2024Source

Researchers observe highly excited 'roaming' energy pathway in chemical reactions
Chemical reactions are supposed to occur along their minimum energy paths. In recent years, so-called roaming reactions that stray far from this path have begun to be observed, but only for chemical species in their ground state or, at most, their first excited state. However, researchers have now observed a roaming reaction even in highly excited energy states.
February 16th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 14th, 2024

A new optical metamaterial makes true one-way glass possible
A new approach has allowed researchers at Aalto University to create a kind of metamaterial that has so far been beyond the reach of existing technologies. Unlike natural materials, metamaterials and metasurfaces

can be tailored to have specific electromagnetic properties, which means scientists can create materials with features desirable for industrial applications.
February 14th, 2024Source

Cost Effective Method to Improve Diagnostic Procedures
Germany's Ruhr University Bochum and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS) have created a procedure that permits a novel type of signal amplification for diagnostic testing. Luminescent single-walled carbon nanotubes are being used in bioanalytics to perform more sensitive, economical, and timely tests.
February 14th, 2024Source

Laser-induced graphene enables smart sensing honeycombs with multifunctional performance
Honeycomb structures have long tantalized engineers with high strength-to-weight ratios perfect for aircraft and satellites. But pristine configurations lack integrated responsiveness to temperature fluctuations, impacts or ice accumulation that cause catastrophic in-flight failures. While previous research explored smart coatings or additive manufacturing, these struggled to balance structural customizability with localized, uniform multifunctionality.
February 14th, 2024Source

Microscopy method overcomes the traditional resolution limit for the fast co-tracking of molecules
Researchers at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) have developed an innovative method to simultaneously track rapid dynamic processes of multiple molecules at the molecular scale.
February 14th, 2024Source

Overcoming the traditional resolution limit for the fast co-tracking of molecules
Processes within our bodies are characterized by the interplay of various biomolecules such as proteins and DNA. These processes occur on a scale often within a range of just a few nanometers. Consequently, they cannot be observed with fluorescence microscopy, which has a resolution limit of about 200 nanometers due to diffraction.
February 14th, 2024Source

Nanomedicine paves the way for new treatments for spinal cord injury
In a study published in Advanced Materials ("Synergistic Pharmacological Therapy to Modulate Glial Cells in Spinal Cord Injury"), researchers Pietro Veglianese, Valeria Veneruso and Emilia Petillo from Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS in collaboration with Filippo Rossi of the Politecnico di Milano have demonstrated that an innovative nanovector (nanogel), which they developed, is able to deliver anti-inflammatory drugs in a targeted manner into glial cells actively involved in the evolution of spinal cord injury, a condition that leads to paraplegia or quadriplegia.
February 14th, 2024Source

Nanomedicine paves the way for new treatments for spinal cord injury
In a study published in Advanced Materials, researchers have demonstrated that an innovative nano-vector (nanogel), which they developed, is able to deliver anti-inflammatory drugs in a targeted manner into glial cells actively involved in the evolution of spinal cord injury, a condition that leads to paraplegia or quadriplegia.
February 14th, 2024Source

Nanoparticles Detect Brain Target Engagement
Phase two clinical trials at UT Southwestern Medical Center revealed that a suspension of gold nanocrystals taken daily by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly reversed deficits in metabolites linked to energy activity in the brain, resulting in functional improvements.
February 14th, 2024Source

SMU Nanotechnology Expert Helps Develop Low-Cost Nuclease Detection Tool
SMU nanotechnology expert MinJun Kim helped a team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin to develop a less expensive way to detect nuclease digestion -- one of the critical steps in many nucleic acid sensing applications, such as those used to identify COVID-19.
February 14th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 12th, 2024

Are shape-shifting 'soft machines' in our future? Scientists advance light-responsive material
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have furthered a new type of soft material that can change shape in response to light, a discovery that could advance "soft machines" for a variety of fields, from robotics to medicine.
February 12th, 2024Source

Breakthrough in single-photon integration holds promise for quantum computing, cryptography
A recent study has unveiled a significant advancement toward the on-chip integration of single-photon sources at room temperature. This achievement represents a significant step forward in the field of quantum photonics and holds promise for various applications, including quantum computing, cryptography, and sensing.
February 12th, 2024Source

Breakthrough in single-photon integration on tiny chips at room temperature
A recent study (Nano Letters, "Room-Temperature Fiber-Coupled Single-Photon Sources based on Colloidal Quantum Dots and SiV Centers in Back-Excited Nanoantennas"), spearheaded by Boaz Lubotzky during his PhD research, along with Prof. Ronen Rapaport from the Racah Institute of Physics at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with teams from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in the USA and from Ulm University in Germany, unveiled a significant advancement toward the on-chip integration of single-photon sources at room temperature.
February 12th, 2024Source

Building Larger Qubit Systems for Enhanced Quantum Sensing
In quantum sensing, atomic-scale quantum systems are used to measure electromagnetic fields, as well as properties like rotation, acceleration, and distance, far more precisely than classical sensors can. The technology could enable devices that image the brain with unprecedented detail, for example, or air traffic control systems with precise positioning accuracy.
February 12th, 2024Source

Darting around with a tiny brain
With a brain the size of a pinhead, insects perform fantastic navigational feats. They avoid obstacles and move through small openings. How do they do this, with their limited brain power? Understanding the inner workings of an insect's brain can help us in our search towards energy-efficient computing, physicist Elisabetta Chicca of the University of Groningen demonstrates with her most recent result: a robot that acts like an insect.
February 12th, 2024Source

Developing data science approaches for nanoparticle synthesis
Typically, researchers attempting to synthesize specifically targeted particles of materials have had to rely on intuition or trial-and-error methods. This approach can be inefficient, requiring significant time and resource investments.
February 12th, 2024Source

Janus Nanosheets Offer Unmatched Control Over Nanoroll Preparation
Tokyo Metropolitan University

scientists have developed a novel method for creating "nanoscrolls" out of atomically thin sheets of atoms. Their novel method creates a tight roll that results in scrolls with a central diameter of five nanometers and a length of micrometers by using transition metal dichalcogenide sheets with a distinct composition on either side.
February 12th, 2024Source

Mott Insulator Physics Unveiled with Ultrafast X-ray Pulses
Researchers at Cornell University identified an uncommon event in a metal-insulating material, offering vital insights for creating materials with novel features through rapid transition between states of matter.
February 12th, 2024Source

Reshaping our understanding of granular systems
Rochester researchers are uncovering the unexpected role of grain shape in the mixing of granular systems such as pharmaceuticals, cereal, and landslides.
February 12th, 2024Source

Scientists find new way to roll atomically thin nanosheets into scrolls
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have come up with a new way of rolling atomically thin sheets of atoms into "nanoscrolls." Their unique approach uses transition metal dichalcogenide sheets with a different composition on either side, realizing a tight roll that gives scrolls down to five nanometers in diameter at the center and micrometers in length. Control over nanostructure in these scrolls promises new developments in catalysis and photovoltaic devices.
February 12th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 9th, 2024

New adhesive tape picks up and sticks down 2D materials as easily as child's play
Materials just atoms in thickness, known as two-dimensional (2D) materials, are set to revolutionize future technology, including in the electronics industry. However, commercialization of devices that contain 2D materials has faced challenges due to the difficulty in transferring these extremely thin materials from where they are made onto the device.
February 9th, 2024Source

New adhesive UV-sensitive tape easily picks up and sticks down 2D materials (w/video)
Materials just atoms in thickness, known as two-dimensional (2D) materials, are set to revolutionize future technology, including in the electronics industry. However, commercialization of devices that contain 2D materials has faced challenges due to the difficulty in transferring these extremely thin materials from where they are made onto the device.
February 9th, 2024Source or Watch Video

Scientists investigate a better way of releasing hydrogen stored in hydrogen boride sheets
The looming threat of climate change has motivated scientists worldwide to look for cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels, and many believe hydrogen is our best bet. As an environmentally friendly energy resource, hydrogen can be used in vehicles and electric power plants without releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
February 9th, 2024Source

Surprise physics in insulating material offer path for faster tech
Researchers led by Cornell have discovered an unusual phenomenon in a metal-insulating material, providing valuable insights for the design of materials with new properties by way of faster switching between states of matter.
February 9th, 2024Source

Surprise physics in Mott insulators offer path for faster electronics
Researchers led by Cornell have discovered an unusual phenomenon in a metal-insulating material, providing valuable insights for the design of materials with new properties by way of faster switching between states of matter.
February 9th, 2024Source

Technique could improve the sensitivity of quantum sensing devices
In quantum sensing, atomic-scale quantum systems are used to measure electromagnetic fields, as well as properties like rotation, acceleration, and distance, far more precisely than classical sensors can. The technology could enable devices that image the brain with unprecedented detail, for example, or air traffic control systems with precise positioning accuracy.
February 9th, 2024Source

Towards a better way of releasing hydrogen stored in hydrogen boride sheets
The looming threat of climate change has motivated scientists worldwide to look for cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels, and many believe hydrogen is our best bet. As an environmentally friendly energy resource, hydrogen can be used in vehicles and electric power plants without releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
February 9th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 7th, 2024

A new state of matter is characterized by the existence of a chiral current
An international research group has discovered a new state of matter characterized by the existence of a quantum phenomenon called chiral current. These currents are generated on an atomic scale by a cooperative movement of electrons, unlike conventional magnetic materials whose properties originate from the quantum characteristic of an electron known as spin and their ordering in the crystal.
February 7th, 2024Source

Curved carbon nanotubes enhance electrocatalysts for carbon neutrality
Electrocatalysis plays a vital role in developing clean energy, greenhouse gas removal and energy storage technologies. A study co-led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) researchers found that single-walled carbon nanotubes are excellent substrates for enhancing greenhouse gas conversion through molecular curvature.
February 7th, 2024Source

Dotz Secures Up to A$12 Million to Accelerate the Development of Carbon Capture Technology
Dotz Nano Limited is pleased to announce it has entered into a strategic funding agreement with Mercer Street Global Opportunity Fund, LLC (Mercer), a prominent US-based investment fund, to raise up to A$12 million via issuance of convertible notes. The infusion of funds will play a pivotal role in expediting the development and commercialization of DOTZearth, the company's cutting-edge carbon capture technology.
February 7th, 2024Source

Enrichment of anchoring sites via supramolecular halogen bonds for efficient perovskite nanocrystal LEDs
Colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles can be viewed as a complex of an inorganic single crystal core and a monolayer of organic ligands. The location and type of ligand anchoring on the nanocrystal surface are critical to the nanocrystal morphology, size, bonding patterns, adsorption-desorption processes, and overall stability, optoelectronic properties, etc.
February 7th, 2024Source

How life appeared: rise of the nanomachines
By attaching molecules together, scientists at Universite de Montreal think they've found how molecular systems at the origin of life evolved to create complex self-regulating functions.
February 7th, 2024Source

How molecular systems at the origin of life may have evolved: Rise of the nanomachines
By attaching molecules together, scientists at Universite de Montreal think they've found how molecular systems at the origin of life evolved to create complex self-regulating functions.
February 7th, 2024Source

Multiverse Computing and Single Quantum Launch Materials Science Research Contract with German Aerospace Center
Multiverse Computing, a global leader in value-based quantum computing solutions, and Single Quantum, the global market leader in superconducting nanowire single photon detectors, today announced an industrial materials science research and development project under a USD $1.4 million contract with the German Aerospace Center's DLR Quantum Computing Initiative (DLR QCI).
February 7th, 2024Source

MXene-coated devices can guide microwaves in space and lighten the payload
One of the most important components of satellites that enable telecommunication is the waveguide, which is a metal tube for guiding radio waves. It is also one of the heaviest payloads satellites carry into orbit. As with all space technology, reducing weight means reducing the amount of expensive and greenhouse gas-producing fuel it takes to launch a rocket, or increasing the number of devices carried by the same rocket to space.
February 7th, 2024Source

Nano weaving creates 'Chinese knot' magnetism for powerful microwave shielding
While investigations into magnetism predate 1820, it was Hans Christian Ørsted's discovery in that year that truly inaugurated the field of electromagnetism by demonstrably linking electric currents and magnetic fields.
February 7th, 2024Source

Perovskite single-pixel detector for efficient extraction of meta-images in complex environments
Information technology plays a pivotal role in contemporary society, influencing aspects such as social communication, audio-visual entertainment in daily life, and the integration of cloud computing and the Internet of Things in industrial production. These scenarios are intricately linked to information technology.
February 7th, 2024Source

PI USA Invests in New Production Facility in MA to Support Continued Growth of High-Tech Solutions
Awarding the contract for a new on-shore production facility is another step in The PI Group's multi-year growth plan. Auburn, MA -- PI, the global leader in nanopositioning, ultra-precision motion control and piezo technology is committed to expanding its US production capacity with a new ~120,000 sqft facility in Shrewsbury, MA.
February 7th, 2024Source

Pore Power: High-Speed Droplet Production in Microfluidic Devices
Over the last two decades, ongoing research in microfluidics has faced challenges in applications due to the restricted productivity of microdroplets. In a recent study, researchers from Chiba University have tackled this issue by developing an efficient method to boost the speed of microdroplet generation for microfluidic devices. This was achieved by incorporating porous, inverse colloidal crystal structures into conventional microchannels, offering potential applications in medicine, food, cosmetics, and semiconductor manufacturing.
February 7th, 2024Source

Very small pores make a big difference in filtering technology
Nanoporous membranes have been shown to be valuable tools for filtering out impurities from water and numerous other applications. However, there's still much work to be done in perfecting their designs. Recently, the lab of Prof. Amir Haji-Akbari has demonstrated that exactly where the nanosized holes are placed on the membrane can make a big difference.
February 7th, 2024Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 5th, 2024

Electrospinning and Electrospraying Synergism Across Domains
Professor Hu Jinlian from the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) highlights the importance of integrating electrospinning and electrospraying, as published in Matter, to advance nanomaterial synthesis, with potential applications in various industries including bioengineering, textiles, defense, and energy.
February 5th, 2024Source

Elucidating the Production and Manipulation of Trions
A collaborative research team, led by scientists from POSTECH, UNIST, and Chungbuk National University has elucidated the production and manipulation of trions, offering valuable insights into their optical characteristics, paving the way for advancements in solar cells, nanophotonics, and flexible technologies.
February 5th, 2024Source

Magnesium protects tantalum, a promising material for making qubits
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered that adding a layer of magnesium improves the properties of tantalum, a superconducting material that shows great promise for building qubits, the basis of quantum computers.
February 5th, 2024Source

Researchers develop thermal radiation controllable epsilon-near-zero material that can withstand extreme environments
Thermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation emitted by all objects with temperature and most representatively, there is the solar radiation spectrum that enters the Earth and causes the greenhouse effect.
February 5th, 2024Source

Revealing the Key Dynamics of 2D Nanomaterials
Rice University researchers discovered how 2D materials flow in liquid, potentially enabling scientists to create macroscopic-scale materials with similar properties.
February 5th, 2024Source

Watching the enzymes that convert plant fiber into simple sugars
Research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and UC Davis sheds new light on how to access the sugars locked up in plants to produce petroleum-free fuels, chemicals, and medicines.
February 5th, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — February 2nd, 2024

A sleeker facial recognition technology tested on Michelangelo's David
Many people are familiar with facial recognition systems that unlock smartphones and game systems or allow access to our bank accounts online. But the current technology can require boxy projectors and lenses.
February 2nd, 2024Source

Bifunctional electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen production via overall hydrazine splitting
Hydrogen is widely recognized as a promising clean energy source, primarily due to its high energy density and the absence of carbon emissions during its utilization. This characteristic makes hydrogen an ideal candidate for addressing the growing energy demand and mitigating the environmental impact associated with the excessive use of non-renewable fossil fuels over the past decades.
February 2nd, 2024Source

Joint research team develops edge-to-edge assembly technique for 2D nanosheets
A collaborative research team has fabricated a soccer ball-shaped construction using edge-to-edge assembly of 2D semiconductor materials. The research has been featured on the cover of the online edition of the Angewandte Chemie International Edition journal.
February 2nd, 2024Source

Oxidation-induced super-elasticity in metallic glass nanotubes
Oxidation can degrade the properties and functionality of metals. However, a research team co-led by scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently found that severely oxidized metallic glass nanotubes can attain an ultrahigh recoverable elastic strain, outperforming most conventional super-elastic metals.
February 2nd, 2024Source

Unveiling Oxidation-induced Super-elasticity in Metallic Glass Nanotubes
Oxidation can degrade the properties and functionality of metals. However, a research team recently found that severely oxidized metallic glass nanotubes can attain an ultrahigh recoverable elastic strain, outperforming most conventional super-elastic metals.
February 2nd, 2024Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 31st, 2024

A Novel Method for Producing Small Metal Nanoparticles
Researchers from Osaka University, led by Professors Hidehiro Sakurai and Yumi Yakiyama, address the challenges of using standard laser sources in labs and propose the use of microchip laser (MCL) technology for PLAL experiments, enabling compact and cost-effective setups.
January 31, 2024Source

Antiviral color nanocoating technology
Since the onset of COVID-19, we've become accustomed to seeing antiviral films attached to elevator buttons and public transportation handles. However, conventional antiviral films are made by mixing antiviral metal particles with polymers. Due to the manufacturing process, only a very small fraction of these metal particles is exposed on the surface. As a result, contrary to the belief that these films will protect us from viruses, the actual antiviral effect upon contact with the film surface is not significant.
January 31, 2024Source

Hydrogel platform enables versatile data encryption and decryption
Hydrogels are crosslinked polymer networks that can absorb huge volumes of water. In recent years, significant progress has been made with so-called "stimuli-responsive" hydrogels - materials that change properties in response to environmental triggers like pH or temperature shifts. Clever integration of these dynamics has enabled hydrogel innovations ranging from drug delivery devices to tissue scaffolds.
January 31, 2024Source

Introduced at Photonics West: Breakthrough Technology Improves Photonic Coupling Acquisition Speed by One Order of Magnitude and More
New PI Photonics Alignment Solution a Game Changer for SiPh Production. San Francisco, CA -- Silicon photonics (SiPh) is the rapidly emerging technology that builds optical circuitry alongside microelectronics on semiconductor wafers. This revolutionary field is driving applications ranging from autonomous vehicles, wearable health sensor, hyperscale data centers, and even new methods of computation.
January 31, 2024Source

Machine learning guides carbon nanotechnology
Carbon nanostructures could become easier to design and synthesize thanks to a machine learning method that predicts how they grow on metal surfaces. The new approach, developed by researchers at Japan's Tohoku University and China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University, will make it easier to exploit the unique chemical versatility of carbon nanotechnology.
January 31, 2024Source or Source

Nanosheet Material Outperforms Most COF-based Photocatalysts
The Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led by Professor Wang Yaobing, and his team, have published a study in Science Advances that outlines a novel strategy for the rational design of an ionic-type covalent organic framework (CoTPP-CoBpy3) that has atomic ultrathin nanosheet morphology, high water-affinity, effective charge separation, and a kinetic favored water oxidation mechanism.
January 31, 2024Source

Novel time-resolved atomic force microscopy technique captures ultrafast light-induced phenomena
Despite remarkable progress in science and technology, rapid advancements have exposed limitations in many technological domains. A pressing challenge in semiconductor devices, which underpin ultrahigh-speed communications and artificial intelligence (AI), is the development of high-performance devices with a basic structure of 2 nanometers (nm).
January 31, 2024Source

Researchers discover new ways to excite spin waves with extreme infrared light
As demands for computing resources continue to increase rapidly, scientists and engineers are looking for ways to build faster systems for processing information. One possible solution is to use patterns of electron spins, called spin waves, to transfer and process information much more rapidly than in conventional computers.
January 31, 2024Source

Researchers Scale Up Multipurpose 2D Nanosheets
Recently, a group at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory of the US Department of Energy (DOE) has created a novel self-assembly technique for creating stacked 2D nanosheets as detailed in Nature.
January 31, 2024Source

Scientists develop antiviral color nanocoating technology
Since the onset of COVID-19, we've become accustomed to seeing antiviral films attached to elevator buttons and public transportation handles. However, conventional antiviral films are made by mixing antiviral metal particles with polymers. Due to the manufacturing process, only a very small fraction of these metal particles is exposed on the surface.
January 31, 2024Source

Scientists make breakthrough in quantum materials research
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine and Los Alamos National Laboratory, publishing in Nature Communications ("Controllable strain-driven topological phase transition and dominant surface-state transport in HfTe5"), describe the discovery of a new method that transforms everyday materials like glass into materials scientists can use to make quantum computers.
January 31, 2024Source

Shape-shifting robot shifts between driving and flying in an instant
Biologically inspired robotics aims to replicate the extraordinary versatility found in nature. Chameleons alter skin pigmentation to camouflage against predators. Birds morph wings for both aerial agility and diving to depths. The key to survival across species lies in adapting form and function to fluidly meet environmental demands.
January 31, 2024Source

Short-Wave Infrared Imaging Reshapes Nanoparticle Research
A new technique for imaging nanoparticles has been created by a team led by Professors Jinyang Liang and Fiorenzo Vetrone from the energie Materiaux Telecommunications Research Centre at the Institut national de la research scientifique (INRS). It is based on a high-precision, short-wave infrared imaging method that can record rare-earth doped nanoparticle photoluminescence lifetimes in the micro-to millisecond range.
January 31, 2024Source

Synergistic Promotion of CO2 Methanation With NiFe Alloys
The usage of fossil fuels has resulted in enormous CO2 emissions, which have led to a number of environmental problems and climate change. The hydrogenation of CO2 to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals is emerging as a potential process for reducing carbon footprint and storing renewable energy, driven by the rapid development of green hydrogen and CO2 capture technology. In mild settings, photothermal catalysis makes efficient CO2 conversion possible.
January 31, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 29th, 2024

A manifold fitting approach for high-dimensional data reduction beyond Euclidean space
National University of Singapore (NUS) statisticians have introduced a new technique that accurately describes high-dimensional data using lower-dimensional smooth structures. This innovation marks a significant step forward in addressing the challenges of complex nonlinear dimension reduction
January 29, 2024Source

An efficient numerical program for studying light scattering at the nanoscale
When light encounters a particle, it interacts with the particle instead of just passing through smoothly. The light waves can get scattered in different directions because of the light-matter interactions.
January 29, 2024Source

How does a 'reverse sprinkler' work? Researchers solve decades-old physics puzzle
For decades scientists have been trying to solve Feynman's Sprinkler Problem: How does a sprinkler running in reverse -- in which the water flows into the device rather than out of it -- work? Through a series of experiments, a team of mathematicians has figured out how flowing fluids exert forces and move structures, thereby revealing the answer to this long-standing mystery.
January 29, 2024Source

How to shift gears in a molecular motor
Scientists have long strived to develop artificial molecular motors that can convert energy into directed motion. Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have now presented a solution to a challenging problem: how motion can be transferred in a controlled manner from one place to another through a "molecular gear". Molecular motors have the potential for use in, for example, energy storage applications and medicine
January 29, 2024Source

New biocompatible nanotweezers enhance control over diverse nanoparticles with versatility and precision
The precise manipulation of individual nanoparticles has long enticed researchers across disciplines like materials science, nanotechnology and biomedicine. But physics itself has imposed key barriers—namely the diffraction limit constraining conventional optical traps alongside insufficient laser intensities to induce stable trapping.
January 29, 2024Source

Quick and easy preparation of small-sized metal nanoparticles by microchip laser
Pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) is a reliable and versatile technique for producing metal nanoparticles (NPs) in solution. Its advantages, including the absence of reducing agents, operational simplicity, high purity without purification steps, and ambient processing conditions, make it a preferred choice over conventional metal NP preparation approaches like the chemical reduction method.
January 29, 2024Source

Room-temperature long-range ferromagnetic order realized in a confined molecular monolayer
How can we manipulate intermolecular exchange interaction to achieve long-range spin ordering? The answer to this question is of great importance in understanding and modulating magnetic behavior at the microscopic scale and in developing new macroscopic magnetic materials and devices.
January 29, 2024Source

Researchers developed a new self-assembly method to fabricate multilayered 2D nanosheets
As electronic devices get smaller, the materials needed to create them get smaller as well. Nanoscience is the study of extremely small materials that find uses in energy storage, electronics, health and safety applications and more.
January 29, 2024Source

Researchers slow down light in metasurfaces with record low loss
The speed of light can be intentionally reduced in various media. Various techniques have been developed over the years to slow down light, including electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), photonic crystals, and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS).
January 29, 2024Source

Scientists Boost Locusts' Smell With Light-Activated Nanoparticles
Our sensory systems are highly adaptable. A person who cannot see after turning off a light in the night slowly achieves superior power to see even small objects. Women often attain a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy. How can the same sensory system that was underperforming can also exceed the expectation based on its prior performance.
January 29, 2024Source

Things are going to get weird as the nanometer era draws to a close
Angstrom age is right around the corner -- for state-of-the-art chips, anyway
January 29, 2024Source

Utilising active microparticles for artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence using neural networks performs calculations digitally with the help of microelectronic chips. Physicists at Leipzig University have now created a type of neural network that works not with electricity but with so-called active colloidal particles.
January 29, 2024Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 22nd, 2024

Anisotropic Spin Transport Reported in Black Phosphorus
Researchers report the highly anisotropic spin transport nature of two-dimensional black phosphorus, a significant achievement in the field of spintronics. The study, published in Nature Materials was led by Professor Barbaros Özyilmaz and Assistant Professor Ahmet Avsar, both affiliated with the Department of Physics and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
January 22, 2024Source

Can We Use Graphene To Build Nanoscale Power Plants?
Twelve years ago, Mickael Perrin began his scientific career with no idea that he would be working in the field of quantum electronics, which would only become popular a few years later.
January 22, 2024Source

Enabling distributed quantum sensors for simultaneous measurements in distant places
A research team has succeeded in implementing a distributed quantum sensor that can measure multiple spatially distributed physical quantities with high precision beyond the standard quantum limit with few resources. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.
January 22, 2024Source

Fingerprinting biomolecules with the help of sound
A team of researchers from the Institute for Optoelectronic Systems and Microtechnology at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM) has designed a biosensor capable of identifying proteins and peptides in quantities as low as a single monolayer. For that, a surface acoustic wave (SAW), a kind of electrically controlled nano earthquake on a chip, is generated with an integrated transducer to act on a stack of 2D materials coated with the biomolecules to be detected.
January 22, 2024Source

Groundbreaking discovery enables cost-effective and eco-friendly green hydrogen production
A breakthrough technology has been developed that enables the production of green hydrogen in a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner, bringing us closer to a carbon-neutral society by replacing expensive precious metal catalysts.
January 22, 2024Source

Innovative membrane platform enables analysis 'down to a handful of gas atoms'
Northwestern University researchers have developed a novel method to host gas molecules as they are being analyzed in real time, using honeycomb structures found in nature as inspiration for an ultra-thin ceramic membrane they incorporated to encase the sample.
January 22, 2024Source

Nanosurf Joins the TOPOCOM Project to Provide Expert Training in Scanning Probe Microscopy
Nanosurf, a leading provider of high-precision nanotechnology solutions, is proud to announce its participation in the TOPOCOM network project. The TOPOCOM project, standing for "Topological Solitons in Ferroics for Unconventional Computing", brings together leading European groups from different disciplines and sectors selected to provide comprehensive training on the integrative concepts underlying the science of topological solitons in ferroic materials and their application in unconventional computing. It aims to explore and develop innovative materials through advanced research techniques.
January 22, 2024Source

Research reveals quantum topological potential in material
New research into topological phases of matter may spur advances in innovative quantum devices. As described in a new paper published in the journal Nature Communications, a research team including Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists used a novel strain engineering approach to convert the material hafnium pentatelluride (HfTe5) to a strong topological insulator phase, increasing its bulk electrical resistance while lowering it at the surface, a key to unlocking its quantum potential.
January 22, 2024Source

Squid-inspired robot swims with nature's most efficient marine animals
Scientists at the University of Southampton and University of Edinburgh have developed a flexible underwater robot that can propel itself through water in the same style as nature's most efficient swimmer - the Aurelia aurita jellyfish.
January 22, 2024Source

Scientists Developed World's First Working Nanoscale Electromotor
According to research published in Nature Nanotechnology, scientists have produced the first functional nanoscale electromotor in history. The scientific team created a DNA-engineered turbine that runs on hydrodynamic flow within a nanopore—a hole in a solid-state silicon nitride membrane that is only a nanometer in size.
January 22, 2024Source

Scientists trap krypton atoms to form one-dimensional gas
For the first time, scientists have successfully trapped atoms of krypton (Kr), a noble gas, inside a carbon nanotube to form a one-dimensional gas.
January 22, 2024Source or Watch Video

Trapping krypton atoms inside carbon nanotubes to form one-dimensional gas
Scientists from the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry used advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods to capture the moment when krypton (Kr) atoms joined together, one by one, inside a carbon nanotube with diameter half a million times smaller than the width of a human hair.
January 22, 2024Source

Ultra-thin ceramic membrane for unprecedented imaging of chemical reactions
The dynamics of chemical reactions central to energy innovations unfold at nanometer lengths - a scale too small to directly witness in atomistic detail, obscured by limitations of observation tools. Scientists could only speculate based on indirect evidence rather than visually verifying the intricate molecular dance underlying mechanisms they aim to optimize.
January 22, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 19th, 2024

Clutch-stack-driven molecular gears in crystals could propel material innovation
Gears are an essential component of everyday machines. The ability to shift gears, like in a car, allows for control of the degree or direction of motion generated, making machines more versatile.
January 19, 2024Source or Source

Quantum physicist uses graphene ribbons to build nanoscale power plants
When Mickael Perrin started out on his scientific career 12 years ago, he had no way of knowing he was conducting research in an area that would be attracting wide public interest only a few years later: Quantum electronics. "At the time, physicists were just starting to talk about the potential of quantum technologies and quantum computers," he recalls.
January 19, 2024Source

Scientists unlock secrets of aromatic molecules' interaction with gold
A research team led by Prof. Yang Liangbao from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has observed the interactions between aromatic molecules and Au surfaces on a single Au nanodimer by Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS).
January 19, 2024Source

Sumitomo Precision Products Launches MEMS Infinity's Foundry Service
Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd. (SPP), a leading manufacturer of high-precision industrial products, has broadened its role in the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing ecosystem with the launch of MEMS Infinity, a 150 mm and 200 mm wafer foundry that meets growing customer demand for concept design and evaluation all the way through prototyping and mass production.
January 19, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 16th, 2024

Chemists find new way to rid boron nitride nanotubes of impurities
Very strong, light materials that can withstand extremely high temperatures could usher in next-generation spacecraft, enhance current devices or enable the development of new biomedical imaging or hydrogen storage applications, among others.
January 16, 2024Source or Source

Collecting helium diffraction patterns in microscopic regions of samples
Recent scientific advancements have opened new opportunities for the close observation of physical phenomena. Researchers at University of Cambridge and University of Newcastle recently introduced a new method to measure helium atom diffraction with microscopic spatial resolution.
January 16, 2024Source

Intelligent Laser Wound Soldering Using Nanothermometers
Researchers from Empa and ETH Zurich have introduced a new technique for wound closure in a recent study published in the journal Small Methods. Utilizing a novel laser soldering approach, the team has developed a method that uses metallic and ceramic nanoparticles for precise temperature control, offering a safer and more effective alternative to traditional suturing.
January 16, 2024Source

Material science advance could lead to airplanes that optimize their shape in flight
Materials and objects could take on different shapes by themselves through a method developed at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Breakthrough tests showed how microscale melting and cooling of a wide range of materials -- such as plastics and metals -- can be manipulated to reorganize their mass and form new shapes.
January 16, 2024Source

Research team develops anti-icing film that only requires sunlight
A KAIST research team has developed an anti-icing and de-icing film coating technology that can apply the photothermal effect of gold nanoparticles to industrial sites without the need for heating wires, periodic spray or oil coating of anti-freeze substances, and substrate design alterations.
January 16, 2024Source

Scientists Create Anti-Icing and De-Icing Surface From Nanorods
A research team at KAIST has created a film coating technique that can be used to apply the photothermal effect of gold nanoparticles to industrial locations. This method eliminates the need for heating wires, anti-freeze chemicals to be sprayed or oiled on a regular basis, and changes to substrate design.
January 16, 2024Source

Soldering wounds with light and nano thermometers
Not every wound can be closed with needle and thread. Empa researchers have now developed a soldering process with nanoparticles that gently fuses tissue. The soldering technique is expected to prevent wound healing disorders and life-threatening complications from leaking sutures.
January 16, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 15th, 2024

Armor for steel: New method could enable advances in energy, electronics and aerospace
Researchers have demonstrated that stainless steel and other metal alloys coated with hexagonal boron nitride, or hBN, exhibit non-stick or low-friction qualities along with improved long-term protection against harsh corrosion and high-temperature oxidation in air.
January 15, 2024Source

Breakthrough method enables scalable hexagonal boron nitride synthesis for superior corrosion protection
Industrial metals face an unrelenting threat from corrosion and degradation that drains trillions annually. Yet effective large-scale protection has remained elusive, frustrating both structural engineers and asset managers alike. Advanced coatings once seemed poised to deliver a breakthrough after graphene isolation enabled investigation of other 2D films. The layered boron nitride (hBN) emerged as especially promising given its chemical inertia and thermal stability similar to its carbon counterpart.
January 15, 2024Source

Introducing the J. A. Woollam Alpha 2.0 Ellipsometer
J. A. Woollam introduces the alpha 2.0, the second generation of the alpha-SE, which was first developed in 2003 and was created to provide researchers with an ellipsometer that was budget-friendly, reliable, robust, and accurate for routine measurements of film thickness and refractive index.
January 15, 2024Source

'Optical fingerprints' on an electron beam
The precise control of electron beams in so-called transmission electron microscopes (TEM) makes it possible to analyze materials or molecules at the atomic level. Combined with short light pulses, these devices can also be used to analyze dynamic processes. Researchers from Göttingen and Switzerland have now shown for the first time how electrons can distinguish complex light states in a microscopic light storage in a TEM.
January 15, 2024Source

Physicists identify overlooked uncertainty in real-world experiments like optical tweezers
The equations that describe physical systems often assume that measurable features of the system — temperature or chemical potential, for example — can be known exactly. But the real world is messier than that, and uncertainty is unavoidable. Temperatures fluctuate, instruments malfunction, the environment interferes, and systems evolve over time.
January 15, 2024Source

Research sheds new light on Moon rock formation solving major puzzle in lunar geology
New research has cracked a vital process in the creation of a unique rock type from the Moon. The discovery explains its signature composition and very presence on the lunar surface at all, unravelling a mystery which has long eluded scientists.
January 15, 2024Source

Stability of rings of atoms in glass materials can help predict performance of glass products
Glass is being used in a wider range of high-performance applications, including those for consumers and industry, military and aerospace electronics, coatings and optics. Because of the extreme precision demanded for use in products such as mobile phones and jet aircraft, glass substrates must not change their shape during the manufacturing process.
January 15, 2024Source

Tracking molecules at turbo speed
Being able to observe micro-organisms and their cellular components is key to understanding fundamental processes that go on inside cells—and thus potentially developing new medical treatments. Microbiologists and biophysicists from the University of Bonn have now developed a method that makes the high-throughput process for observing molecules five times faster, enabling insights to be gained into hitherto unknown cellular functions.
January 15, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 12th, 2024

Researchers demonstrate that quantum entanglement and topology are inextricably linked
For the first time, researchers from the Structured Light Laboratory (School of Physics) at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, led by Professor Andrew Forbes, in collaboration with string theorist Robert de Mello Koch from Huzhou University in China (previously from Wits University), have demonstrated the remarkable ability to perturb pairs of spatially separated yet interconnected quantum entangled particles without altering their shared properties.
January 12, 2024Source

Researchers develop technique to synthesize water-soluble alloy nanoclusters
In recent years, ultrasmall metal nanoclusters have unlocked advances in fields ranging from bioimaging and biosensing to biotherapy thanks to their unique molecular-like properties. In a study published in the journal Polyoxometalates ("Metal ion-induced alloying and size transformation of water-soluble metal nanoclusters"), a research team from Qingdao University of Science and Technology proposed a design to synthesize atomically precise, water-soluble alloy nanoclusters.
January 12, 2024Source or Source

Study discovers non-reciprocal antisymmetric transport behavior in natural van der Waals ferromagnetic material
According to a study published in ACS Nano, a research team has revealed a novel non-reciprocal antisymmetric magnetoresistance and unconventional Hall effect in a two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnetic Fe5-xGeTe2, which may originate from the asynchronous magnetization switching of the magnetic domains.
January 12, 2024Source

Unique self-healing nanotechnology Iron Man armor
Imagine a world where the clothes and gear we wear could mend themselves, just like a cut on our skin heals over time. This isn't just a fantasy from a superhero movie anymore. Scientists and engineers are working hard to make self-repairing materials a reality, and they're getting closer to creating something that might remind you of Iron Man's famous suit.
January 12, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 11th, 2024

Bridging light and electrons
When light goes through a material, it often behaves in unpredictable ways. This phenomenon is the subject of an entire field of study called "nonlinear optics", which is now integral to technological and scientific advances from laser development and optical frequency metrology, to gravitational wave astronomy and quantum information science.
January 11, 2024Source

First direct imaging of small noble gas clusters at room temperature
For the first time, scientists have succeeded in the stabilisation and direct imaging of small clusters of noble gas atoms at room temperature. This achievement opens up exciting possibilities for fundamental research in condensed matter physics and applications in quantum information technology.
January 11, 2024Source

Generating stable qubits at room temperature with MOFs
In a study published in Science Advances ("Room-temperature quantum coherence of entangled multiexcitons in a metal-organic framework"), a group of researchers led by Associate Professor Nobuhiro Yanai from Kyushu University's Faculty of Engineering, in collaboration with Associate Professor Kiyoshi Miyata from Kyushu University and Professor Yasuhiro Kobori of Kobe University, reports that they have achieved quantum coherence at room temperature: the ability of a quantum system to maintain a well-defined state over time without getting affected by surrounding disturbances.
January 11, 2024Source

Graphene-based neurotechnology paves way for high-precision therapeutic applications
Following years of research under the European Graphene Flagship project, ICN2 spearheaded in collaboration with the University of Manchester the development of EGNITE (Engineered Graphene for Neural Interfaces), a novel class of flexible, high-resolution, high-precision graphene-based implantable neurotechnology.
January 11, 2024Source

Oxford Instruments plc Acquires First Light Imaging SAS
Oxford Instruments plc ("the Group", "Oxford Instruments"), a leading provider of high technology products and services to industry and scientific research communities, today announces the acquisition of First Light Imaging SAS ("First Light"), a scientific camera specialist.
January 11, 2024Source

Researchers use spinning metasurfaces to craft compact thermal imaging system
Researchers have developed a new technology that uses meta-optical devices to perform thermal imaging. The approach provides richer information about imaged objects, which could broaden the use of thermal imaging in fields such as autonomous navigation, security, thermography, medical imaging and remote sensing.
January 11, 2024Source

Upconversion Plasmonphore Platform Controls Isotropic Upconversion Nanoparticles
To provide exact control over the polarization of isotropic upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed an upconversion plasmonphore platform. This is accomplished by combining properly crafted anisotropic gap plasmon mode-supported metasurfaces with upconversion activators.
January 11, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 10th, 2024

AI helps whittle down candidates for hydrogen carriers in liquid form from billions to about 40
In a computational study leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory assessed 160 billion molecules, a number exceeding the people born in the entire span of human history. Their goal was to screen the molecules for suitability as liquid carriers of hydrogen.
January 10, 2024Source

Anisotropic plasmon engineering unlocks multilevel polarized upconversion
National University of Singapore (NUS) researchers have introduced an upconversion plasmonphore platform to enable precise control over the polarization of isotropic upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). This is achieved by coupling upconversion activators with carefully designed anisotropic gap plasmon mode-supported metasurfaces.
January 10, 2024Source

Image Sensing Revolution Makes 2024 the 'Year of the Quantum Dot'
Demand for high-performance short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensing in AI and machine vision will drive an explosion of activity in the quantum dot (QD) market this year, claims infrared QD technology experts Quantum Science.
January 10, 2024Source

Organic Coatings to Improve Biomedical Applications
A regulated production and coating of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) utilizing oleic acid (OA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) was examined in a study published in the International Journal of Nanotechnology. These two well-researched polymers can be combined in a co-precipitation method to create MNPs. The resulting nanoparticles can then be coated with varying ratios of the two polymers to yield distinct properties.
January 10, 2024Source

Research team reports observing vibrational spectra of a single protein with infrared nanospectroscopy
An interdisciplinary research team, led by Assistant Prof. Jun Nishida and Associate Prof. Takashi Kumagai at the Institute for Molecular Science, has successfully observed vibrational spectra of single proteins, consisting of approximately 500 amino acid residues, using advanced measurement techniques based on near-field optical microscopy.
January 10, 2024Source

Researchers Boost SERIA's Ultrasensitive Molecular Sensing
Sensors are critical instruments for detecting and analyzing trace molecules in a wide range of applications, including environmental monitoring, food safety, and public health. However, finding sensors sensitive enough to detect these minute concentrations of molecules remains difficult.
January 10, 2024Source

Scientists develop green method for producing bactericidal copper oxide nanoparticles from noni plant
Researchers have described a green method for obtaining copper oxide nanoparticles from the noni plant (Morinda citrifolia), common in Asia. These copper oxide nanoparticles exhibit bactericidal properties. Moreover, antibacterial activity depends on the physical properties of the particles—size, structure, and concentration of copper oxide.
January 10, 2024Source

Stripes in a Flowing Liquid Crystal Suggest a Route to "Chiral" Fluids
Hold your hands out in front of you, and no matter how you rotate them, it's impossible to superimpose one over the other. Our hands are a perfect example of chirality — a geometric configuration by which an object cannot be superimposed onto its mirror image.
January 10, 2024Source

Team develops light-powered catalyst to make hydrogen
A team from the UPC and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) has designed an efficient and stable photocatalyst capable of producing hydrogen directly using sunlight. The results are published in the journal Nature Communications.
January 10, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 9th, 2024

Looking at the sides of molecules: Lateral force microscopy reveals previously unseen hydrogen atoms
Researchers at the University of Regensburg and the Graz University of Technology have shown that hydrogen atoms at the sides of molecules lying on a surface can directly be seen. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ("Exploring in-plane interactions beside an adsorbed molecule with lateral force microscopy"), describes that by looking beside the molecules, the position and presence of the previously-hidden hydrogen atoms could be revealed.
January 9, 2024Source

New soft robots roll like tires, spin like tops and orbit like moons
Researchers have developed a new soft robot design that engages in three simultaneous behaviors: rolling forward, spinning like a record,and following a path that orbits around a central point. The device, which operates without human or computer control, holds promise for developing soft robotic technologies that can be used to navigate and map unknown environments.
January 9, 2024Source

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels enable new path to dynamic tunable photonics
From augmented reality visors to holographic projectors, visions of advanced photonics applications rely on the ability to actively control light's behavior. But practical schemes to make optical properties reconfigurable and responsive have proven elusive.
January 9, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 8th, 2024

Engineering stable and efficient nanosheet catalysts with Turing structures for hydrogen production
Hydrogen energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a clean and sustainable energy source. However, the development of low-cost and efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction remains a challenge.
January 8, 2024Source

Nanosurf Expands Service Offerings with Automation Software Solutions
Nanosurf, an established leader in high-tech engineering and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), recently announced the expansion of its services with the introduction of Nanosurf Automation Software Solutions (NASS). This initiative represents Nanosurf's commitment to delivering bespoke automation solutions, including software and other components, tailored to the unique needs of its clients in various industrial sectors.
January 8, 2024Source

New crystal structure makes hydrogen fuel production more efficient and long-lasting
Hydrogen energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a clean and sustainable energy source. However, the development of low-cost and efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction remains a crucial challenge.
January 8, 2024Source

Researchers unveil useful strategies for sustainable gas storage and separation with clathrate hydrates
Clathrate hydrates are ice-like nano porous compounds which consists of nano-sized water cages. They are found in places like permafrost or seabed. Moreover, their unique physical and chemical traits make them beneficial for various separation processes, such as the capture of carbon dioxide before and after combustion, storage of hydrogen gas, transportation of natural gas, desalination of wastewater, and more.
January 8, 2024Source

Revolutionizing stable and efficient catalysts with Turing structures for hydrogen production
Hydrogen energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a clean and sustainable energy source. However, the development of low-cost and efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction remains a crucial challenge. Scientists have recently developed a novel strategy to engineer stable and efficient ultrathin nanosheet catalysts by forming Turing structures with multiple nanotwin crystals. This innovative discovery paves the way for enhanced catalyst performance for green hydrogen production.
January 8, 2024Source

Speedy Nanostructured Meta-Imager Uses Less Power to Work
Researchers from Vanderbilt University have developed a front-end lens, or meta-imager, that could eventually replace conventional imaging optics in machine-vision applications. It can produce images more quickly and with less power consumption.
January 8, 2024Source

The Intricate Mysteries of Ice
Researchers have discovered a phenomenon known as premelting at temperatures significantly lower than previously believed, thanks to imaging equipment at the DOE's Argonne National Laboratory.
January 8, 2024Source

Ultrasensitive molecular sensing with synthesize complex-frequency waves
Sensors are essential tools for detecting and analyzing trace molecules in a variety of fields, including environmental monitoring, food safety, and public health. However, developing sensors with high enough sensitivity to detect these tiny amounts of molecules remains a challenge.
January 8, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — January 6th, 2024

NanoString Technologies to cut 9% of workforce, gets delisting notice from Nasdaq
Seattle-based publicly traded biotech company NanoString Technologies said in a filing (PDF) Friday that it plans to cut about 50 positions, or 9% of its workforce.
January 6, 2024Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 29th, 2023

Novel toxic gas sensor improves the limit of nitrogen dioxide detection
Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science developed a toxic gas sensor with the world's highest sensitivity. This sensor can precisely monitor nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas in the atmosphere, at room temperature with low power consumption and ultra-high sensitivity. It can be applied to diverse fields, such as detection of residual gases during semiconductor manufacturing process and research on electrolysis catalysts.
December 29, 2023Source

Scientists discover new method for generating metal nanoparticles to use as catalysts
A team of researchers from the ITACA Institute of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the Research Institute of Chemical Technology, a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the UPV, has discovered a new method for the manufacture of metal nanocatalysts that is more sustainable and economical.
December 29, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 28th, 2023

High-Speed, High-Sensitivity Terahertz Detection
A research team has successfully devised a room-temperature terahertz-wave detector with both high speed and sensitivity, paving the way for advancements in the evolution of next-generation 6G/7G technology.
December 28, 2023Source

MXenes, bare MXenes, or MX: The quest for the ideal catalyst
Inexpensive and Earth-abundant alternatives to expensive noble metal catalysts remain a grand challenge at the forefront of the chemical industry. Catalysts play an indispensable role in the vast majority of industrial chemical processes by accelerating reaction rates and enabling important transformations under feasible conditions.
December 28, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 27th, 2023

High-sensitivity terahertz detection by 2D plasmons in transistors
A research group from Tohoku University and RIKEN has developed a high-speed, high-sensitivity terahertz-wave detector operating at room temperature, paving the way for advancements in the development of next generation 6G/7G technology.
December 27, 2023Source

In quest to prevent debilitating traumatic brain injuries, new foam material rises to the top
From falls to football tackles, most blows to the head occur at odd angles. And those impacts trigger simultaneous linear and rotational head motions. The rotating movement in particular causes shear strain, which is especially damaging to the brain.
December 27, 2023Source

New technique unlocks tunable plasmonics in promising photonic glass
Artisans have long marveled at vivid red colors produced by gold nanoparticles scattered within stained glass masterpieces. But the quantum origins of such optical wonder remained shrouded in mystery until modern advances in nanoengineering and microscopy illuminated intricacies of plasmon resonance. Now researchers stand poised to propel nanoplasmonic technologies previously harnessed for art into emerging photonic, sensing and amplification applications.
December 27, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 21st, 2023

Are diamonds GaN's best friend? Revolutionizing transistor technology
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University are proving that diamonds are so much more than just a girl's best friend. Their groundbreaking research focuses on gallium nitride (GaN) transistors, which are high-power, high-frequency semiconductor devices used in mobile data and satellite communication systems.
December 21, 2023Source

Generation of lossy mode resonances using perovskite nanofilms
In recent research, scientists have unlocked the potential of a remarkable material called perovskite to revolutionize the world of optical sensing. Their study is published in the journal Opto-Electronic Advances.
December 21, 2023Source

Inside the matrix: Nanoscale patterns revealed within model research organism
Species throughout the animal kingdom feature vital interfaces between the outermost layers of their bodies and the environment. Intricate microscopic structures—featured on the outer skin layers of humans, as one example—are known to assemble in matrix patterns.
December 21, 2023Source

Nanotechnology approaches for creating biodeterioration-resistant wood
Emerging technologies such as nanotechnology can provide efficient approaches by which new materials with broad functions, such as durable and fire-retardant properties, can be developed and subsequently used for the treatment of wood materials.
December 21, 2023Source

Scientists create chiral polyoxometalate-based frameworks with enhanced stability and catalytic activity
A team of scientists has created a chiral assembly by blending inorganic polyoxometalates and organic cyclodextrin molecules.
December 21, 2023Source

Using molecular 'cookie cutters' to view membrane protein organization
The membrane that encases a biological cell is not simply a barrier; it is chock full of proteins involved in all sorts of critical biological functions. To really understand what membrane proteins are doing and how, researchers need to know how they're organized and how they interact with one another. But uncovering that information is challenging.
December 21, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 19th, 2023

Developing Covalent Organic Framework Films via Vapor Deposition
The tunable molecular structure, large surface area, and porosity of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a class of crystalline polymers with potential applications in energy, semiconductor devices, sensors, filtration systems, and drug delivery, have been made possible by a rapid, inexpensive, and scalable method developed by materials scientists at Rice University.
December 19, 2023Source

Filming the microscopic flow of hydrogen atoms in a metal
A group of researchers has created a simple and inexpensive means to visualize the atomic state of hydrogen.
December 19, 2023Source

New study explores amino acid that turns into gel in water
Hydrogels, ubiquitous materials in our daily lives, are the focus of scientific research published in Chemistry—A European Journal. Conducted by the SupraBioNanoLab at the Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta at Politecnico di Milano, the work demonstrated how the combination of supramolecular chemistry and crystallography can be used to design hydrogels with specific characteristics.
December 19, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 18th, 2023

Gold nanoparticle-based immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of imazalil
Imazalil (IMZ) is a commonly used fungicide for controlling fungus in agriculture, leaving residual IMZ in crops that could be hazardous to human health. In this work, we designed IMZ haptens for mice immunization and prepared sensitive monoclonal antibody (mAb) against IMZ. The subtype of anti-IMZ mAb is IgG2a.
December 18, 2023Source

Spatiotemporal Monitoring of Near-Ballistic Electron Transport in Graphene
Real-time visualization of the ballistic movement of electrons in graphene is provided by research published in ACS Nano.
December 18, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 14th, 2023

Adapted MLP-Mixer network based on crossbar arrays of fast and multilevel switching (Co-Fe-B)x(LiNbO3)100-x nanocomposite memristors
MLP-Mixer is a novel architecture of a neuromorphic computing system (NCS) introduced for image classification tasks without convolution layers. Its software realization demonstrates high classification accuracy, although the number of trainable weights is relatively low. One more promising way of improving NCS performance, especially in terms of power consumption, is its hardware realization using memristors.
December 12, 2023Source

Assembling 3D Structures With Gold Nanoparticles
Through the development of new technology, a research group headed by Associate Professor Shota Kuwahara of Toho University and Associate Professor Masato Kuwahara of Nagoya University can create three-dimensional structures of gold nanoparticles contained within silica nanocapsules.
December 12, 2023Source

Fast and energy-saving synthesis method for new electrocatalysts
Against the backdrop of climate change and the necessary transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, water electrolysis is becoming increasingly important for the production of hydrogen. However, electrolysis not only requires catalysts for the reduction of protons to hydrogen, but also for the opposite side, namely water oxidation and the associated production of oxygen.
December 12, 2023Source

Oxford Instruments Launches Innovation Centre
Leading provider of technology for science and industry Oxford Instruments has brought together the best of its analytical innovations to form the Oxford Instruments Innovation Centre, a state-of-the-art facility at its High Wycombe site. The Centre forms part of the company's ongoing contribution to scientific advances in line with its purpose: to enable a greener, healthier, more connected advanced society.
December 12, 2023Source

Putting Nanodiamonds into Polymers for Versatile Applications
A nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is a flaw in the diamond crystal structure that occurs when an adjacent lattice site becomes unoccupied and a nitrogen atom takes the place of a carbon atom. Researchers are interested in color centers, which are fluorescent imperfections in diamonds that emit single photons at ambient temperature and with a long coherence time due to their quantum characteristics.
December 12, 2023Source

Researchers develop fast and energy-saving synthesis method for new electrocatalysts
Researchers from the Bavarian Center for Battery Technology and the "SolTech" research network at the University of Bayreuth have presented a new production method for electrocatalysts: a fast, low-temperature synthesis of special ceramic materials (high-entropy oxides).
December 12, 2023Source

Seeing the Unseen: New Microscope Reveals the Invisible Dance of Light and Force
Researchers at the Beckman Institute developed a microscope that visualizes the invisible forces exerted by light at the nanoscale. This groundbreaking tool reveals the intimate tango between light, force, and temperature with unprecedented detail and speed.
December 12, 2023Source

The world's first universal metasurface antenna for high-security 6G communications
In a world first, the team developed a universal metasurface antenna that allows the independent and simultaneous manipulation of amplitude, phase, frequency, polarisation and direction of electromagnetic radiation.
December 12, 2023Source

Towards Targeted Oxygen Reduction Processes with Pt3Co Nanowires
The chemical process known as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) makes it possible to use hydrogen as a clean fuel in modern fuel cells to produce heat and power. For this reaction, platinum metal is typically used as a catalyst. However, its main drawbacks are its expensive price of platinum (about 930 $/troy oz) and its limited availability in the Earth's crust.
December 12, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 12th, 2023

A new microfabrication strategy for multifunctional 3D artificial sharkskin
Sharks in nature swim at high speeds in a deep ocean due to their high drag reduction ability. Water flows around the sharkskin become disrupted by staggered and overlapping microscale structures named denticles. In addition to this surface roughness, water slips at a fluid-solid interface with multiple groove-like microriblets on individual microdenticles.
December 12, 2023Source

Carbon nanotubes have progressed toward energy and health applications, but misconceptions remain
The increasing use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)—and a proposal in the European Union to ban the entire class of materials—highlights the need for an updated and standardized approach to assess human and environmental impacts of CNTs and products that contain them, according to a new collaborative study co-authored by Rice University researchers.
December 12, 2023Source

Nanoprobes with barcodes can sense multiple active proteases in parallel
Protein-splitting enzymes play an important role in many physiological processes. Such proteases are generally present in an inactive state, only becoming activated under certain conditions. Some are linked to diseases like infections or cancer, making it important to have methods that can selectively detect active proteases.
December 12, 2023Source

New technology to assemble three-dimensional structures using gold nanoparticles confined in nanocapsules
A research group led by Assoc. Prof. Shota Kuwahara of Toho University and Assoc. Prof. Masato Kuwahara of Nagoya University has developed a new technology that enables the creation of three-dimensional structures of gold nanoparticles confined within silica nanocapsules.
December 12, 2023Source

Researcher discovers new technique for photon detection
University of Central Florida researcher Debashis Chanda, a professor at the NanoScience Technology Center, has developed a new technique to detect photons—elementary particles that span from visible light to radio frequencies and are instrumental in carrying cellular communication.
December 12, 2023Source

Researchers Demonstrate Cooling Through Permselective Nanopores
Have you ever wondered how water boils in an electric kettle- Most people may think electricity simply heats up the metal coil inside the kettle, which then transfers the heat to the water. But electricity can do more than that. Heat can be generated when electricity makes ions in solution flow. When all the ions and surrounding molecules can move freely, this heating effect is evened out across the whole solution. Now researchers from Japan have investigated what happens when this flow is blocked in one direction.
December 12, 2023Source

Spinning up control: Propeller shape helps direct nanoparticles
Self-propelled nanoparticles could potentially advance drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip systems — but they are prone to go rogue with random, directionless movements. Now, an international team of researchers has developed an approach to rein in the synthetic particles.
December 12, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 11th, 2023

Efficient Production of Ammonia Using a Bimetallic Alloy Nanocatalyst
Although ammonia (NH3) is seen to be a viable carbon-free energy source, experts throughout the world are still puzzled by its energy-intensive manufacturing method. To produce ammonia from nitrate (NO3-), a research team led by the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently engineered a bimetallic alloy as an ultrathin nanocatalyst that can provide significantly enhanced electrochemical performance. This offers great potential for the future production of carbon-neutral fuel.
December 11, 2023Source

New conductive, cotton-based fiber developed for smart textiles
A single strand of fiber developed at Washington State University has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of a polymer, called polyaniline.
December 11, 2023Source

Research proposes three-phase catalytic process for assembling nanoparticles to enhance SERS sensing
Recently, a research team led by Prof. Yang Liangbao from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed an innovative strategy for assembling small nanoparticles in a three-phase catalytic process, enabling enhanced surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing.
December 11, 2023Source

Scientists 3D print self-heating microfluidic devices
MIT researchers have used 3D printing to produce self-heating microfluidic devices, demonstrating a technique which could someday be used to rapidly create cheap, yet accurate, tools to detect a host of diseases.
December 11, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 8th, 2023

Bimetallic alloy nanocatalyst boosts efficient ammonia production with potential for carbon-free energy
Ammonia (NH3) is regarded as a promising carbon-free energy carrier, but its energy-intensive production process still challenges global scientists. A research team led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently engineered a bimetallic alloy as an ultrathin nanocatalyst that can deliver greatly improved electrochemical performance for generating ammonia from nitrate (NO3-), offering great potential for obtaining carbon-neutral fuel in the future.
December 8, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 6th, 2023

Bowtie resonators that build themselves bridge the gap between nanoscopic and macroscopic
Two nanotechnology approaches converge by employing a new generation of fabrication technology. It combines the scalability of semiconductor technology with the atomic dimensions enabled by self-assembly.
December 6, 2023Source or Source or Source

Chemists create organic molecules in a rainbow of colors
Chains of fused carbon-containing rings have unique optoelectronic properties that make them useful as semiconductors. These chains, known as acenes, can also be tuned to emit different colors of light, which makes them good candidates for use in organic light-emitting diodes.
December 6, 2023Source

In search of the perfect mirror at mid-infrared wavelengths
An international team of researchers from the United States, Austria, and Switzerland has demonstrated the first true supermirrors in the mid-infrared spectral region. These mirrors are key for many applications, such as optical spectroscopy for environmental sensing, as well as laser cutting and welding for manufacturing.
December 6, 2023Source

Study shows precise control of colloids through magnetism is possible
Bayreuth researchers have found ways to control tiny particles in liquids using magnetic patterns. The research results have now been published in Nature Communications under the title "Simultaneous and independent topological control of identical microparticles in non-periodic energy landscapes."
December 6, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 5th, 2023

3D-Printed Models to Support Nanoscience Teaching
Materials scientists are particularly interested in nanoparticles because of their extraordinary physical and chemical characteristics. Nanoparticles can be as small as one nanometer, or one billionth of a meter. They can only be viewed with a highly specialized electron microscope and are invisible to the unaided eye.
December 5, 2023Source

Electrons 'Straighten Out' Perovskite Crystal Structure
A new study, published in early November in Nature Physics, details a breakthrough in understanding the dynamics of halide perovskites, revealing insights crucial for advancing optoelectronics technologies. The team behind the development is composed of researchers from ETH Zurich, SourceStanford and Empa.
December 5, 2023Source

Enriching 2D transition metal borides via MB XMenes (M = Fe, Co, Ir): Strong correlation and magnetism
Recently, two-dimensional (2D) FeSe-like anti-MXenes (or XMenes), composed of late d-block transition metal M and p-block nonmetal X elements, have been both experimentally and theoretically investigated. Here, we select three 2D borides FeB, CoB and IrB for a deeper investigation by including strong correlation effects, as a fertile ground for understanding and applications.
December 5, 2023Source

Nanoscale Horizons Emerging Investigator Series: Dr Shalini Singh, University of Limerick, Ireland
Our Emerging Investigator Series features exceptional work by early-career nanoscience and nanotechnology researchers. Read Shalini Singh's Emerging Investigator Series article 'Colloidal synthesis of the mixed ionic--electronic conducting NaSbS2 nanocrystals'.
December 5, 2023Source

Polymer-grafting approach facilitates fabrication of surface-functionalized MOF nanosheets
Researchers are exploring two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) -- crystalline materials with incredibly thin, nanoscale thickness -- for advanced applications in separation, catalysis, electronics and energy storage. But a major roadblock has endured. The innate material instability leaves these delicate structures aggregated and unusable.
December 5, 2023Source

Researchers Discover a Breakthrough in Protein Ion Detection
A multinational research team at the University of Vienna, under the direction of quantum physicist Markus Arndt, has made significant progress in the identification of protein ions. At low energies, superconducting nanowire detectors outperform conventional ion detectors in terms of detection efficiency by a ratio of up to 1,000 due to their high energy sensitivity, which allows for about 100% quantum efficiency.
December 5, 2023Source

Two-gap topological superconductor LaB2 with high Tc = 30 K
First-principles calculations demonstrate that the two gap anisotropic superconductivity strongly enhances the transition temperature of MgB2 in comparison with that given by the isotropic model.
December 5, 2023Source

Ultrahigh-quality graphene resonators by liquid-based strain-engineering
Two-dimensional (2D) material-based nanoelectromechanical (NEM) resonators are expected to be enabling components in hybrid qubits that couple mechanical and electromagnetic degrees of freedom. However, challenges in their sensitivity and coherence time have to be overcome to realize such mechanohybrid quantum systems. We here demonstrate the potential of strain engineering to realize 2D material-based resonators with unprecedented performance.
December 5, 2023Source

Unlocking the secrets of oobleck—strange stuff that's both liquid and solid
Scientists tested hypothesis with dense suspensions of piezoelectric nanoparticles.
December 5, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 4th, 2023

3D models for placing nanoparticles in the palm of your hand
Nanoparticles are super tiny―as small as one nanometer, or one billionth of a meter―and are of keen interest to materials scientists for their unique physical and chemical properties. They cannot be detected by the naked eye and require a highly specialized electron microscope to be seen.
December 4, 2023Source

Engineers tackle hard-to-map class of materials
The properties that make materials like semiconductors so sought after result from the way their atoms are connected, and insight into these atomic configurations can help scientists design new materials or use existing materials in new, unforeseen ways.
December 4, 2023Source

Graphene discs generate picosecond-switchable magnetic fields
Stimulated by corkscrew-shaped radiation: physicists at the University of Duisburg-Essen and their cooperating partners have discovered that tiny graphene sheets can become electromagnets under infrared radiation.
December 4, 2023Source

Low-cost microscope projection photolithography system for high-resolution fabrication
Integrated optical signal distributing, processing, and sensing networks require the miniaturization of basic optical elements, such as waveguides, splitters, gratings, and optical switches. To achieve this, fabrication approaches that allow for high-resolution manufacturing are required. Curved elements like bends and ring resonators are especially challenging to fabricate, as they need even higher resolution and lower sidewall roughness. Additionally, fabrication techniques with precise control of absolute structure dimensions are imperative.
December 4, 2023Source

On/off in trillionths of a second: Optically controlled magnetic fields
Physicists at the University of Duisburg-Essen and their cooperating partners have discovered that tiny graphene sheets can become electromagnets under infrared radiation. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.
December 4, 2023Source

Placing nanoparticles in the palm of your hand
Nanoparticles are super tiny―as small as one nanometer, or one billionth of a meter―and are of keen interest to materials scientists for their unique physical and chemical properties. They cannot be detected by the naked eye and require a highly specialized electron microscope to be seen.
December 4, 2023Source

Researchers show excited electrons straightening the skewed lattice of perovskite nanocrystals
Researchers from ETH Zurich, Empa and Stanford have taken snapshots of the crystal structure of perovskite nanocrystals as it was deformed by excited electrons. To their surprise, the deformation straightened out the skewed crystal structure rather than making it more disordered.
December 4, 2023Source

Smart Material Design with Non-Newtonian Fluids
When cornstarch and water are combined in the proper amounts, a substance that seems neither liquid nor solid is formed. When left alone, oobleck flows and settles like a liquid, then stiffens when scooped up or swirled with a spoon. Scientists have long battled to explain why the characteristics of oobleck and other non-Newtonian fluids, such as Silly Putty, quicksand, paint, and yogurt, change under stress or strain.
December 4, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — December 1st, 2023

Achieving Uniform Shrinkage of 3D-Printed Nanoscale Structures
3D printing is transforming the production of intricate structures on a large scale, impacting everything from residences to hearing aids.
December 1, 2023Source

Molecular PicoRulers for high-resolution microscopy
A team from the Rudolf Virchow Zentrum — Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging at Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg, led by Dr Gerti Beliu and Professor Markus Sauer, presents a groundbreaking advance for the world of high-resolution fluorescence microscopy: The innovative method enables researchers for the first time to use biomolecules as molecular rulers to calibrate the latest super-resolution microscopy methods, which have a resolution of just a few nanometres.
December 1, 2023Source

Replicating the structure of bird feathers with rubber nanostructures
The eastern bluebird is a special bird. The blue of its feathers is unique. However, this color is not based on pigments but on the special structure of the feather. Viewed under the microscope, the feathers are traversed by a network of channels with a diameter of just a few hundred nanometers.
December 1, 2023Source

Researcher develops a chatbot with an expertise in nanomaterials
A researcher has just finished writing a scientific paper. She knows her work could benefit from another perspective. Did she overlook something? Or perhaps there's an application of her research she hadn't thought of. A second set of eyes would be great, but even the friendliest of collaborators might not be able to spare the time to read all the required background publications to catch up.
December 1, 2023Source

Researchers invent new way to stretch diamond for better quantum bits
A future quantum network may become less of a stretch thanks to researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Chicago and Cambridge University.
December 1, 2023Source

Study unveils shape-configurable MXene-based thermoacoustic loudspeakers with tunable sound directivity
Recent research has led to the development of film-type shape-configurable speakers. These speakers, based on the unique properties of MXene, offer tunable sound directivity and hold immense promise for the rapidly growing field of wearable electronics. The study is published in Advanced Materials.
December 1, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 30th, 2023

Creating 3D-printed materials that shrink more precisely
From houses to hearing aids, three-dimensional (3D) printing is revolutionizing how we create complex structures at scale. Zooming down to the micro and nano levels, a process known as two-photon polymerization lithography (TPL) allows scientists and engineers to construct objects with microscopic precision, which has wide-reaching implications for industries ranging from medicine to manufacturing.
November 30, 2023Source

Engineering non-precious metal electrocatalysts for cost-effective and environmentally responsible water splitting
There is an ever-present struggle to reduce carbon-based energy sources and replace them with low or no-carbon alternatives. The process of splitting water could be the resolution.
November 30, 2023Source

Pick and place: Creating 3D-printed materials that shrink more precisely
From houses to hearing aids, three-dimensional (3D) printing is revolutionising how we create complex structures at scale. Zooming down to the micro and nano levels, a process known as two-photon polymerisation lithography (TPL) allows scientists and engineers to construct objects with microscopic precision, which has wide-reaching implications for industries ranging from medicine to manufacturing.
November 30, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 29th, 2023

Bidding adieu to sticky ice, but with a grain of salt
As Americans gear up for winter, many will face one of their toughest foes: ice. From delaying flights to making roads slippery, ice accumulation on surfaces wreaks havoc in many ways.
November 29, 2023Source

Hexapod Production: PI Substantially Increases Production Capacities for High Precision Hexapod Stewart Platforms
Karlsruhe, Germany — Based on a comprehensive analysis of the production processes for hexapods (Stewart Platforms), Physik Instrumente (PI) has adapted its production capacities to the sharp increase in demand and is prepared to expand them even further when required. The focus of the restructuring was the optimization and relocation of PI's entire "Hexapod" micro-robotics production area to newly designed premises, as well as the expansion of the workforce. These measures are an integral part of the company-wide investment program with a volume of close to $70 million.
November 29, 2023Source

Liquid metal-MXene-based hierarchical aerogel enables infrared and radar invisibility
Researchers have long sought to develop multifunctional stealth materials capable of evading detection across different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, achieving compatible stealth performance across varying radar, infrared, and other bands has persisted as a major challenge. Materials and coatings optimized for radar absorbance often perform poorly for infrared concealment, while infrared-stealth layers may lack radar-wave attenuation. This incompatibility stems from the distinct absorption mechanisms involved across different wavelengths.
November 29, 2023Source

Reprogrammable bistable structure makes soft grippers faster
Soft grippers have the advantages in human-machine interactions while most of them suffer from low response time. Bistable structures could improve this characteristic, but current bistable grippers are limited by the designed structural parameters and the grasping modes.
November 29, 2023Source

The Secret of "Magic" Graphene
An atomic force microscope operating in pendulum mode was utilized by SNI network researchers to examine a two-layer graphene device. The two pure carbon layers in this bilayer graphene were rotated by a "magic angle" of roughly 1.1° with respect to one another. The outcomes offer empirical evidence that the technique can be applied to adjust the device's magnetization as well as current flow.
November 29, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 28th, 2023

Biomimetic crystallization for long-pursued --COOH-functionalized gold nanocluster with near-infrared phosphorescence
Recently, Professor Di Sun's group at Shandong University extended the salting-out method (commonly used to crystallize biological macromolecules, proteins, and DNA) to crystallize --COOH-functionalized AuNCs and obtained high-quality single crystals of three novel --COOH-functionalized Au25 nanoclusters, revealing the crystallographic structure of long-pursued --COOH-functionalized AuNCs.
November 28, 2023Source

Carbon Nanotube Research Leads Sustainable Materials Revolution
As part of the journey towards sustainable materials research, Rice University has been granted $4.1 million to enhance carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis, a critical component in the transition to green energy. This collaboration, jointly funded by The Kavli Foundation and Rice's Carbon Hub, aims to provide sustainable alternatives to materials heavily reliant on traditional industry.
November 28, 2023Source

Gaining more control over the fabrication of surface micro/nano structures using ultrafast lasers
Surface functionalization via micro/nano structuring is not only a thriving research area inspired by bionics but also of great importance for various practical applications. The key to achieving various surface functions is the fabrication of surface micro/nano structures with controlled dimensions, hierarchies, and compositions, which is driving the continuous progress of micro/nano fabrication techniques.
November 28, 2023Source

Graphene's thermal properties may not be as revolutionary as previously thought.
Graphene, a material which consists of a single layer of carbon atoms, has been celebrated by many as the "next big thing" in material science. But according to Purdue University researchers, its thermal properties may not be as revolutionary as previously thought.
November 28, 2023Source

Inducing and Directly Quantifying Spin Splitting in 2D Materials
In an advancement for the field of two-dimensional spintronics, physicists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a new concept for inducing and quantifying spin splitting in two-dimensional materials. This innovation, notably applied to graphene, promises to revolutionize low-power electronic devices.
November 28, 2023Source

Investigating and fine-tuning the properties of 'magic' graphene
Recent advances in the development of devices made of 2D materials are paving the way for new technological capabilities, especially in the field of quantum technology. So far, however, little research has been carried out into energy losses in strongly interacting systems.
November 28, 2023Source

Is graphene the best heat conductor? Researchers investigate with four-phonon scattering
Graphene, a material which consists of a single layer of carbon atoms, has been celebrated by many as the "next big thing" in material science. But according to Purdue University researchers, its thermal properties may not be as revolutionary as previously thought.
November 28, 2023Source

Microelectromechanical system for in situ quantitative testing of tension--compression asymmetry in nanostructures
Tension--compression asymmetry is a topic of current interest in nanostructures, especially in strain engineering. Herein, we report a novel on-chip microelectromechanical system (MEMS) that can realize in situ quantitative mechanical testing of nanostructures under tension--compression functions. The mechanical properties of three kinds of nanostructures fabricated by focused ion beam (FIB) techniques were systematically investigated with the presented on-chip testing system.
November 28, 2023Source

Next-gen computing: Hard-to-move quasiparticles glide up pyramid edges
A new kind of "wire" for moving excitons, developed at the University of Michigan, could help enable a new class of devices, perhaps including room temperature quantum computers.
November 28, 2023Source

Researchers develop first-of-its-kind woven material made entirely from flexible organic crystals
Applying simple, ancient weaving techniques to newly recognized properties of organic crystals, researchers with the Smart Materials Lab (SML) and the Center for Smart Engineering Materials (CSEM) at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have, for the first time, developed a unique form of woven "textile." These new fabric patches expand one-dimensional crystals into flexible, integrated, two-dimensional planar structures that are incredibly strong — some 20 times stronger than the original crystals — and resistant to low temperatures.
November 28, 2023Source

Researchers engineer a material that can perform different tasks depending on temperature
Researchers report that they have developed a new composite material designed to change behaviors depending on temperature in order to perform specific tasks. These materials are poised to be part of the next generation of autonomous robotics that will interact with the environment.
November 28, 2023Source

Researchers triple carbon nanotube yield for LEDs, solar cells, flexible and transparent electronics
Skoltech scientists have found a way to improve the most widely used technology for producing single-walled carbon nanotube films--a promising material for solar cells, LEDs, flexible and transparent electronics, smart textiles, medical imaging, toxic gas detectors, filtration systems, and more. By adding hydrogen gas along with carbon monoxide to the reaction chamber, the team managed to almost triple carbon nanotube yield compared with when other growth promoters are used, without compromising quality.
November 28, 2023Source

Revolutionizing nanosurface engineering with novel ultrafast laser technique
The ability to controllably structure surfaces at the micro- and nanoscale has remained a profoundly impactful yet challenging goal spanning industrial sectors. Precisely controlling surface topographies at these tiny dimensions unlocks transformative functionalities vital for next-generation technologies.
November 28, 2023Source

Silica C'Dots Could Now Be Delivered Orally
Cornell Prime Dots, also called C'Dots, are ultrasmall fluorescent core-shell hybrid silica nanoparticles that have been thought to only be effective when administered intravenously. However, recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of administering them orally.
November 28, 2023Source

Study Finds Improved Catalysis Under 2D Silica
A critical reaction in environmental chemistry is CO oxidation. Researchers have now demonstrated that the catalytic activity of a metal palladium (Pd) surface for oxidizing carbon monoxide (CO) is enhanced by porous silica sheets less than one nanometer thick.
November 28, 2023Source

Study shows the ability of some molecules to modify the surface of nanoparticles
Nanoparticles have unique properties that make them exceptional tools with a variety of applications, from medicine to electronics. One of the lesser-known facts about them is that their surface plays a crucial role in their behavior and functionality.
November 28, 2023Source

The secret life of an electromagnon
Scientists have revealed how lattice vibrations and spins talk to each other in a hybrid excitation known as an electromagnon. To achieve this, they used a unique combination of experiments at the X-ray free electron laser SwissFEL. Understanding this fundamental process at the atomic level opens the door to ultrafast control of magnetism with light.
November 28, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 27th, 2023

Carbon nanotubes and the sustainability puzzle
An international team of researchers receives over $4M to advance understanding of carbon nanotube synthesis and its potential for producing industrial materials more sustainably. The foundation's $1.9M Kavli Exploration Award in Nanoscience for Sustainability sparked an additional $2.2M from Carbon Hub to pursue this important research. The collaboration is led by Matteo Pasquali of Rice University.
November 27, 2023Source

Durable, inexpensive electrocatalyst generates clean hydrogen and oxygen from water
A new electrocatalyst made of nickel (Ni), iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) that decreases the amount of energy required to synthesize H2 from water has been manufactured in a simple and cost-effective way, increasing the practicality of H2 as a clean and renewable energy of the future.
November 27, 2023Source

Graphene in Consumer Goods: Revolution or Evolution, Asks IDTechEx
Since its isolation in 2004, graphene has received widespread attention as a "wonder" material, with the reported potential to enable a whole host of next-generation technologies, some of which would not be out of place in the latest sci-fi blockbuster. Many of these applications are still far off, requiring significant research and development to move from the lab to high-volume production.
November 27, 2023Source

Modulation of the assembly fashion among metal--organic frameworks for enantioretentive epoxide activation
Highly enantioretentive alcoholysis of epoxides is an important way to synthesize enantiopure &beta-alkoxy alcohols, which are irreplaceable intermediates demanded by biomedicines, fine chemicals and other industries. In this report, we exploit a series of Zr-based metal--organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) as the catalysts to achieve high activity and enantioretentivity in the alcoholysis of styrene oxide via modulating their assembly fashions.
November 27, 2023Source

This tiny spinal stimulator could someday have a big impact on paralysis
A Johns Hopkins materials scientist and a team of collaborators have developed a tiny device that may hold promise for restoring mobility to those with lower limb paralysis, a condition affecting approximately 1.4 million Americans.
November 27, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 24th, 2023

New NanoXplore Dry Process Could Revolutionize Graphene Manufacturing
NanoXplore Inc., a prominent graphene company, achieved graphite exfoliation with the successful development of a new dry graphene manufacturing process.
November 24, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 23rd, 2023

Bioinspired self-assembled colloidal collectives of active matter systems
In a new study, published in Science Advances, Mengmeng Sun and a research team in mechanical engineering and physical intelligence in China and Germany, were bioinspired by migration mechanisms of plankton and proposed a bimodal actuation strategy by combining magnetic and optical fields.
November 23, 2023Source

First experimental evidence of hopfions in crystals opens up new dimension for future technology
Hopfions, magnetic spin structures predicted decades ago, have become a hot and challenging research topic in recent years. In a study published in Nature ("Hopfion rings in a cubic chiral magnet"), the first experimental evidence is presented by a Swedish-German-Chinese research collaboration.
November 23, 2023Source

New nanotechnology makes water harvesting from air far easier
For over half the global population, accessing clean drinking water remains an enduring challenge. With climate change and development pressures exacerbating water scarcity worldwide, innovative solutions are desperately needed. Atmospheric water harvesting — the extraction of drinkable water directly from humid air — offers immense promise if made efficient and affordable enough for mass deployment.
November 23, 2023Source

New Projects for Developing Advanced Nanofluidics Chips and Neuromorphic Computing Systems
The Gothenburg based company ConScience AB has together with partners been funded two grants totaling 10MSEK for developing advanced nanofluidic imaging technology and neuromorphic computing.
November 23, 2023Source

Synthetic microbots mimic plankton to achieve 3D motion
For decades, researchers have sought to emulate the collective behavior of natural systems like schools of fish or flocks of birds using synthetic microscale robots. Such robot collectives could enable a variety of applications, from targeted drug delivery to environmental remediation. However, realizing robust 3D motion of these synthetic swarms without dispersion has proven an enduring challenge.
November 23, 2023Source

The Diverse Applications of Optically Trapped Optical Nanoparticles
Recent research published in Opto-Electronic Science provides a comprehensive review of the fundamentals and applications of optically trapped optical nanoparticles.
November 23, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 22nd, 2023

3D Nanoprinting technique enables tunable plasmonic structures
Plasmonic nanoparticles have drawn considerable interest owing to their unique optical properties and increasing use in commercial applications ranging from sensors to optoelectronics.
November 22, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 21st, 2023

An Eco-Friendly, Energy-Efficient Solution to Fine Dust Precursors
In the last ten years, there has been a noticeable worsening of fine dust conditions in Korea, as observed by the public, marked by a rise in the frequency of days with high-concentration fine dust.
November 21, 2023Source

Creating vortices in a superfluid made of light
By using a special combination of laser beams as a very fast stirrer, RIKEN physicists have created multiple vortices in a quantum photonic system and tracked their evolution. This system could be used to explore exotic new physics related to the emergence of quantum states from vortex matter.
November 21, 2023Source

Discovery of structural regularity hidden in silica glass
Glass — whether used to insulate our homes or as the screens in our computers and smartphones — is a fundamental material. Yet, despite its long usage throughout human history, the disordered structure of its atomic configuration still baffles scientists, making understanding and controlling its structural nature challenging. It also makes it difficult to design efficient functional materials made from glass.
November 21, 2023Source

Mechanical metamaterials boost flexible thermoelectric generators to record 35% stretchability
A team of Dr. Hyekyoung Choi and Min Ju Yun of Energy Conversion Materials Research Center, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has developed a technology that can increase the flexibility and efficiency of thermoelectric generator to the world's highest level by using mechanical metamaterials that do not exist in nature.
November 21, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 20th, 2023

Boomerang-like beams of light
Researchers at the University of Warsaw's Faculty of Physics have superposed two light beams twisted in the clockwise direction to create anti-clockwise twists in the dark regions of the resultant superposition. The results of the research have been published in the journal Optica ("Azimuthal backflow in light carrying orbital angular momentum"). This discovery has implications for the study of light-matter interactions and represents a step towards the observation of a peculiar phenomenon known as a quantum backflow.
November 20, 2023Source

For the first time, researchers observe the operating principle of so-called promoters in a catalytic reaction in real-time
Catalysts are essential for numerous chemical technologies, ranging from exhaust gas purification to the production of valuable chemicals and energy carriers. Often, tiny traces of additional substances are used alongside catalysts to make them highly effective. These substances are referred to as "promoters." While playing a crucial role in technology, they have been notoriously difficult to study.
November 20, 2023Source

Korean researchers develop nanomaterial to enable eco-friendly removal of fine dust precursors
Over the past decade, fine dust conditions in Korea have worsened, as perceived by the general public, with an increase in the number of days per year featuring high-concentration fine dust. Additionally, the previous maximum fine-dust concentration level has been surpassed. In response, the Korean government has expanded its financial investment in efforts aimed at addressing fine-dust issues.
November 20, 2023Source

Researchers observe the operating principle of 'promoters' in a catalytic reaction in real-time
For the first time, researchers at TU Wien have successfully observed the operating principle of so-called "promoters" in a catalytic reaction in real-time. These promoters play an important role in technology, but so far there is only limited understanding of how they work.
November 20, 2023Source

State-of-the-art nanomaterial enables ecofriendly removal of fine dust precursors
Over the past decade, fine dust conditions in Korea have worsened, as perceived by the general public, with an increase in the number of days per year featuring high-concentration fine dust. Additionally, the previous maximum fine-dust concentration level has been surpassed. In response, the Korean government has expanded its financial investment in efforts aimed at addressing fine-dust issues.
November 20, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 15th, 2023

Creating optical logic gates from graphene nanoribbons
A new graphene-based optical logic gate uses collective oscillations of electrons to process light waves in a far smaller space than existing designs. The device also benefits from low information loss and high stability.
November 15, 2023Source or Source

New experimental technique developed to analyse the protection of 3D printed metal structures
Scientists from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and the IMDEA Materiales Institute have developed a new experimental technique in fragmentation tests to evaluate the energy absorption capacity in the event of impact of metallic structures manufactured using 3D printing. This technique, which is more flexible, simpler and faster than others currently used, makes it possible to test the mechanical performance of these materials as protective structures.
November 15, 2023Source

New laser setup probes metamaterial structures with ultrafast pulses
Metamaterials are products of engineering wizardry. They are made from everyday polymers, ceramics, and metals. And when constructed precisely at the microscale, in intricate architectures, these ordinary materials can take on extraordinary properties.
November 15, 2023Source

PI Establishes Innovation Hub to Strengthen Collaboration with Technical Research Institutes
Karlsruhe, Germany — Physik Instrumente (PI), the global specialist for motion control, nanopositioning technology, and high precision automation, is solidifying its affiliation and working relationships with leading universities and research institutions. A first step was made by establishing a 5,300 sqft collaboration laboratory close to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and other advanced technical research institutes in Karlsruhe, Germany. "The proximity to these leading institutes promises a strong impetus for our future topics and helps us consolidate and expand our technology leadership," states Markus Spanner, CEO of the PI Group.
November 15, 2023Source

Rapid Synthesis of "Best-in-Class" Materials for Specific Applications
Years of dedicated laboratory work are required to determine how to create materials of the highest quality for photonic and electronic applications. Researchers have now created an autonomous system that can determine how to synthesize "best-in-class" materials for specific uses in hours or days.
November 15, 2023Source

Researchers develop neutron-shielding film for radiation protection
An advancement in neutron shielding, a critical aspect of radiation protection, has been achieved. This breakthrough is poised to revolutionize the neutron shielding industry by offering a cost-effective solution applicable to a wide range of materials surfaces.
November 15, 2023Source

Researchers engineer nanoparticles using ion irradiation to advance clean energy, fuel conversion
MIT researchers and colleagues have demonstrated a way to precisely control the size, composition, and other properties of nanoparticles key to the reactions involved in a variety of clean energy and environmental technologies. They did so by leveraging ion irradiation, a technique in which beams of charged particles bombard a material.
November 15, 2023Source

Researchers precisely control nanoparticle growth using ion radiation
MIT researchers and colleagues have demonstrated a way to precisely control the size, composition, and other properties of nanoparticles key to the reactions involved in a variety of clean energy and environmental technologies. They did so by leveraging ion irradiation, a technique in which beams of charged particles bombard a material.
November 15, 2023Source

Riddle of Kondo effect solved in ultimately thin wires
A team of physicists at the University of Cologne has solved a long-standing problem of condensed matter physics: they have directly observed the Kondo effect (the re-grouping of electrons in a metal caused by magnetic impurities) visible in a single artificial atom. This has not been done successfully in the past, since the magnetic orbitals of atoms usually cannot be directly observed with most measurement techniques.
November 15, 2023Source

Stacked graphene can be tuned to exhibit three important properties
MIT physicists have metaphorically turned graphite, or pencil lead, into gold by isolating five ultrathin flakes stacked in a specific order. The resulting material can then be tuned to exhibit three important properties never before seen in natural graphite.
November 15, 2023Source

WITec Debuts alpha300 Semiconductor Edition
Oxford Instruments WITec has revealed an alpha300 Raman microscope configured especially for semiconductor research and development. It features a large-area scanning stage, wafer chuck options, and an advanced workflow manager to streamline measurements.
November 15, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 17th, 2023

Accelerating Proton Transport Through Graphene
Scientists at the University of Manchester's National Graphene Institute have found a mechanism to speed proton transport across graphene using light, which has the potential to completely change how hydrogen is produced.
November 17, 2023Source

Engineering multi-metal MOFs with customizable properties
Over the past few decades, scientists have discovered that combining multiple metal elements into a single material can give rise to extraordinary new properties and functions. For example, specialized steel alloys made of iron and precise mixes of other metals have yielded steels that are both extremely lightweight and strong. This "multi-metal" mixing approach has shown great promise across materials science, giving researchers the power to fine-tune properties by artfully blending together different metals.
November 17, 2023Source

Porous platinum matrix shows promise as a new actuator material
Actuators are common machine components that convert energy into movement, like the muscles in the human body, vibrators in mobile phones or electric motors. Ideal actuator materials need good electrochemical properties to repeatedly conduct electrical currents made of flowing electrons.
November 17, 2023Source

The mind's eye of a neural network system
In the background of image recognition software that can ID our friends on social media and wildflowers in our yard are neural networks, a type of artificial intelligence inspired by how own our brains process data. While neural networks sprint through data, their architecture makes it difficult to trace the origin of errors that are obvious to humans — like confusing a Converse high-top with an ankle boot — limiting their use in more vital work like health care image analysis or research. A new tool developed at Purdue University makes finding those errors as simple as spotting mountaintops from an airplane.
November 17, 2023Source

Thin Wires Unravel the Secret of the Kondo Effect
A study team from the University of Cologne has, for the first time, directly measured the Kondo effect, which determines the behavior of magnetic atoms surrounded by a sea of electrons.
November 17, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 14th, 2023

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Professor Recognized for Contributions to Nanoscale Science and Technology
Nikhil Koratkar, Ph.D., John A. Clark and Edward T. Crossan Professor of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been named a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). Koratkar was recognized for his pioneering contributions to the field of nanoscale science and technology and the use of nanoscale materials in composites and energy storage devices. Each year, no more than 0.05% of the society membership is recognized by their peers for election to the status of fellow of the American Physical Society.
November 14, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 13th, 2023

A Remarkable Chemical Process for 2D Metal-Organic Lattices
An innovative chemical technique for two-dimensional metal-organic lattices has been created by a research team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), under the direction of Associate Prof. Li Xingxing and Prof. Yang Jinlong. The results were recently published in Nano Letters.
November 13, 2023Source

Autonomous lab discovers best-in-class quantum dot in hours. It would have taken humans years
It can take years of focused laboratory work to determine how to make the highest quality materials for use in electronic and photonic devices. Researchers have now developed an autonomous system that can identify how to synthesize "best-in-class" materials for specific applications in hours or days.
November 13, 2023Source or Source

Building A Sustainable Future for Concrete with Concretene
Unless it is augmented with graphene, watching concrete dry might not be the most thrilling activity. Graphene was initially isolated in 2004 by scientists at The University of Manchester and has become iconic in materials research, with applications ranging from energy storage and water filtering to transportation and construction, including concrete.
November 13, 2023Source

Improving analytic reliability of protein encapsulation in MOFs
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged in recent years as an exciting new class of materials with tremendous potential in diverse fields such as gas storage, drug delivery, catalysis, and biosensing. Constructed from metal ions linked by organic molecules, MOFs contain porous networks ideal for housing guest molecules.
November 13, 2023Source

Modular metal-organic frameworks unlock customizable high-performance membranes
Membrane-based separation technologies offer major advantages over conventional processes like distillation in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact. However, current membrane materials still face limitations in their ability to achieve highly selective separations at industrially viable flux rates.
November 13, 2023Source

Researchers' breakthrough in thermal transport could enable novel cooling strategies
Vanderbilt mechanical engineering professors Deyu Li and Josh Caldwell are part of a team of researchers who have discovered a new heat dissipation channel using phonon polaritons that could have extensive implications for novel cooling technologies in devices like smart phones and other modern electronics.
November 13, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 10th, 2023

Atomic dance gives rise to a magnet
Quantum materials hold the key to a future of lightning-speed, energy-efficient information systems. The problem with tapping their transformative potential is that, in solids, the vast number of atoms often drowns out the exotic quantum properties electrons carry.
November 10, 2023Source or Watch Video

Nanobots — Hype vs Reality
Learn about nanobots with our deep dive into their real-world medical potential versus the sci-fi hype.
November 10, 2023Source

Probing the intricate structures of 2D materials at the nanoscale
Two-dimensional (2D) materials, composed of a single or a few layers of atoms, are at the forefront of material science, promising revolutionary advancements in technology.
November 10, 2023Source

Researchers achieve chemically controlled, reversible magnetic phase transition
A research team led by Associate Prof. Li Xingxing and Prof. Yang Jinlong from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a groundbreaking chemical method for two-dimensional metal-organic lattices.
November 10, 2023Source

Twisting two-dimensional atomic sheets: A key to new materials for advanced technologies
The way light interacts with naturally occurring materials is well-understood in physics and materials science. But in recent decades, researchers have fabricated metamaterials that interact with light in new ways that go beyond the physical limits imposed on naturally occurring materials.
November 10, 2023Source or Source

Ultrafast lasers on ultra-tiny chips
Lasers have become relatively commonplace in everyday life, but they have many uses outside of providing light shows at raves and scanning barcodes on groceries. Lasers are also of great importance in telecommunications and computing as well as biology, chemistry, and physics research.
November 10, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 9th, 2023

INFIQ® Quantum Dots on World Stage as Quantum Science Joins Tech Trade Mission to Hong Kong
Quantum Science, the expert in infrared quantum dot (QD) technology, is joining a first-of-its-kind trade mission to connect the UK's burgeoning tech scene with a major global market.
November 9, 2023Source

Is This Nanosheet the Boost Sustainable Manufacturing Needed?
A novel self-assembling nanosheet has the potential to significantly quicken the creation of sustainable and useful nanomaterials for a variety of applications, including energy storage, electronics, health, and safety.
November 9, 2023Source

Liquid metals shake up century-old chemical engineering processes
Liquid metals could be the long-awaited solution to "greening" the chemical industry, according to researchers who tested a new technique they hope can replace energy-intensive chemical engineering processes harking back to the early 20th century.
November 9, 2023Source

Liquid metals shake up century-old chemical engineering processes
Liquid metals could be the long-awaited solution to "greening" the chemical industry, according to researchers who tested a new technique they hope can replace energy-intensive chemical engineering processes harking back to the early 20th century.
November 9, 2023Source

Physicists trap electrons in a 3D crystal for the first time
Electrons move through a conducting material like commuters at the height of Manhattan rush hour. The charged particles may jostle and bump against each other, but for the most part they're unconcerned with other electrons as they hurtle forward, each with their own energy.
November 9, 2023Source

Research demonstrates surface diffusion enhanced ion transport through two-dimensional channels
Materials scientists have extensively studied fast ion permeation in nanofluidic channels in the past decades due to their potential within filtration technologies and osmotic energy harvesting. While the mechanisms underlying ion transport have yet to be understood, the process can be achieved in nanochannels developed in a carefully regulated manner.
November 9, 2023Source

Researchers push the limits of gas sensing technology
The world has become increasingly industrialized over the past few centuries, bringing all sorts of technology and conveniences to the masses. However, workers in industrial environments are often at the risk of exposure to many dangerous gases, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Inhaling this gas can lead to serious respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, and severely compromise the health of industrial workers. Constant monitoring of NO2 levels is thus needed to ensure a safe workplace.
November 9, 2023Source

Researchers develop cheap and efficient ethanol catalyst from laser-melted nanoparticles
Ethanol fuel cells are regarded as promising sources of green electricity. However, expensive platinum catalysts are used in their production. Research on laser melting of suspensions carried out at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Cracow, has led researchers to materials that catalyze ethanol with a similar--and potentially even greater--efficiency to platinum, yet are made of an element that is many times cheaper than platinum.
November 9, 2023Source

Pushing the limits of gas sensing technology
The world has become increasingly industrialized over the past few centuries, bringing all sorts of technology and conveniences to the masses. However, workers in industrial environments are often at risk of exposure to many dangerous gases, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Inhaling this gas can lead to serious respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, and severely compromise the health of industrial workers
November 9, 2023Source

The Synthescope vision for future nanomaterial synthesis
Scientists are developing new ways to observe and direct the construction of materials at the smallest scales. Recent advances in scanning transmission electron microscopes (STEMs) have opened up the possibility of manipulating individual atoms to build precise nanostructures.
November 9, 2023Source

White Paper on Improving Performance in Photonics Alignment: When Time is Money
In its latest white paper, the authors explain how photonics engineers and scientists can benefit from the latest alignment algorithms. The algorithms can be used with a wide range of hardware and applications, including mechanical motion stages, hexapod 6-DOF motion systems, fast piezo scanning stages, gantries for large area photonics test and validation, and even fast steering mirrors for free space optical communication.
November 9, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 7th, 2023

AI-Powered Method Revolutionizes Analysis of 2D Materials
Two-dimensional (2D) materials-materials just a few atoms thick-can have special properties due to quantum mechanics. What makes these materials special is often their defects. But there are a huge number of potential defects, and they aren't all useful. That makes it challenging for scientists studying these materials.
November 7, 2023Source

Gate induced room-temperature magnetic phase transition realized in van der Waals ferromagnet nanoflakes
By intercalating protons into van der Waals ferromagnet Cr1.2Te2 nanoflakes, a group of researchers successfully induced a room-temperature magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetism to antiferromagnetism.
November 7, 2023Source

'Hot' new form of microscopy examines materials using evanescent waves
Conventional microscopes irradiate a sample, usually with light or electrons. Any reflected or scattered radiation can be used to build a detailed image and obtain characteristic information about a material's surface. This is called an active measurement, but it isn't the only technique that can be used.
November 7, 2023Source

Neuromorphic computing will be great... if hardware can handle the workload
Technology is edging closer and closer to the super-speed world of computing with artificial intelligence. But is the world equipped with the proper hardware to be able to handle the workload of new AI technological breakthroughs?
November 7, 2023Source

New ISO certifications demonstrate Prior Scientific's commitment to improved environmental practices
The new certificates apply to Prior's manufacturing locations in Fulbourn and Paignton in the UK.
November 7, 2023Source

Researchers propose an organic-solvent-free method for producing nanosized vaterite
Vaterite is one of the three forms of calcium carbonate, along with calcite and aragonite. Nanosized vaterite is valuable for various applications, such as drug delivery, cosmetics, and bone defect filling, owing to its biocompatibility, high porosity, solubility, and large specific surface area.
November 7, 2023Source

Scientists Build Artificial Brain From Silver Nanowires
So-called neuromorphic networks could be a much more efficient way to train and run machine learning algorithms
November 7, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 6th, 2023

Communing with nothingness
When you think of empty space, you almost certainly imagine a vacuum in which nothing interesting can ever happen. However, if we zoom in to tiny length scales where quantum effects start to become important, it turns out that what you thought was empty is actually filled at all times with a seething mass of electromagnetic activity, as virtual photons flicker in and out of existence.
November 6, 2023Source

New research aims to design atomically efficient and selective catalysts
Most of us understand that electrical engineering and mechanical engineering play a key role in running our washing machines or our computers. But did you know that more than 80 percent of the products we use every day, such as fertilizers, cosmetics, fragrances, rubber and more, require some sort of chemical catalyst while being manufactured?
November 6, 2023Source

Scientists observe composite superstructure growth from nanocrystals in real time
For the first time, scientists and engineers have observed in real time how two types of nanoparticles made from different materials combine into new composite materials. The findings, reported by a team led by the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan, could help engineers have more control over the assembly of materials that combine the desirable properties of each particle--such as photoluminescence, magnetism and the ability to conduct electricity.
November 6, 2023Source or Source

Single nanoscale hybrid system for studying the vacuum fluctuation field
When you think of empty space, you almost certainly imagine a vacuum in which nothing interesting can ever happen. However, if we zoom in to tiny length scales where quantum effects start to become important, it turns out that what you thought was empty is actually filled at all times with a seething mass of electromagnetic activity, as virtual photons flicker in and out of existence.
November 6, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 3rd, 2023

Chemists develop new sensor for microvolume pH detection
Measuring the pH of substances gives us vital clues about the world around us, such as identifying contaminated water or checking the toxicity of medical or cosmetic products.
November 3, 2023Source

Light guide plate based on perovskite nanocomposites
The fact that nanoparticle and polymer hybrid materials can often combine the advantages of each has been demonstrated in several fields. Embedding PNCs into polymer is an effective strategy to enhance the PNCs stability and polymer can endow the PNCs with other positive effects based on different structure and functional groups.
November 3, 2023Source

Realizing in situ electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy using single nanodiamond sensors
Researchers have used the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center inside a single nanodiamond for quantum sensing to overcome the problem of random particle rotation.
November 3, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — November 2nd, 2023

Bartering light for light: scientists discover new system to control the chaotic behavior of light
Harnessing and controlling light is vital for the development of technology, including energy harvesting, computation, communications, and biomedical sensing. Yet, in real-world scenarios, complexity in light's behavior poses challenges for its efficient control. Physicist Andrea Alù likens the behavior of light in chaotic systems to the initial break shot in a game of billiards.
November 2, 2023Source

In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate without heat
Evaporation is happening all around us all the time, from the sweat cooling our bodies to the dew burning off in the morning sun. But science's understanding of this ubiquitous process may have been missing a piece all this time.
November 2, 2023Source

Random wrinkles for opto-physical unclonable functions
The convergence of digital technology and the internet has led to the emergence of complex digital networks utilizing ubiquitous electronic devices such as mobile phones and smart home appliances. As a result, we can access and exchange information from anywhere using technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and cloud computing.
November 2, 2023Source

Researchers discover new ultra strong material for microchip sensors
Researchers at Delft University of Technology, led by assistant professor Richard Norte, have unveiled a remarkable new material with potential to impact the world of material science: amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC). Beyond its exceptional strength, this material demonstrates mechanical properties crucial for vibration isolation on a microchip. Amorphous silicon carbide is therefore particularly suitable for making ultra-sensitive microchip sensors.
November 2, 2023Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 30th, 2023

Metamolecule metamaterial fabrication with 3D co-assembly
Metamaterials, famously likened to Harry Potter's invisible cloak, are artificial nano structures designed to manipulate light properties. However, the practical application of this technology in everyday life depends on the commercialization of the manufacturing process which requires significant costs.
October 30, 2023Source

New Checkerboard Calibration Standard for SEM
Micro to Nano has introduced the EM-Tec Checkerboard calibration standard, which is designed for quick and easy magnification and image calibration of SEMs. It consists of over 1.6 million squares which form four stages of checkerboard patterns. The smallest checkerboard is 10 x 10 um, which in turn form a pattern of 100 x 100 um and these again form checkerboards of 1 x 1 mm. The 1 x 1mm checkerboards then form a 5 x 5 mm pattern.
October 30, 2023Source

New frequency comb can identify molecules in 20-nanosecond snapshots
From monitoring concentrations of greenhouse gases to detecting COVID in the breath, laser systems known as frequency combs can identify specific molecules as simple as carbon dioxide and as complex as monoclonal antibodies with unprecedented accuracy and sensitivity. Amazing as they are, however, frequency combs have been limited in how fast they can capture a high-speed process such as hypersonic propulsion or the folding of proteins into their final three-dimensional shapes.
October 30, 2023Source

Physicists turn pencil lead into metaphorical 'gold'
MIT physicists and colleagues have metaphorically turned graphite, or pencil lead, into gold by isolating five ultrathin flakes stacked in a specific order. The resulting material can then be tuned to exhibit three important properties never before seen in natural graphite.
October 30, 2023Source

Researchers find analytical solutions for 1D channels in twisted bilayer graphene
The work methodology in a theoretical group often implies discussions in front of the data to elucidate what is the story the nature is trying to tell us. One day, an interesting revelation took place at IMDEA Nanociencia institute in Madrid.
October 30, 2023Source

Simulating spins, spirals and shrinking devices
The diamond in an engagement ring, the wonder-material graphene and the 'lead' in a humble pencil are all formed from carbon, but display profoundly different characteristics. Carbon materials such as these are among the most famous examples of how diverse properties can emerge in materials, based only on the rearrangement of the structure of atoms.
October 30, 2023Source

The right twist and strain for graphene to form 1D moires
Researchers at IMDEA Nanociencia have developed an analytical method to explain the formation of a quasi-perfect 1D moire pattern in twisted bilayer graphene. The pattern, naturally occurring in piled 2D materials when a strain force is applied, represents a set of channels for electrons.
October 30, 2023Source

UQ Home to Australia's First Superconducting Quantum Hardware Startup
Researchers at Queensland's first quantum technology startup are developing microscopic superconducting hardware critical to scaling up future quantum computer technology.
October 30, 2023Source

Will POM-Based Nanohybrids Be a Sustainability Success?
Polyoxometalate (POM)-based nanohybrids have the potential to revolutionize sustainability in numerous industries, but research on these materials is still in its early stages. In a review paper published Polyoxometalates, the authors present a thorough assessment of the field's advancements and the hurdles that lie ahead.
October 30, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 27th, 2023

Advances in chiral nanophotonics with anisotropic lattice and high-Q metasurfaces
Chirality is an intrinsic property of an object that cannot coincide with its mirror image by translation or rotation. In order to realize strong chiral light-matter interactions which are usually weak in natural materials for practical applications, artificial sub-wavelength structures such as metamaterials, metasurfaces, and plasmonic nanostructures have attracted increasing attentions.
October 27, 2023Source

Hybrid nanomaterials promise a sustainability boost across multiple industries
A new class of nanoscale hybrid materials has the potential to improve sustainability across energy systems, transport, biosensors, water purification and even 3D printing, but the field is still very young. A group of researchers has produced a detailed overview of the state of play in polyoxometalate (POM)-based nanohybrids, charting a path for research in this cutting-edge realm of materials science.
October 27, 2023Source or Source

Organic nanofilms transform resistive memory and electronics
Researchers have been keenly interested in leveraging the useful properties of crystalline nanoporous materials for electronic applications. Ordered frameworks such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) have highly periodic structures and tunable functionality.
October 27, 2023Source

Researchers Develop Fast, Scalable Way to Make Nanoribbons for Infrared Devices
Combining electronics with infrared light can enable small, fast, and sensitive devices for sensing, imaging, and signaling at the molecular level. However, in the infrared spectrum, materials must meet strict quality requirements for their crystals in order to meet the requirements for these functions. Now, researchers have found an improved way to make high-quality crystals that resonate strongly with infrared light. They tested these ribbon-shaped nanocrystals ("nanoribbons") using a unique infrared probe.
October 27, 2023Source

Tiny brick-busting 'muscles' for miniature robotics are sourced from wood
Wood is the source for a brick-breaking mini robotic muscle material developed by researchers in Sweden and Germany. The material — a specially-developed hydrogel — can shape-shift, expand and contract on demand when controlled with electronic impulses of less than 1 volt.
October 27, 2023Source or Source

Ultrathin crystals vibe with infrared light
Combining electronics with infrared light can enable small, fast, and sensitive devices for sensing, imaging, and signaling at the molecular level. However, in the infrared spectrum, materials must meet strict quality requirements for their crystals in order to meet the requirements for these functions.
October 27, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 26th, 2023

Anton Paar Launches New High-Vacuum Gas Sorption Analyzer: Autosorb 6100
Delivering on the most important requirements for any characterization laboratory, Autosorb 6100 is a customizable instrument designed for the most challenging surface area and pore size distribution measurements in the nanometer range (0.35 nm to 500 nm).
October 26, 2023Source

Making high-quality crystals that resonate strongly with infrared light
Combining electronics with infrared light can enable small, fast, and sensitive devices for sensing, imaging, and signaling at the molecular level. However, in the infrared spectrum, materials must meet strict quality requirements for their crystals in order to meet the requirements for these functions.
October 26, 2023Source

Nanosurf Expands: New Cleanroom Assembly Facility
In response to the company's rapid growth and the increasing demand for large industrial metrology tools, particularly from the semiconductor industry, Nanosurf is thrilled to announce the inauguration of a new manufacturing facility in Pratteln. Conveniently located just a 10-minute drive from the Liestal headquarters, this expansion underscores Nanosurf's commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of specialized industrial metrology tools.
October 26, 2023Source

Shape-shifting fiber can produce morphing fabrics
FibeRobo is a liquid crystal elastomer fiber that can change its shape in response to thermal stimuli. Compatible with existing textile manufacturing machinery, it could be used to make morphing textiles, like a jacket that changes its insulating properties.
October 26, 2023Source

Shape-shifting fiber can produce morphing fabrics
Instead of needing a coat for each season, imagine having a jacket that would dynamically change shape so it becomes more insulating to keep you warm as the temperature drops.
October 26, 2023Source

The 'spinaron': New quantum effect challenges the long-held Kondo effect
For the first time, experimental physicists from the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat have demonstrated a new quantum effect aptly named the "spinaron." In a meticulously controlled environment and using an advanced set of instruments, they managed to prove the unusual state a cobalt atom assumes on a copper surface.
October 26, 2023Source

Tiny networks intertwine to mimic design of bird colors
The bright plumage of birds is often a feast for the eyes, but it has been a headache for scientists who have struggled to recreate the photonic nanostructures that generate those colors in the lab.
October 26, 2023Source

Using sound to test devices, control qubits
Acoustic resonators are everywhere. In fact, there is a good chance you're holding one in your hand right now. Most smart phones today use bulk acoustic resonators as radio frequency filters to filter out noise that could degrade a signal. These filters are also used in most Wi-Fi and GPS systems.
October 26, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 23rd, 2023

3D-printed hairs detect flow and environmental changes
Eyelashes and brows catch dust and debris from entering eyes. The same idea goes for tiny nose and ear hairs.
October 23, 2023Source or Source

Crafting adjustable arrays of microscopic lenses with hydrogel microfabrication techniques
They number in the thousands, light striking the phalanx of lenses arrayed on a face in geometric pattern, the beams refracting through transparent mounds no wider than a hair.
October 23, 2023Source

LIGO surpasses the quantum limit
In 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, made history when it made the first direct detection of gravitational waves, or ripples in space and time, produced by a pair of colliding black holes.
October 23, 2023Source

Plants transformed into detectors of dangerous chemicals
What if your house plant could tell you your water isn't safe? Scientists are closer to realizing this vision, having successfully engineered a plant to turn beet red in the presence of a banned, toxic pesticide.
October 23, 2023Source

Researchers create the most water-repellent surface ever
Researchers have developed a new mechanism to make water droplets slip off surfaces, described in a paper published in Nature Chemistry.
October 23, 2023Source

Scientists demonstrate the transport of light cargo using tethered and untethered soft robots made from hydrogels
A team of University of Waterloo researchers has created smart, advanced materials that will be the building blocks for a future generation of soft medical microrobots
October 23, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 20th, 2023

3D-printed, soft, living materials made with algae glow under stress
A team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego has developed soft yet durable materials that glow in response to mechanical stress, such as compression, stretching or twisting. The materials derive their luminescence from single-celled algae known as dinoflagellates.
October 20, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 19th, 2023

Enzyodynamic therapy at nanoscale
Enzyodynamic therapy (EDT) is a new type of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related dynamic therapeutic modality, which adequately utilizes the enzyme-triggered catalytic reactions in living organisms and achieves disease treatment through controlling the generation or elimination of ROS.
October 19, 2023Source

New 4D-printed generator makes water droplets more powerful
Water contains tremendous untapped energy, but very little of it is being harnessed currently. On a large scale, dams harvest hydroelectric power, while tidal and wave energy plants are emerging. On a smaller scale, researchers have developed devices that can generate electricity from water droplets.
October 19, 2023Source

New noble-metal-free electrocatalyst decreases the energy required to generate hydrogen gas from water
As a combustible fuel, the burning of hydrogen gas does not contribute to global warming. Today, the majority of hydrogen gas is generated from fossil fuels, however, and this process releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
October 19, 2023Source

Single-Chain Nanoparticles Create High-Resolution 3D Images
Published in the journal "Chemical Communications", the scientists state that the particles could be employed in photoacoustic imaging to create high-resolution, three-dimensional interior images of the human body when paired with an integrated dye.
October 19, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 18th, 2023

A physics milestone: Miniature particle accelerator works
Particle accelerators are crucial tools in a wide variety of areas in industry, research and the medical sector. The space these machines require ranges from a few square meters to large research centers. Using lasers to accelerate electrons within a photonic nanostructure constitutes a microscopic alternative with the potential of generating significantly lower costs and making devices considerably less bulky.
October 18, 2023Source

Grasping the three-dimensional morphology of kilonovae
An advanced new three-dimensional (3D) computer simulation of the light emitted following a merger of two neutron stars has produced a similar sequence of spectroscopic features to an observed kilonova.
October 18, 2023Source

Researchers succeed in accelerating electrons using a nano device
Particle accelerators are crucial tools in a wide variety of areas in industry, research and the medical sector. The space these machines require ranges from a few square meters to large research centers. Using lasers to accelerate electrons within a photonic nanostructure constitutes a microscopic alternative with the potential of generating significantly lower costs and making devices considerably less bulky.
October 18, 2023Source

Scientists apply giant wave mechanics on a nanometric scale
Researchers have shown how the principles of rogue waves — huge 30-metre waves that arise unexpectedly in the ocean — can be applied on a nano scale, with dozens of applications from medicine to manufacturing.
October 18, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 17th, 2023

Insights into 2D materials from international collaboration
Roman Engel-Herbert, Director of PDI, and Joao Marcelo J. Lopes, a Senior Scientist at PDI, were honored recently with an invitation to review the field of two-dimensional layered materials (2DLM) in a paper for ACS Nano titled "Recent Advances in 2D Material Theory, Synthesis, Properties, and Applications." PDI's authors drew from their expertise in the field of 2D magnetic materials and heterostructures to provide insights on the current state and future prospects of the field regarding the synthesis of these materials.
October 17, 2023Source

Nanologica Delivers Silica to Insulin Manufacturer for Evaluation in Production
Nanologica delivers silica to an insulin manufacturer in Asia against an order received last year. The delivery consisists of silica for evaluation in full-scale production.
October 17, 2023Source

Neuromorphic computing hardware needs a theoretical basis
There is an intense, worldwide search for novel materials to build computer microchips with that are not based on classic transistors but on much more energy-saving, brain-like components. However, whereas the theoretical basis for classic transistor-based digital computers is solid, there are no real theoretical guidelines for the creation of brain-like computers.
October 17, 2023Source

Solving Quantum Mysteries: New Insights Into 2D Semiconductor Physics
Researchers from Monash University have unlocked fresh insights into the behaviour of quantum impurities within materials.
October 17, 2023Source

Superlensing without a super lens: physicists boost microscopes beyond limits
Ever since Antonie van Leeuwenhoek discovered the world of bacteria through a microscope in the late seventeenth century, humans have tried to look deeper into the world of the infinitesimally small.
October 17, 2023Source

Sustainable smart agriculture with a biodegradable soil moisture sensor
Increasingly limited land and water resources has inspired the development of precision agriculture: use of remote sensing technology to monitor air and soil environmental data in real time, to help optimize crop output. Maximizing the sustainability of such technology is critical to proper environmental stewardship and reducing costs.
October 17, 2023Source

Toshiba Launches Small Photorelay Suitable for High-Frequency Signal Switches in Semiconductor Testers
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation ("Toshiba") has launched "TLP3475W," a photorelay in a small, thin WSON4 package. It reduces insertion loss and suppresses power attenuation in high-frequency signals and is suitable for the pin electronics of semiconductor testers, which use a large number of relays and require high-speed signaling. Volume shipments start today.
October 17, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 16th, 2023

Boosting Luminescence in Upconversion Nanoparticles
Lanthanide (Ln3+)-doped photon avalanche (PA) upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) find application in the realms of quantum topics, single-molecule tracking, miniaturized lasers and super-resolution bioimaging.
October 16, 2023Source

Fabrication of nanoscale photonic crystals with ultrafast laser
The light control performance of photonic crystals is closely related to their lattice constant, which typically requires the lattice constant to be in the same order of magnitude as the working wavelength.
October 16, 2023Source

Research team demonstrates coherent ultrafast photoemission from carbon nanotube emitter
Exploring dynamical processes at extreme spatiotemporal scales is pivotal for scientific and technological advancements. This is particularly true in the microscopic realm, where most movements are ultrafast, especially at the atomic spatial scale, since ultrafast processes can reach durations of a few femtoseconds or even attoseconds.
October 16, 2023Source

Tiny memory cell withstands extreme temperatures
Materials scientists at Kiel University and the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISIT) in Itzehoe have cleared another hurdle in the development and structuring of new materials for next-generation semiconductor devices, such as novel memory cells.
October 16, 2023Source

Transition metal dichalcogenide nanotubes promise leap beyond carbon nanotubes
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have engineered a range of new single-walled transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanotubes with different compositions, chirality, and diameters by templating off boron-nitride nanotubes. They also realized ultra-thin nanotubes grown inside the template, and successfully tailored compositions to create a family of new nanotubes.
October 16, 2023Source

University of Utah Launches UNICOS to Boost Semiconductor Workforce and Infrastructure
Capitalizing on a boom in the nation's semiconductor industry following the passage of the 2022 CHIPS Act, the University of Utah has launched the Utah Network for Integrated Computing and Semiconductor Research and Education (UNICOS).
October 16, 2023Source

Will the Nanotube Family's Newest Addition Replace Carbon?
By utilizing boron-nitride nanotubes as templates, researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have successfully engineered a diverse array of single-walled transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanotubes, each varying in composition, chirality, and diameter. This remarkable breakthrough promises to revolutionize applications in nanotechnology, offering a deeper understanding of the growth mechanisms and emerging optical properties of these nanotubes.
October 16, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 13th, 2023

Overcoming limitations of hydrogel actuators with graphene microtubes
Soft robotics and biomedical devices are pioneering fields that aim to create machinery and tools that mimic the soft, flexible nature of human tissues. This is crucial because it allows these devices to interact safely with humans and perform tasks that hard robots might find challenging. Imagine a robot that can gently grasp delicate objects, or a medical device that seamlessly integrates with human tissues.
October 13, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 12th, 2023

An electrical switch to control chemical reactions
New pharmaceuticals, cleaner fuels, biodegradable plastics: in order to meet society's needs, chemists have to develop new synthesis methods to obtain new products that do not exist in their natural state.
October 12, 2023Source

Morpho butterfly nanostructure inspires technology for bright, balanced lighting
As you watch Morpho butterflies wobble in flight, shimmering in vivid blue color, you're witnessing an uncommon form of structural color that researchers are only beginning to use in lighting technologies such as optical diffusers. Furthermore, imparting a self-cleaning capability to such diffusers would minimize soiling and staining and maximize practical utility.
October 12, 2023Source

Using SERS technology to accurately monitor single-molecule diffusion behavior
Researchers have developed a new technique to observe the behavior of individual molecules in real time
October 12, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 11th, 2023

Creating a broadband diffractive graphene orbital angular momentum metalens by laser nanoprinting
Optical beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) attract widespread attention and play an important role in optical data storage, optical communications, quantum information processing, super-resolution imaging, and optical trapping and manipulation. However, the bulky volume and the complex systems of the conventional OAM beam generators limit their applications in integrated and miniaturized optical or photonic devices.
October 11, 2023Source

Making more magnetism possible with topology
Researchers who have been working for years to understand electron arrangement, or topology, and magnetism in certain semimetals have been frustrated by the fact that the materials only display magnetic properties if they are cooled to just a few degrees above absolute zero.
October 11, 2023Source

Micro/nanoscale 4D printing revolution: Manufacturing high-resolution transformable 3D structures
Have you ever imaged high-resolution 3D structures at the micro/nanoscale that react dynamically to their surroundings? The 4D printing technology is changing the game by using smart materials that exhibit remarkable shape deformation in response to external stimuli, showing the enormous potential for use in biomedicine, flexible electronics, soft robotics, and aerospace.
October 11, 2023Source

Researchers use new new cobalt-modified nano material to make fuel cells more robust, sustainable
There is an urgent need to address climate change, making the development of sustainable energy alternatives more important than ever. While proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have shown great promise for energy production, particularly in the transportation industry, there is a long-standing problem with their durability and cost.
October 11, 2023Source

Scientists discover 'flipping' layers in heterostructures cause changes in their properties
Transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors are special materials that have long fascinated researchers with their unique properties. For one, they are flat, one-atom-thick two-dimensional materials similar to that of graphene. They are compounds that contain different combinations of the transition metal group and chalcogen elements.
October 11, 2023Source

Scientists use SERS technology to accurately monitor single-molecule diffusion behavior
A research team led by Prof. Yang Liangbao from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has used surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to accurately monitor the diffusion behavior of a single molecule in the sub-nanometer space.
October 11, 2023Source

Tuning a fundamental material property with a graphene-insulator coating
The energy it takes to eject an electron from a material is a fundamental property — one that determines how electrons flow. This is one of the key properties scientists must consider when designing devices. If a device requires changes to this property, the only option is to find a new material that works for the application.
October 11, 2023Source

Zinc-doped Prussian blue nanozyme serves as all-in-one copper sensor
Researchers led by Prof. Wu Zhengyan and Zhang Jia from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an all-in-one nanozyme for the capture, separation and detection of copper ion (Cu2+) in complicated matrixes, achieving accurate detection of copper ions.
October 11, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 10th, 2023

Controlling the Orientation of cMOF Nanofilms
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) and Kyoto University have suggested an approach for growing 'face-on' and 'edge-on' conductive metal-organic frameworks (cMOF) nanofilms on substrates by controlling the "stand-up" behaviors of ligands on various surfaces to circumvent the difficulty in such film orientation control.
October 10, 2023Source

Nanoscale Rust: The Future of Magnets?
Every motor we use needs a magnet. University of Manitoba researcher Rachel Nickel is studying how rust could make those magnets cheaper and easier to produce.
October 10, 2023Source

Novel framework promotes efficient electromagnetic wave absorption
A research team led by Prof. Wang Junfeng from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a bio-inspired metal-organic framework (Bio-MOF) to achieve efficient absorption of electromagnetic waves.
October 10, 2023Source

Record-high 3D printing rate reached by acousto-optical scanning
"Processing speed and processing accuracy are important performance parameters for evaluating micro-nano three-dimensional printing technology, and this technology has excellent performance in both aspects," said Prof. Wei Xiong. "This research provides a feasible technical route for achieving large-scale nano-3D printing in the future."
October 10, 2023Source

X-rays reveal microstructural fingerprints of 3D-printed alloy
Cornell researchers took a novel approach to explore the way microstructure emerges in a 3D-printed metal alloy: They bombarded it with X-rays while the material was being printed.
October 10, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 9th, 2023

Researchers realize orientation control of cMOF nanofilms
Researchers from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Kyoto University have proposed a strategy to grow "face-on" and "edge-on" conductive metal-organic frameworks (cMOF) nanofilms on substrates by controlling the "stand-up" behaviors of ligands on various surfaces to overcome the difficulty in the orientation control of such films.
October 9, 2023Source or Source

Toward a fast-switching liquid crystal
From laptop screens to navigation systems, liquid crystals are ubiquitous in modern life. These materials flow like liquids, but their molecules align with one another in a way that resembles the orientational order of a crystal. Electrically switching between different molecular orientations — or phases — in a liquid crystal changes how the material transmits light, hence their use/utility in visual displays.
October 9, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 6th, 2023

Chiro-optical force observed at the nanoscale
A research group at the Institute for Molecular Science has successfully observed the left and right handedness of material structures at the nanoscale, by illuminating chiral gold nanostructures with circularly polarized light and detecting the optical force acting on a probe near the nanostructures.
October 6, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 5th, 2023

A new qubit platform is created atom by atom
Researchers at the IBS Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS) at Ewha Womans University have accomplished a groundbreaking step forward in quantum information science. In partnership with teams from Japan, Spain, and the US, they created a novel electron-spin qubit platform, assembled atom-by-atom on a surface.
October 5, 2023Source

Groundbreaking study shows defects spreading through diamond faster than the speed of sound
Settling a half century of debate, researchers have discovered that tiny linear defects can propagate through a material faster than sound waves do.
October 5, 2023Source

Laser-scribed graphene for sensors
Graphene-based sensors have shown great promise due to graphene's excellent electrical and physical properties. However, scalable production of high-quality graphene remains challenging.
October 5, 2023Source or Source

Nanoscale rust: The future of magnets?
Every motor we use needs a magnet. University of Manitoba researcher Rachel Nickel is studying how rust could make those magnets cheaper and easier to produce.
October 5, 2023Source

New Direct-Drive Rotation Stages for Ultra-High Precision Industrial Applications
PI's new family of direct-drive rotation stages are designed for continuous 24/7 operations, demanding extreme dynamic and static precision, with resolution down to 0.0015µrad, position accuracy of 10µrad, and bidirectional repeatability of 5µrad.
October 5, 2023Source

Nobel Prize for chemistry recognizes the power of nanotechnology
The 2023 Nobel Prize for chemistry isn't the first Nobel awarded for research in nanotechnology. But it is perhaps the most colorful application of the technology to be associated with the accolade.
October 5, 2023Source

Observation of left and right at nanoscale with optical force
A research group at the Institute for Molecular Science in Japan successfully observed the left and right handedness of material structures at the nanoscale, by illuminating chiral gold nanostructures with circularly polarized light and detecting the optical force acting on a probe near the nanostructures. This result demonstrated that it is possible to analyze the chiral structure of matter at the nanoscale using light.
October 5, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 3rd, 2023

Bruker Introduces Next-Generation Nanomechanical Test System
At the annual Materials Science and Technology (MS&T23) conference, Bruker Corporation today announced the release of the Hysitron TI 990 TriboIndenter®, which brings superior levels of performance, automation, and productivity to nanomechanical testing. TI 990 is a comprehensive advancement of Bruker's industry‑leading TriboIndenter platform with new measurement modes, 2X faster testing throughput, and a larger 200 mm x 300 mm testing area.
October 3, 2023Source

How quantum light sees quantum sound
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have proposed a new way of using quantum light to 'see' quantum sound.
October 3, 2023Source

Why does it get hot when you rub things together? Unraveling the mystery of dynamic friction at the atomic level
Friction, an everyday phenomenon, has perplexed scientists for centuries. Though extensively researched, our understanding remains fragmented, primarily due to the multifaceted interactions that span across varying scales. Achieving an accurate grasp of the precise contact conditions between objects has been a longstanding challenge, a feat recently made possible through advancements in scanning probe microscopy.
October 3, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — October 2nd, 2023

Making material advancements at the nanoscale
The nanoscale is quite small, but materials of this size significantly impact many fields, from electronics to aerospace to robotics to medicine.
October 2, 2023Source

Metal-loving microbes could replace chemical processing of rare earths
Cornell University researchers discover a metal-affine bacteria, Shewanella oneidensis, with potential to revolutionize the processing of rare earth elements, crucial for clean energy technologies and modern gadgets.
October 2, 2023Source

Next-generation printing: precise and direct, using optical vortices
Will printed photographs ever match the precision of a mirror's reflection? Even though the answer may still be no for a while, Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have made significant strides in precision printing with their innovative optical vortex laser-based technique that allows for the precise placement of minuscule droplets with micrometer-scale accuracy.
October 2, 2023Source

Novel liquid metal circuits for flexible, self-healing wearables
Imagine a stretchable and durable sensor patch for monitoring the rehabilitation of patients with elbow or knee injuries, or an unbreakable and reliable wearable device that measures a runner's cardiac activities during training to prevent life-threatening injuries.
October 2, 2023Source

Research: Electrons in a strange metal world
Imagine a flock of birds as they wheel across the sky: surging into a mass, flowing into ribbons that twist and turn again into fantastic shapes. If you follow one bird within the flock, you can describe its actions, the way it flaps its wings or uses its tail to brake.
October 2, 2023Source

Scientists discover a durable but sensitive material for high energy X-ray detection
X-ray technology plays a vital role in medicine and scientific research, providing non-invasive medical imaging and insight into materials. Recent advancements in X-ray technology enable brighter, more intense beams and imaging of increasingly intricate systems in real-world conditions, like the insides of operating batteries.
October 2, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 29th, 2023

3D-printed plasmonic plastic enables large-scale optical sensor production
In a multi-year project, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed plasmonic plastic — a type of composite material with unique optical properties that can be 3D-printed. This research has now resulted in 3D-printed optical hydrogen sensors that could play an important role in the transition to green energy and industry.
September 29, 2023Source

Living hydrogel fibers unveiling a new era of sustainable engineered materials
In an era where the quest for sustainable, adaptable, and efficient materials is more urgent than ever, the field of engineered living materials (ELMs) is fast emerging as a promising avenue of research. ELMs, a novel class of biohybrid materials, unite the realms of living cells and non-living components, promising unprecedented dynamic and lifelike properties that traditional materials can't offer.
September 29, 2023Source

Researchers invent a new metallization method of modified tannic acid photoresist patterning
The micro/nano metal pattern formation is a key step in the assembly of various devices. However, ex situ approaches of metal patterning limited their industrial applications due to the poor stability and dispersion of metal nanoparticles. The in situ electroless deposition after lithography patterning may be a better choice for avoiding the growth and aggregation of metal particles in the polymers.
September 29, 2023Source

Transformer! New multi-purpose robot changes shape for different uses
A team at the University of Bristol and based at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory have built a tetrahedron shaped robot with flexible piping known as Tetraflex that can move through small gaps or over challenging terrain. It can also encapsulate fragile objects such as an egg and transport them safely within its soft body.
September 29, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 27th, 2023

Atomic Precision Synthesis of Metal Nanoclusters with Tunable Superlattice Structures
Metal nanoclusters are small, crystalline structures that range up to two nm in diameter and consist of a few to hundreds of metal atoms.
September 27, 2023Source

Improvement of ultra-broadband photodetection with a device based on twisted double bilayer graphene
Hyperspectral imaging uses the full spectrum of light to give detailed insights on nature and its behavior. These insights open a realm for manifold applications, including autonomous driving, environmental monitoring, health care, space exploration or even agriculture and food processing.
September 27, 2023Source

Orbital currents can go far--a promising novel ultrafast channel for data processing
Orbitronics is a recently emerging field of research on the manipulation of the orbital degree of freedom of electrons for quantum information technology. However, unambiguously detecting ultrafast dynamics of orbital angular momentum has been challenging so far.
September 27, 2023Source

Powering the quantum revolution: Quantum engines on the horizon
Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that explores the properties and interactions of iparticles at very small scale, such as atoms and molecules. This has led to the development of new technologies that are more powerful and efficient compared to their conventional counterparts, causing breakthroughs in areas such as computing, communication, and energy.
September 27, 2023Source

Testing particle scattering and reflection in graphene
Humanity stands on the verge of two major revolutions: the boom in 2-dimensional materials like graphene with incredible properties and the introduction of quantum computers with processing power that vastly outstrips standard computers.
September 27, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 26th, 2023

EFNS Tech Day 2024 by Bruker
Bruker's free Workshop on photothermal AFM-IR technology at the 1st European InfraRed Nanospectro-Imaging Conference in Orsay, France.
September 26, 2023Source

Mineral nanoparticles could potentially act as nanozyme mimics, assisting fungi in breaking down organic pollutants
A study led by Dr. Guanghui Yu from School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, delved into the role of magnetite nanoparticles as nanozyme mimics.
September 26, 2023Source

Producing Nanoworms with Adjustable Properties
Researchers from Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg have achieved a significant breakthrough by creating nanomaterials through a "bottom-up approach."
September 26, 2023Source

Stacking order and strain boosts second-harmonic generation with 2D Janus hetero-bilayers
A group of researchers from Tohoku University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rice University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have proposed a new mechanism to enhance short-wavelength light (100--300 nm) by second harmonic generation (SHG) in a two-dimensional (2D), thin material composed entirely of commonplace elements.
September 26, 2023Source

Thermal magIC: Digging into the details of an ambitious new 'thermometry camera'
Thermometers can do a lot of things: Measure the temperature at the center of your perfectly braised chicken or tell you whether to keep your child home from school due to illness. But because of their size, traditional thermometers' uses are still limited.
September 26, 2023Source

Thiol ligands modify metal nanocluster structures and optical properties
Metal nanoclusters are tiny, crystalline structures up to two nanometers (2 x 10-9 meters) in diameter that contain a few to hundreds of metal atoms. Understanding the precise assembly of metal nanoclusters is paramount to determining how different structures affect the properties and molecular interactions of these materials.
September 26, 2023Source or Source

Transistor-inspired ultra-sensitive materials heat up advanced data security
As data storage needs explode in the digital age, scientists are searching for new ways to securely encrypt information. Thermochromic fluorescent materials (TFMs) have gained significant attention in information storage and anti-counterfeiting. These materials change color and glow when heated, revealing hidden data.
September 26, 2023Source

Transparent wood-based coating doesn't fog up
Researchers have developed a way to turn a waste material from wood into a bio-based transparent film that can be used for anti-fogging or anti-reflective coatings on glasses or vehicle windows. In addition to offering an alternative to the toxic synthetic materials currently used, this approach transforms a waste product into a valuable carbon sink.
September 26, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 25th, 2023

Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis Using Gold Nanoclusters
Research on new, effective, renewable, and clean energy sources is a top priority as the world's energy demand escalates. Less than 40% of the world's energy needs are now met by renewable energy sources like the sun, wind, tidal, and geothermal energy.
September 25, 2023Source

Bionic functional surface achieves programmable and patterned droplet bouncing
Scientists are finding creative ways to leverage the phenomenon of water droplets bouncing off surfaces for functional applications like self-cleaning technology and energy harvesting. The key lies in engineering surfaces that can actively control droplet behavior.
September 25, 2023Source

Machine learning unravels mysteries of atomic shapes
New research has used machine learning to find the properties of atomic pieces of geometry, in pioneering work that could drive the development of new results in mathematics.
September 25, 2023Source

Magnetic bead manipulation in microfluidic chips for biological application
In recent years, microfluidics has emerged as a revolutionary technology for biological analysis and medical diagnostics, enabling the precise control and manipulation of fluids at the microscale. At the same time, functionalized magnetic beads have become an indispensable tool for the selective capture and enrichment of target analytes.
September 25, 2023Source

Novel approach towards nanomaterials developed
Scientists from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, both Germany, have successfully developed nanomaterials using a so-called bottom-up approach. As reported in the scientific journal ACS Nano ("Self-Assembly of Core--Shell Hybrid Nanoparticles by Directional Crystallization of Grafted Polymers"), they exploit the fact that crystals often grow in a specific direction during crystallisation.
September 25, 2023Source

Scientists develop nanomaterials using a bottom-up approach
Scientists from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, both Germany, have successfully developed nanomaterials using a so-called bottom-up approach.
September 25, 2023Source

Towards computational design of molecules with desired properties
Prof. Alexandre Tkatchenko and his research team at the University of Luxembourg in collaboration with Cornell University and the Argonne National Laboratory have introduced a novel "freedom of design" principle in the chemical compound space (CCS) — the unfathomably vast space populated by all possible atomic compositions and their geometries.
September 25, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 22nd, 2023

Color-Changing Coating Keeps Buildings Cool in Summer and Warm in Winter
As summer turns to fall, many people will be turning off the air conditioning and firing up heaters instead. But traditional heating and cooling systems are energy intensive, and because they typically run on fossil fuels, they aren't sustainable. Now, by mimicking a desert-dwelling chameleon, a team reporting in ACS' Nano Letters has developed an energy-efficient, cost-effective coating.
September 22, 2023Source

Efficient fuel-molecule sieving using graphene
A research team led by the University of Tsukuba has successfully developed a new method that can prevent the crossover of large fuel molecules and suppress the degradation of electrodes in advanced fuel cell technology using methanol or formic acid.
September 22, 2023Source

Gold nanoclusters can improve electrochemical water splitting to produce hydrogen
As energy demand continues to rise, research into new, efficient renewable and clean energy sources is an urgent priority. Currently, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, tide, and geothermal make up less than 40% of the current energy demand. Increasing this percentage and reducing the amount of fossil fuels used will require other, more efficient renewable and clean energy sources.
September 22, 2023Source

Graphene membranes improve fuel cell efficiency by blocking fuel crossover
Researchers have made significant progress in developing advanced fuel cell membranes that could enable greener technologies like direct methanol and direct formic acid fuel cells. These fuel cells can convert carbon dioxide into useful fuels using renewable electricity, potentially revolutionizing sustainable energy systems. However, a major challenge has been preventing the fuel from crossing through the membranes, decreasing efficiency.
September 22, 2023Source

How does voltage drive nonmetallic catalysts to perform electrocatalytic reactions?
Understanding how voltage drives nanoscale electrocatalysts to initiate reactions is a fundamental scientific question. This is especially challenging when dealing with non-metallic electrocatalysts due to their low inherent carrier concentration, which leads to poor conductivity. When voltage is applied at the non-metal/solution interface, the situation becomes more complex than in the case of metal/solution interfaces.
September 22, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 21st, 2023

Laser Drilling: Achieving Fast and Precise Laser Beam Focus and Dynamic Workpiece Positioning Using a Unified Controller Approach
Leveraging an integrated solution from Physik Instrumente (PI), achieving nanometer-precise motion control with enhanced throughput in laser drilling is now a reality. Powered by EtherCAT drives and controllers, motion integration has been streamlined, eliminating the complexity of coordinating various control system elements.
September 21, 2023Source

New Insights Into the Silica Coating Process for Nanodiamonds
X-Ray tools at SSRL reveal that alcohol groups on the surface of nanodiamonds enable one of the world's most valuable materials to bond with one of its most abundant materials.
September 21, 2023Source

Researchers Create New 2D Material Using a Microwave
Two-dimensional materials like graphene display alluring properties like extraordinary strength, superconductivity, and exotic quantum phenomena.
September 21, 2023Source

Scientists unravel the chemical mechanism behind silica-coated nanodiamonds
Coating something rare — tiny shards of diamond — with the main ingredient in sand might sound unusual, but the end result turns out to have a number of valuable applications. The trick is, nobody knows for sure how the two materials bond.
September 21, 2023Source

Topological materials open a new pathway for exploring spin Hall materials
A group of researchers have made a significant breakthrough which could revolutionize next-generation electronics by enabling non-volatility, large-scale integration, low power consumption, high speed, and high reliability in spintronic devices.
September 21, 2023Source

Using sound waves to propel a microrobot through narrow tubes
A team of robotic and acoustic engineers from the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, and Institut für Theoretische Physik, Center for Soft Nanoscience, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, has developed a microrobot that can be propelled through narrow tubes using sound waves.
September 21, 2023Source or Watch Video

General — Nanotechnology — September 20th, 2023

3D insights into an innovative manufacturing process
3D printing can produce highly complex shapes. But printing ceramic objects with the help of a laser is a more difficult challenge. Now researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have for the first time taken tomograms revealing what happens at microscopic level during this fabrication process. The findings will help improve this very promising technology.
September 20, 2023Source

Combustion powers bug-sized robots to leap, lift and race
Call it the big bang for bug-sized robots.
September 20, 2023Source

How do zeolite-encapsulated metal catalysts act on hydrogen-related catalytic reactions?
Zeolites encapsulated metal and metal oxide species (regarded as metal@zeolite) are an important type of heterogeneous catalyst. They give performances that steadily outperform the traditional supported catalysts in many important reactions and have become a research hotspot.
September 20, 2023Source

Imaging the smallest atoms provides insights into an enzyme's unusual biochemistry
A team led by researchers at SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), at Osaka University has used neutron crystallography to image all of the atoms in a radical intermediate of a copper amine oxidase enzyme. They disclosed previously unknown details, such as precise conformational changes, that help to explain the enzyme's biochemistry.
September 20, 2023Source

Molybdenene — the metallic relative of graphene
Two-dimensional materials like graphene show fascinating properties such as superconductivity, extraordinary strength and exotic quantum phenomena. Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich, together with partners from the Indian Institute of Technology in Patna and the Australian University of Newcastle, have now created a special material of this kind that exhibits a metallic character.
September 20, 2023Source

New method makes microcombs ten times more efficient
Microcombs can help us discover planets outside our solar system and track new diseases in our bodies. But current microcombs are inefficient and unable to reach their full potential.
September 20, 2023Source

Scientists unravel the chemical mechanism behind silica-coated nanodiamonds
Coating something rare--tiny shards of diamond--with the main ingredient in sand might sound unusual, but the end result turns out to have a number of valuable applications. The trick is, nobody knows for sure how the two materials bond.
September 20, 2023Source

Stabilizing precipitate growth at grain boundaries in alloys
Materials are often considered to be one phase, but many engineering materials contain two or more phases, improving their properties and performance. These two-phase materials have inclusions, called precipitates, embedded in the microstructure.
September 20, 2023Source

Studying the Mechanical Response of Single-Layer Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoribbons
The properties of nanoribbon edges play a crucial role in their potential applications in electronic devices, sensors, and catalysts.
September 20, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 19th, 2023

Fabricating plasmonic molecules by precisely arranging nanoparticles
In the incredibly small world of molecules, the elementary building blocks — the atoms — join together in a very regular pattern. In contrast, in the macroscopic world with its larger particles, there is much greater disorder when particles connect.
September 19, 2023Source

Mechanical properties of molybdenum disulfide nanoribbons with armchair edges
The properties of nanoribbon edges are important for their applications in electronic devices, sensors, and catalysts. Recently, a group of scientists from Japan and China studied the mechanical response of single-layer molybdenum disulfide nanoribbons with armchair edges using in situ transmission electron microscopy.
September 19, 2023Source

Precisely arranging nanoparticles to develop plasmonic molecules
In the incredibly small world of molecules, the elementary building blocks--the atoms--join together in a very regular pattern. In contrast, in the macroscopic world with its larger particles, there is much greater disorder when particles connect.
September 19, 2023Source

Scientists Can Now Measure the Molecular Distribution of MXene
A team of researchers, led by Seung-Cheol Lee, Director of the Indo-Korea Science and Technology Center (IKST) at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), devised a mechanism for predicting the distribution of molecules on an MXene sample surface by utilizing its magnetoresistance characteristics.
September 19, 2023Source

SLAC Fires up the World's Most Powerful X-Ray Laser: LCLS-II Ushers in a New Era of Science
The newly upgraded Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory successfully produced its first X-rays, and researchers around the world are already lined up to kick off an ambitious science program.
September 19, 2023Source

Study explores mechanical properties of molybdenum disulfide nanoribbons with armchair edges
The properties of nanoribbon edges are important for their applications in electronic devices, sensors, and catalysts. A group of scientists from Japan and China studied the mechanical response of single-layer molybdenum disulfide nanoribbons with armchair edges using in situ transmission electron microscopy.
September 19, 2023Source

Visualizing electron flow motivates new nanoscale devices inspired by airplane wings
A study showing how electrons flow around sharp bends, such as those found in integrated circuits, has the potential to improve how these circuits, commonly used in electronic and optoelectronic devices, are designed.
September 19, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 18th, 2023

Ancient Roman "wow glass" has photonic crystal patina forged over centuries
Precise hierarchical molecular self-assembly formed so-called "Bragg stack" reflectors.
September 18, 2023Source

Atomic layer deposition route to scalable, electronic-grade van der Waals Te thin films
A research team, led by Professor Joonki Suh in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering at UNIST, has made a significant breakthrough in thin film deposition technology.
September 18, 2023Source

Carbon atoms coming together in space
Uncovering the organic (carbon-based) chemistry in interstellar space is central to understanding the chemistry of the universe in addition to the origin of life on Earth and the possibilities for life elsewhere.
September 18, 2023Source

Copper-doped tungstic acid nanocrystals transform infrared light conversion
Sunlight is an inexhaustible source of energy, and utilizing sunlight to generate electricity is one of the cornerstones of renewable energy. More than 40% of the sunlight that falls on earth is in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet spectra; however, current solar technology utilizes primarily visible and ultraviolet rays.
September 18, 2023Source

Method to measure molecular distribution of MXene enables quality control in production process
Developed in 2011, MXene is a two-dimensional nanomaterial with alternating metal and carbon layers, which has high electrical conductivity and can be combined with various metal compounds, making it a material that can be utilized in various industries such as semiconductors, electronic devices, and sensors.
September 18, 2023Source

Scientists achieve femtosecond laser fabrication of magnetic-responsive Janus origami robots
The versatile manipulation of droplets across different scales holds significant promise in various fields, particularly in precision chemistry and biomedical diagnostics. From a practical standpoint, effective droplet manipulation techniques necessitate multi-functional integration and applicability across various scales.
September 18, 2023Source

Scientists discover nanofabrication of photonic crystals on buried ancient Roman glass
Some 2,000 years ago in ancient Rome, glass vessels carrying wine or water, or perhaps an exotic perfumes, tumble from a table in a marketplace, and shatter to pieces on the street. As centuries passed, the fragments were covered by layers of dust and soil and exposed to a continuous cycle of changes in temperature, moisture, and surrounding minerals.
September 18, 2023Source

Study demonstrates atomic layer deposition route to scalable, electronic-grade van der Waals tellurium thin films
A research team, led by Professor Joonki Suh in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering at UNIST, has made a significant breakthrough in thin film deposition technology. By employing an innovative atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, Professor Seo successfully achieved regular arrangement of tellurium (Te) atoms at low temperatures as low as 50 degrees Celsius.
September 18, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 15th, 2023

Using topology, researchers advance understanding of how cells organize themselves
The fact that humans and other living organisms can develop and grow from a single cell relies on a process called embryonic development. For healthy tissue to form, cells in the embryo have to organize themselves in the right way in the right place at the right time.
September 15, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 14th, 2023

Carbon atoms coming together in space
Uncovering the organic (carbon-based) chemistry in interstellar space is central to understanding the chemistry of the universe in addition to the origin of life on Earth and the possibilities for life elsewhere.
September 14, 2023Source

Electrons from Earth may be forming water on the Moon
A team of researchers, led by a University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa planetary scientist, discovered that high energy electrons in Earth's plasma sheet are contributing to weathering processes on the Moon's surface and, importantly, the electrons may have aided the formation of water on the lunar surface.
September 14, 2023Source

Researchers investigate new physical phenomena on the nanoscale with microstructured fibers
Researchers at Leibniz IPHT have succeeded in contributing to significant advances in deciphering tiny nanoobjects: Using special optical fibers, they identified a new optical mode that enables uniform illumination along the entire length of the fiber, and determined the resolution limit of individual objects that could be measured with fibers.
September 14, 2023Source

Scientists Demonstrate New, Improved Way to Make Infrared Light, With Quantum Dots
Scientists with the University of Chicago have demonstrated a way to create infrared light using colloidal quantum dots. The researchers said the method demonstrates great promise; the dots are already as efficient as existing conventional methods, even though the experiments are still in early stages.
September 14, 2023Source

Scientists design artificial 'stalactite' nanopores that mimic natural structures
Nanopores are emerging as a powerful platform technology with applications across biosensing, energy harvesting, and other fields. However, most existing solid-state nanopore designs face challenges like instability, difficulties tuning the size, and inadequate ion selectivity.
September 14, 2023Source

Scientists probe the source of key hydrocarbons on Earth--and in space
Scientists believe that PAHs are responsible for chemical processes that eventually lead to soot and other carbonaceous nanoparticles on Earth and around and between the stars in deep space. On Earth, PAHs form in part because of the incomplete combustion of coal, oil, and other substances and are detrimental to human health.
September 14, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 13th, 2023

Copper Doping Unlocks New Potential for Tungsten Oxide Nanocrystals
Sunlight is an unlimited source of energy, and using sunlight to produce electricity is one of the bases of renewable energy. A research group from Hokkaido University, headed by Assistant Professor Melbert Jeem and Professor Seiichi Watanabe at the Faculty of Engineering, has synthesized tungstic acid-based materials that have been doped with copper to display all-solar utilization.
September 13, 2023Source

Copper-doped tungstic acid nanocrystals transform infrared light conversion
Sunlight is an inexhaustible source of energy, and utilizing sunlight to generate electricity is one of the cornerstones of renewable energy. More than 40% of the sunlight that falls on earth is in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet spectra; however, current solar technology utilizes primarily visible and ultraviolet rays.
September 13, 2023Source or Source

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Researchers Reveal the Effect of AlN Surface Pits on GaN Remote Epitaxy
Remote epitaxy, a promising technology for thin film growth and exfoliation, suffers from substrate damage under harsh conditions. In this regard, researchers recently investigated the effect of nano-sized pits on AlN template surface on GaN remote epitaxy. While GaN thin film could be exfoliated at 750 °C, it failed at 1050 °C. At higher temperatures, the nano pits damaged the graphene layer between the template and the film, causing alterations in the film growth mode.
September 13, 2023Source

High-tech invisible MOF ink spells trouble for counterfeiters
A high-tech invisible ink invented at Sandia National Laboratories could become the newest tool for stopping counterfeit goods. The research team is now seeking partnerships to help develop and ultimately commercialize the new technology.
September 13, 2023Source

Scientists reveal twisting-untwisting-retwisting cycle of nanohelices
Reversible nanohelix transformation is one of the most exquisite and important phenomena in nature. Nanomaterials rarely form helical crystals. Due to the irreversibility of the twisting forces studied so far, untwisting is more difficult than retwisting crystalline nanohelices. Therefore, many reversible twist transformations between two stable crystalline products are rare and require a sensitive energy balance.
September 13, 2023Source

Scientists unlock reversible twisting of nanoscale materials
For the first time, researchers have synthetically produced nanoscale helices that can be repeatedly twisted, untwisted, and retwisted between two stable forms. This breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates an unprecedented, reversible transformation of nanoscale crystalline materials.
September 13, 2023Source

Team develops new gold nanocluster-rich titanium dioxide photocatalyst for the oxidative coupling of methane
The hydrocarbon methane is highly abundant on Earth, yet its release is now known to contribute to surges in temperature and climate change. In recent years, researchers have been trying to devise reliable methods to directly convert methane into other fuels and chemicals with valuable real-world applications.
September 13, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 12th, 2023

A linear path to efficient quantum technologies
Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have demonstrated that a key ingredient for many quantum computation and communication schemes can be performed with an efficiency that exceeds the commonly assumed upper theoretical limit — thereby opening up new perspectives for a wide range of photonic quantum technologies.
September 12, 2023Source

Kanazawa University Research: Researchers Define a Nanopipette Fabrication Protocol for High Resolution Cell Imaging
Researchers at Kanazawa University report in Analytical Chemistry how to produce nanopipettes that reliably provide nanoscale resolution scanning ion conductance microscopy images of living cells.
September 12, 2023Source

Nano Droplets Go Skiing at High Temperatures
The droplets are composed of a mixture of platinum and germanium and move on a heated substrate in the direction of the heat source. But as soon as the temperature lowers, the droplets start their special behaviour. Like professional skiers, they suddenly change their direction and make a slalom.
September 12, 2023Source

Researchers Develop Plasmonic Nanotweezers to More Rapidly Trap Potentially Cancerous Nanosized Particles
Vanderbilt researchers have developed a way to more quickly and precisely trap nanoscale objects such as potentially cancerous extracellular vesicles using cutting-edge plasmonic nanotweezers.
September 12, 2023Source

Revealing the effect of AIN surface pits on GaN remote epitaxy
However, harsh epitaxy conditions can often cause damage to the template materials, such as in the case of remote epitaxy of GaN thin films, promising materials for light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and power electronic devices, on graphene/AlN templates.
September 12, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 11th, 2023

First Study Harnessing the Power of the New Materials Science Microscope at JEMCA Just Published
After only six months from the inauguration of the Joint Electron Microscopy Center at ALBA (JEMCA), this marvel of technology is already feeding published research. In fact, the first paper including data and images obtained with the EM02-METCAM microscope has just been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). And this is set to be the first of many.
September 11, 223Source

Hydration matters: The interaction patterns of water and oxide crystals revealed
In a study recently published in the journal Nanoscale, researchers from Kanazawa University and AGC Inc. use three-dimensional atomic force microscopy to study the hydrated form and structure of commonly occurring oxide crystals.
September 11, 2023Source

Nano droplets go skiing at high temperatures
Currently, many (nano)structures are grown in layers, one above the other, but their ordering on the atomic scale is generally far from perfect. Researchers from the University of Twente have aimed for a better understanding of these processes that can eventually lead to smaller, faster and overall better nanotechnology and have, in a worldwide first observation, discovered pre-solidification in droplet mixture.
September 11, 2023Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 8th, 2023

Nanoparticles will change the world, but whether it's for the better depends on decisions made now
Technologies based on nanoscale materials — for example, particles that are more than 10,000 times smaller than the period at the end of this sentence — play a growing role in our world.
September 8, 2023Source

New laser tweezers allow gentle, efficient manipulation of cells and nanoparticles
Optical tweezers have been a cornerstone technology for manipulating microscopic objects in various fields, including biotechnology and materials science. However, they have limitations, such as the need for high laser power and specific environmental conditions, which can cause thermal and photon damage to sensitive biological samples.
September 8, 2023Source

Researchers find innovative way to store and process information by maintaining valley polarization at room temperature
Researchers at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Northrop Grumman, a multinational aerospace and defense technology company, have found a way to maintain valley polarization at room temperature using novel materials and techniques.
September 8, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 7th, 2023

Innovative plasmonic nanotweezer rapidly traps potentially cancerous nanosized particles
Vanderbilt researchers have developed a way to more quickly, and precisely, trap nanoscale objects such as potentially cancerous extracellular vesicles using a cutting-edge plasmonic nanotweezer.
September 7, 2023Source

Nano-Tips and Mie Scatterers Bring Non-Hermitian Ring Resonator to Exceptional Point
Non-Hermitian systems with their spectral degeneracies known as exceptional points (EPs) have been explored for lasing, controlling light transport, and enhancing a sensor's response. A ring resonator can be brought to an EP by controlling the coupling between its frequency degenerate clockwise and counterclockwise traveling modes.
September 7, 2023Source

Nanoparticles will change the world, but whether it's for the better depends on decisions made now
Technologies based on nanoscale materials — for example, particles that are more than 10,000 times smaller than the period at the end of this sentence — play a growing role in our world.
September 7, 2023Source or Source or Watch Video

Purdue Establishes Permanent Presence Next to NSWC Crane for Future of National Defense and Semiconductors
Officials of Purdue University, the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI) and the Purdue Research Foundation announced a permanent presence in elevating the partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, in a ceremony Tuesday, Sept. 5, at WestGate Academy in Odon, Indiana. This investment will catalyze and accelerate the existing collaborative research agreements that focus on national security and defense and on semiconductors.
September 7, 2023Source

TENG Made from Highly Elastic and Pressure-Resistance Sponge
In numerous industries, corrosion results in considerable losses. In the marine industry, cathodic protection is often utilized to safeguard steel against corrosion.
September 7, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 6th, 2023

New loss mitigation technique paves the way for perfect optical resonators
Optical resonators are used in everything from familiar laser pointers to cutting-edge photonic quantum computers. But they all suffer from losses that degrade their performance. Researchers at Aalto University have now developed a way to prevent those losses, boosting the resonators' performance.
September 6, 2023Source

Researchers develop plasmonic nanotweezers to more rapidly trap potentially cancerous nanosized particles
Vanderbilt researchers have developed a way to more quickly and precisely trap nanoscale objects such as potentially cancerous extracellular vesicles using cutting-edge plasmonic nanotweezers.
September 6, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 5th, 2023

3D-printed 'living material' could clean up contaminated water
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new type of material that could offer a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to clean pollutants from water.
September 5, 2023Source or Source

Fabricating atomically-precise quantum antidots via vacancy self-assembly
National University of Singapore (NUS) scientists demonstrated a conceptual breakthrough by fabricating atomically precise quantum antidots (QAD) using self-assembled single vacancies (SVs) in a two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD).
September 5, 2023Source

Photoanode with multilayered nanostructure developed for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting
Hematite (α-Fe2O3) is considered one of the most promising materials for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting under solar light. However, the drawbacks of lower charge transfer efficiency and slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics limit the practical application of α-Fe2O3 photoanodes. Therefore, efforts have been made to promote the PEC properties of α-Fe2O3, such as elemental doping, morphology modulation, and construction of heterojunctions.
September 5, 2023Source

Unlocking the full potential of MXenes for next-generation e-textiles
Electronic textiles, or e-textiles, are fabrics that integrate electronics and other functional materials to add advanced capabilities beyond basic clothing. Prior research has incorporated conductive nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes into textile fibers or coatings to create fabrics with useful properties such as conductivity, sensing, energy storage, and electromagnetic shielding. But manufacturing scalable e-textiles in an efficient and cost-effective manner remains challenging.
September 5, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 4th, 2023

New strategy proposed for defect-free few-layer MXene nanosheets with enhanced physicochemical properties
Researchers from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have proposed an optimized synthesis strategy to obtain defect-free low-layer M4C3Tx (M = V, Nb, Ta) MXene nanosheets. Their results have been published in Advanced Science.
September 4, 2023Source

New Technique Makes Thermoresponsive GO Nanosheets Simpler and More Efficient
Graphene-based two-dimensional materials have recently emerged as a focus of scientific exploration due to their exceptional structural, mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties. Among them, nanosheets based on graphene-oxide(GO), an oxidized derivative of graphene, with ultrathin and extra wide dimensions and oxygen-rich surfaces are quite promising.
September 4, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — September 1st, 2023

Breakthrough in Smart Material Design with Countercation Engineered GO Nanosheets
Thermoresponsive graphene-oxide (GO) nanosheets are up-and-coming for varied applications, like smart surfaces and membranes, biomedical systems, and hydrogel actuators. At present, they are synthesized by altering GO nanosheet surfaces with thermoresponsive polymers.
September 1, 2023Source

Fully biodegradable smart skin could lead the way to zero-waste wearables
As wearable technologies like smart watches and fitness trackers continue to grow in popularity, scientists are searching for ways to make these devices more environmentally friendly. Currently most wearables are made from non-biodegradable components, meaning they pile up in landfills after disposal.
September 1, 2023Source

MOF nanosheets as ion carriers for self-optimized zinc anode
Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries are promising in electric grid storage due to their low cost and intrinsic safety. However, their practical implementation is hindered by poor reversibility of the zinc anode, primarily caused by the chaotic Zn deposition present as dendrite and side reactions.
September 1, 2023Source

Observation of nonlinear disclination states
Higher-order topological insulators are unusual materials that can support topologically protected states. Recently discovered disclination states also belong to the class of higher-order topological states but are bound to the boundary of the disclination defect of the higher-order topological insulator and can be predicted using the bulk-disclination correspondence principle.
September 1, 2023Source

Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in Nanofluidic Monitoring Unveiling
Scientists at University of Manchester and the ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, have disclosed a breakthrough method to monitor individual molecule dynamics inside nanofluidic structures, showing their response to molecules in ways that were never possible earlier.
September 1, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 31st, 2023

Better paths yield better AI
Deep Learning (DL) performs classification tasks using a series of layers. To effectively execute these tasks, local decisions are performed progressively along the layers. But can we perform an all-encompassing decision by choosing the most influential path to the output rather than performing these decisions locally?
August 31, 2023Source

'Countercation engineering' for thermoresponsive graphene-oxide nanosheets
Graphene-based two-dimensional materials have recently emerged as a focus of scientific exploration due to their exceptional structural, mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties. Among them, nanosheets based on graphene oxide (GO), an oxidized derivative of graphene, with ultrathin and extra wide dimensions and oxygen-rich surfaces are quite promising.
August 31, 2023Source or Source

Growing triple-decker hybrid crystals for lasers
By controlling the arrangement of multiple inorganic and organic layers within crystals using a novel technique, researchers at Duke University and Purdue University have shown they can control the energy levels of electrons and holes (positive charge carriers) within a class of materials called perovskites.
August 31, 2023Source

Metal organic framework nanosheets employed as ion carriers for self-optimized zinc anode
Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries are promising components for electric grid storage due to their low cost and intrinsic safety. However, their practical implementation is hindered by poor reversibility of the zinc anode, primarily caused by the chaotic Zn deposition present as dendrite and side reactions.
August 31, 2023Source or Source

Peering into nanofluidic mysteries one photon at a time
Researchers have revealed an innovative approach to track individual molecule dynamics within nanofluidic structures, illuminating their response to molecules in ways never before possible.
August 31, 2023Source or Source or Source

South Devon College Illuminates the Way
South Devon College bags 1/2 £million unprecedented opportunity to nurture the future of photonic semiconductors.
August 31, 2023Source

Subsurface nanometrology: Probing hidden materials via atomic force microscopy
A new nanoscience study led by a researcher at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory takes a big-picture look at how scientists study materials at the smallest scales.
August 31, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 30th, 2023

Graphene Week: Showcasing the Influence of Graphene on Society
Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has overseen the EU's largest research initiative to date, the Graphene Flagship, which has a budget of one billion euros. It is time to emphasize the path of graphene, a single sheet of carbon, from the lab to society. In addition to a high number of new products, patents, and companies, the research initiative is expected to generate approximately 38,000 employment opportunities in Europe by 2030.
August 30, 2023Source

How to write in water?
Writing is an age-old cultural technique. Thousands of years ago, humans were already carving signs and symbols into stone slabs.
August 30, 2023Source

Micro-optical technology based on metamaterials takes center stage
Metasurfaces are artificial materials adept at manipulating perception. With metasurfaces allowing lenses to be reduced to one 10,000th the size of conventional lenses, they are generating considerable interest as optical components allowing miniaturization of optical systems for the next generation of virtual and augmented reality as well as LiDAR.
August 30, 2023Source

Paving the way for advanced quantum sensors
Quantum physics has allowed for the creation of sensors far surpassing the precision of classical devices. Now, several studies in Nature show that the precision of these quantum sensors can be significantly improved using entanglement produced by finite-range interactions.
August 30, 2023Source

Vision for future micro-optical technology based on metamaterials
Metasurfaces are artificial materials adept at manipulating. With metasurfaces allowing for lenses to be reduced to one 10,000th the size of conventional lenses, they are generating considerable interest as optical components allowing miniaturization of optical systems for the next generation of virtual and augmented reality as well as LiDAR.
August 30, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 29th, 2023

Graphene: Perfection is futile
Nothing in the world is perfect. This is also true in materials research. In computer simulations, one often represents a system in a highly idealized way; for example, one calculates the properties that an absolutely perfect crystal would have.
August 29, 2023Source

Nano-based Approach to Eco-Friendly De-icing and Defrosting
Researchers at the Dalian University of Technology have constructed a design of copper nanowire assemblies that can considerably improve the defrosting and de-icing efficiency with no predictable energy input. Specifically, the defrosting efficiency reaches 100%, a record-high value compared to reported studies.
August 29, 2023Source

Overcoming challenges in electron transport through graphene nanostructures
Nothing in the world is perfect. This is also true in materials research. In computer simulations, one often represents a system in a highly idealized way; for example, one calculates the properties that an absolutely perfect crystal would have.
August 29, 2023Source

Quantum discovery offers glimpse into other-worldly realm
The field of quantum physics is rife with paths leading to tantalising new areas of study, but one rabbit hole offers a unique vantage point into a world where particles behave differently--through the proverbial looking glass.
August 29, 2023Source

Researchers produce polymers from ballbot-type carbenes for the first time
N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are small, reactive ring molecules which bond well with metallic surfaces and which, over the past few years, have attracted a great deal of interest in the field of the stable chemical modification of metallic surfaces.
August 29, 2023Source

Scientists confirm decades-old theory of non-uniform distribution of electron density in aromatic molecules
Scientists from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Prague, the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and Palacký University Olomouc, have once again successfully uncovered the mysteries of the world of molecules and atoms.
August 29, 2023Source or Watch Video

Scientists continue to push the boundaries of imaging techniques and reveal the mysterious world of molecules
Scientists from the IOCB Prague, the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and Palacký University Olomouc, have once again successfully uncovered the mysteries of the world of molecules and atoms.
August 29, 2023Source

X-photon 3D nanolithography
Multiphoton lithography (MPL) is a technique that uses ultra-short laser pulses to create complex three-dimensional (3D) structures at the micro- and nanoscale. It is based on the principle of multiphoton absorption (MPA), which occurs when two or more photons are simultaneously absorbed by a molecule, resulting in a nonlinear optical process.
August 29, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 28th, 2023

Making the invisible, visible: New method makes mid-infrared light detectable at room temperature
Scientists from the University of Birmingham and the University of Cambridge have developed a new method for detecting mid-infrared (MIR) light at room temperature using quantum systems.
August 28, 2023Source

New type of visible-light responsive photocatalyst is efficient, stable and very economical
Researchers at the University of Johannesburg have developed a new type of photocatalyst that harnesses the visible portion of the sunlight spectrum. Currently, economical and environmentally-friendly photocatalysts only 'use' the UV spectrum of sunlight, example the commonly-used titanium dioxide and other close equivalents.
August 28, 2023Source

uantum computer unveils atomic dynamics of light-sensitive molecules
Researchers at Duke University have implemented a quantum-based method to observe a quantum effect in the way light-absorbing molecules interact with incoming photons. Known as a conical intersection, the effect puts limitations on the paths molecules can take to change between different configurations.
August 28, 2023Source

Researcher finds inspiration from spider webs and beetles to harvest fresh water from thin air
A team of researchers is designing novel systems to capture water vapour in the air and turn it into liquid.
August 28, 2023Source

Scientist propose an all-in-one surface design of copper nanowire assemblies to achieve ~100% defrosting efficiency
Scientists at Dalian University of Technology propose a design of copper nanowire assemblies that can sufficiently enhance the de-icing and defrosting efficiency without conventional energy input. Specifically, the defrosting efficacy approaches 100%, a record-high value compared to reported studies.
August 28, 2023Source

Stanford and UC Berkeley Collaborate on Investigation to Produce Superior Graphene Aerogel in Space
Graphene aerogel is a remarkable lightweight material that is both thermally insulating and electrically conductive. This makes it appealing for use in a wide variety of applications--from improved energy storage in batteries to better oil spill cleanup methods to next-generation space suits. A team of researchers from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley are leveraging the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory to produce higher-quality graphene aerogel than is possible on Earth.
August 28, 2023Source

StenTech to Showcase Advanced Nano Coating and Stencil Solutions at SMTA Chihuahua
StenTech® Inc., the leading multinational SMT Printing Solutions company, is excited to announce its participation at SMTA Chihuahua, taking place on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 at the Sheraton Chihuahua Soberano. The company will exhibit its highly acclaimed Advanced Nano Coating and showcase its complete product line of various stencils and tooling.
August 28, 2023Source

Using a quantum device to slow down simulated chemical reaction 100 billion times
Scientists at the University of Sydney have, for the first time, used a quantum computer to engineer and directly observe a process critical in chemical reactions by slowing it down by a factor of 100 billion times.
August 28, 2023Source

Visualizing the embedded twisted interfaces of two-dimensional materials
Vertically stacking two-dimensional (2D) materials to form van der Waals homo- or hetero-structures has become an effective means for regulating their physical and mechanical properties. In particular, when a small twist angle is present at the stacked interface, the 2D structures often show many interesting and even magical physical phenomena owing to the unique interlayer coupling.
August 28, 2023Source

World's First User Adjustable Pole-Piece Electron Microscope Lens Installed
A team of researchers from the Ultramicroscopy Research Group at Trinity has recently completed the installation of a world-first UAP transmission electron microscope lens. The UAP represents a significant leap forward, offering researchers unique control and flexibility in their investigations.
August 28, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 24th, 2023

AtomAI brings deep learning to microscopy data analysis software
Researchers have developed a new software package for analyzing images from electron and scanning probe microscopy. The package, AtomAI, uses deep learning. This is a type of machine learning that allows a program to train itself to accurately identify the contents of an image or block of text.
August 24, 2023Source

Chemists successfully use light to regulate structural conversion of chiral molecules
A team of chemists from the University of Münster have developed a novel concept in which a mixture of molecules that behave like mirror images is converted to a single form using light as external energy source. The conversion has applications in the preparation of drugs.
August 24, 2023Source

Graphene Quantum Dots
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are a class of zero-dimensional nanomaterials that have attracted significant research interest in recent years. GQDs are graphene sheets with lateral dimensions smaller than 100 nm and possess unique size-dependent properties.
August 24, 2023Source

Graphene's Proton Permeability Could Lead to Cheaper Hydrogen
Researchers from the Universities of Warwick and Manchester have managed to solve the long-standing mystery of why graphene is so much more permeable to protons than theory predicts.
August 24, 2023Source

The Global Market for AgriTech 2024-2034
Agricultural technology, agritech market, agtech, precision farming, livestock technology, biotech crops, farm automation
August 24, 2023Source

The Global Market for Green Ammonia 2024-2034
Green ammonia market, renewable ammonia, green ammonia production, applications, companies, green ammonia projects
August 24, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 23rd, 2023

Graphene discovery could help generate cheaper and more sustainable hydrogen
Researchers from The University of Manchester and the University of Warwick finally solved the long-standing puzzle of why graphene is so much more permeable to protons than expected by theory.
August 23, 2023Source

Listening to nanoscale avalanches of atoms in crystals
The nanoscale movement of atoms when materials deform leads to sound emission. This so-called crackling noise is a scale-invariant phenomenon found in various material systems as a response to external stimuli such as force or external fields.
August 23, 2023Source or Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 15th, 2023

Constructing PtFe alloy catalysts through hybrid mesoporous Fe-N-C nanostructure
Pt-based intermetallic alloys with high activity and stability are promising for accelerating the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and large-scale application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
August 15, 2023Source

Decoding how molecules 'talk' to each other to develop new nanotechnologies
Two molecular languages at the origin of life have been successfully recreated and mathematically validated, thanks to pioneering work by Canadian scientists at Universite de Montreal.
August 15, 2023Source

Researchers attach electrodes to individual atomically precise graphene nanoribbons
Graphene nanoribbons have outstanding properties that can be precisely controlled. Researchers from Empa and ETH Zurich, in collaboration with partners from Peking University, the University of Warwick and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, have succeeded in attaching electrodes to individual atomically precise nanoribbons, paving the way for precise characterization of the fascinating ribbons and their possible use in quantum technology.
August 15, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 14th, 2023

Nanomaterial offers new way to control fire
High-temperature flames are used to create a wide variety of materials — but once you start a fire, it can be difficult to control how the flame interacts with the material you are trying to process.
August 14, 2023Source or Source

Scientists develop an approach to predict the properties of nanomaterials
Chemists at St. Petersburg University have used big data analysis techniques to predict the photocatalytic properties of zinc oxide nanosheets, i.e. a nanostructured material consisting of particles in the form of thin sheets. The study aimed to solve the issue of waste-free degradation of organic dyes, which are widely used both in paint and textile industries.
August 14, 2023Source

Uncovering the local atomic structure of zeolite using optimum bright-field scanning transmission electron microscopy
Zeolites have unique porous atomic structures and are useful as catalysts, ion exchangers and molecular sieves. It is difficult to directly observe the local atomic structures of the material via electron microscopy due to low electron irradiation resistance. As a result, the fundamental property-structure relationships of the constructs remain unclear.
August 14, 2023Source

Gold buckyballs, oft-used nanoparticle 'seeds' are one and the same
Rice University chemists have discovered that tiny gold "seed" particles, a key ingredient in one of the most common nanoparticle recipes, are one and the same as gold buckyballs, 32-atom spherical molecules that are cousins of the carbon buckyballs discovered at Rice in 1985.
August 14, 2023Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 11th, 2023

A quantum leap in mechanical oscillator technology
Over the past decade, scientists have made tremendous progress in generating quantum phenomena in mechanical systems. What seemed impossible only fifteen years ago has now become a reality, as researchers successfully create quantum states in macroscopic mechanical objects.
August 11, 2023Source

Achieving dynamic imaging of interfacial electrochemistry
A research team led by Prof. Liu Xianwei from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) has made progress in the dynamic imaging of interfacial electrochemistry.
August 11, 2023Source

An unexpected way to upcycle: Plastic waste transforms into soap
A team led by Virginia Tech researchers has developed a new method for upcycling plastics into high-value chemicals known as surfactants, which are used to create soap, detergent, and more.
August 11, 2023Source

New technique enables precise atomic-scale manufacturing using electron beams
Researchers have developed a novel technique that combines two approaches to nanofabrication — top-down and bottom-up methods — to enable unprecedented atomic-scale precision manufacturing using a focused electron beam.
August 11, 2023Source

Researchers develop novel antifouling nanofiltration membranes using ionic liquid
A new post-modification strategy has been proposed by a research group led by Prof. Wan Yinhua from Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aiming to achieve high separation selectivity and strong fouling resistance of nanofiltration (NF) membranes
August 11, 2023Source

Researchers use ribbons of graphene to push the material's potential
Think you know everything about a material? Try giving it a twist--literally. That's the main idea of an emerging field in condensed matter physics called "twistronics," which has researchers drastically changing the properties of 2D materials, like graphene, with subtle changes--as small as going from a 1.1° to 1.2°--in the angle between stacked layers.
August 11, 2023Source

Ribbons of graphene push the material's potential
Think you know everything about a material? Try giving it a twist — literally. That's the main idea of an emerging field in condensed matter physics called twistronics, which has researchers drastically changing the properties of 2D materials, like graphene, with subtle changes — as small as going from a 1.1° to 1.2° — in the angle between stacked layer
August 11, 2023Source

Scientists invent smallest known way to guide light
Directing light from place to the place is the backbone of our modern world. Beneath the oceans and across continents, fiber optic cables carry light that encodes everything from YouTube videos to banking transmissions--all inside strands about the size of a hair.
August 11, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 9th, 2023

Portable and Radiation-Free Imaging with Magnetic Nanoparticles
Researchers at the University of Würzburg in Germany have developed a portable scanner that is the first to be able to image humans using Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI).
August 9, 2023Source

Research team reveals why water moisture affects quantum crystals
The team, led by Professor Jiwoong Yang from the Department of Energy Engineering at DGIST, and in collaboration with the team led by Professor Jungwon Park from the School of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University, determined the moisture- (water-) induced degradation mechanism of semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots.
August 9, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 8th, 2023

Advancing 2D materials: Achieving the goal with UV-assisted atomic layer deposition
In 2004, the public first became acquainted with graphene- a remarkably thin, flexible, and electrically conductive material possessing considerable strength. However, harnessing graphene's potential as a component has presented numerous challenges.
August 8, 2023Source

Boron Nitride Nanocomposite Made for Innovative Applications
Boron nitride is a material that can occur in either soft or hard compounds. However, the forms of boron nitride and how they react to changes in pressure and temperature are significantly less well understood than those of other materials like carbon.
August 8, 2023Source

Functionalize nanophotonic structures with 2D van der Waals materials
The integration of two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials with nanostructures has catalyzed a wide spectrum of optical and optoelectronic applications. Photonic structures of conventional materials typically lack efficient reconfigurability or multifunctionality.
August 8, 2023Source

Quantum material exhibits 'non-local' behavior that mimics brain function
We often believe computers are more efficient than humans. After all, computers can complete a complex math equation in a moment and can also recall the name of that one actor we keep forgetting.
August 8, 2023Source or Source

The nanoscale magic of structural colors
Often, when we marvel at the vibrant colors of the natural world, we overlook the intricate nanoscale structures responsible for producing such splendor: welcome to the world of structural colors.
August 8, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 7th, 2023

Boron nitride-based nanocomposites have unexpected properties, researchers discover
Just as carbon makes up both the brittle core of a No. 2 pencil and the harder-than-steel diamond in a cutting tool, boron nitride gives rise to compounds that can be soft or hard. Yet, unlike carbon, far less is known about boron nitride's forms and their responses to changing temperatures and pressures.
August 7, 2023Source or Source

Emerging Memristive Artificial Neuron and Synapse Devices for the Neuromorphic Electronics Era
Growth of data eases the way to access the world but consumes increasing energy to store and process. Neuromorphic electronics emerged in the last decade, inspired by biological neuron and synapses, with in-memory computing ability, extenuates the 'von Neumann bottleneck' between memory and processor, offers a promising solution to reduce the efforts both in data storage and process thanks to their multi-bit non-volatility, biological-emulated characteristics, and silicon compatibility
August 7, 2023Source

Graphene foam is the future of IoT power, maybe
An electrically charged spring in your step
August 7, 2023Source

Researchers look at the role of graphene in space technology
Graphene has long been put forward as a wonder material. Undeniably, it has astounding properties--stronger than steel, a better electrical conductor than copper, and lighter than almost anything else with similar properties.
August 7, 2023Source or Watch Video or Watch Video

Tunable Spin Density in Diamond Could Revolutionize Nano Sensing
Electronic devices typically use the charge of electrons, but spin — their other degree of freedom — is starting to be exploited. Spin defects make crystalline materials highly useful for quantum-based devices such as ultrasensitive quantum sensors, quantum memory devices, or systems for simulating the physics of quantum effects.
August 7, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 4th, 2023

Anti-PEG antibodies enriched in the protein corona of PEGylated nanocarriers impact the cell uptake
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is the gold standard used to reduce unspecific protein adsorption and prolong nanocarrier circulation time. However, this stealth effect could be counteracted by the increasing prevalence of anti-PEG antibodies in the bloodstream. Up to now, the presence of anti-PEG antibodies in the protein corona and their effect on cell uptake has not been investigated yet.
August 4, 2023Source

Fastest neuromorphic, electric double layer transistor
A research team consisting of NIMS and the Tokyo University of Science has developed the fastest electric double layer transistor using a highly ion conductive ceramic thin film and a diamond thin film.
August 4, 2023Source

More brainpower for hardware and software
Lean back and admire the scenery while the car drives itself through the city — this is not yet possible, despite technical advancements.
August 4, 2023Source

New method simplifies the construction process for complex materials
Engineers are constantly searching for materials with novel, desirable property combinations. For example, an ultra-strong, lightweight material could be used to make airplanes and cars more fuel-efficient, or a material that is porous and biomechanically friendly could be useful for bone implants.
August 4, 2023Source or Watch Video

Single drop of ethanol to revolutionize nanosensor manufacture
Macquarie University engineers have developed a new technique to make the manufacture of nanosensors far less carbon-intensive, much cheaper, more efficient, and more versatile, substantially improving a key process in this trillion-dollar global industry.
August 4, 2023Source

Specific Interactions Based Drug Loading Strategies
Drug carriers have been commonly used for drug control release, enhancing drug efficacy and/or minimizing side-effects. However, it is still difficult to get high loading efficiency when encapsulating super hydrophilic drugs with narrow therapeutic index, such as many neurotoxins.
August 4, 2023Source

Team creates power generator that runs on natural atmospheric humidity
Scientists are looking for ways to use the low-value energy widely distributed in natural environments to generate electricity. A research team has created a power generator that collects the natural atmospheric humidity and produces continuous electrical signals.
August 4, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 3rd, 2023

Behind the Scenes: R&D Engineers Reveal the Future of Motion Control and Positioning Technologies
Auburn, MA — PI, a leading manufacturer of air bearings, piezo systems, advanced motion controllers, and nanopositioning equipment, announces the release of a unique series of 5 interviews featuring distinguished R&D engineers who are pioneering advances in motion control and positioning technologies.
August 3, 2023Source

Butterfly-inspired films create vibrant colors while passively cooling objects
On a hot summer day, white clothing feels cooler than other colors due to reflecting--not absorbing--sunlight. Other colors, like blue or black, will undergo a heating effect as they absorb light. To circumvent this heating effect in colored cooling films, researchers drew inspiration from nanostructures in butterfly wings.
August 3, 2023Source or Source

Current takes a surprising path in quantum material
Cornell researchers used magnetic imaging to obtain the first direct visualization of how electrons flow in a special type of insulator, and by doing so they discovered that the transport current moves through the interior of the material, rather than at the edges, as scientists had long assumed.
August 3, 2023Source or Source

Nanorings: New building blocks for chemistry
Sandwich compounds are special chemical compounds used as basic building blocks in organometallic chemistry. So far, their structure has always been linear. Recently, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of Marburg were the first to make stacked sandwich complexes form a nano-sized ring.
August 3, 2023Source

New photocatalytic system converts carbon dioxide to valuable fuel more efficiently than natural photosynthesis
A joint research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and collaborators recently developed a stable artificial photocatalytic system that is more efficient than natural photosynthesis.
August 3, 2023Source

Researchers design algorithm to monitor two-photon lithography nanoscale fabrication
A new way to monitor two-photon lithography nanoscale fabrication could help improve the accuracy and efficiency of creating 3D-engineered tissue scaffolds, according to a new study. Tissue scaffolds mimic the natural extracellular matrices found in the body, which creates a 3D environment ideal for tissue formation.
August 3, 2023Source

Robotic grippers offer unprecedented combo of strength and delicacy
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a robotic gripping device that is gentle enough to pick up a drop of water, strong enough to pick up a 6.4 kilogram (14.1 pound) weight, dexterous enough to fold a cloth, and precise enough to pick up microfilms that are 20 times thinner than a human hair.
August 3, 2023Source

Unleashing a new era of color tunable nano-devices — smallest ever light source with switchable colors formed
While nanocrystals offer color tunability and are used in various technologies, achieving different colors requires using different nanocrystals for each color, and dynamic switching between colors has not been possible.
August 3, 2023Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — August 1st, 2023

New Laser Technique Enables Precise Fabrication of Nanoscale Photonic Crystals
The light control performance of photonic crystals is closely related to their lattice constant, which typically requires the lattice constant to be in the same order of magnitude as the working wavelength. In crystal materials, the photonic crystal structure is formed by the periodic arrangement of units with different dielectric constants than the crystal itself in space, and its lattice constant depends on the size of the unit and the gap between adjacent units.
August 1, 2023Source

Quantum-enhanced non-interferometric quantitative phase imaging
Optical phase retrieval and imaging appear in a wide variety of science fields, such as imaging of quasi-transparent biological samples or nanostructures metrological characterization, for example, in the semiconductor industry.
August 1, 2023Source

Seeing light elements in a grain boundary: A further step in unravelling materials' properties down to the atomic scale
To develop advanced materials, a deep understanding of their underlying microstructure and chemistry is necessary. Knowing how defects influence the interplay between microstructure and chemical composition is crucial, as they are the entry gate for material's failure due to corrosion or crack initiation.
August 1, 2023Source or Source

Size-dependent diffusion of supported metal nanoclusters: Mean-field-type treatments and beyond for faceted clusters
Nanostructured materials are intrinsically metastable and subject to coarsening. For supported 3D metal nanoclusters (NCs), coarsening can occur NC diffusion across the support and subsequent coalescence (as an alternative to Ostwald ripening). When used as catalysts, this leads to deactivation.
August 1, 2023Source

StenTech Showcases Award-Winning Advanced Nano Coating and Cutting-Edge Stencil Solutions at SMTA Michigan and SMTA Ohio Expos
StenTech® Inc., the leading multinational SMT Printing Solutions company, is excited to announce its participation in the SMTA Michigan and SMTA Ohio Expos. The company will exhibit its highly acclaimed Advanced Nano Coating and showcase its complete product line of various stencils and tooling.
August 1, 2023Source

Using sound waves to image nanostructures
The potential of an ultrafast form of transmission electron microscopy to measure sound waves in nanostructures has been demonstrated by three RIKEN physicists.
August 1, 2023Source or Source

General — Nanotechnology — July 27th, 2023

A simpler method for learning to control a robot
Researchers from MIT and Stanford University have devised a new machine-learning approach that could be used to control a robot, such as a drone or autonomous vehicle, more effectively and efficiently in dynamic environments where conditions can change rapidly.
July 27, 2023Source

Mixing of moire-surface and bulk states: Capturing Hofstadter's butterfly in one of Earth's most ancient materials
Researchers in the National Graphene Institute (NGI) at The University of Manchester have revisited one of the most ancient materials on Earth--graphite--and discovered new physics that has eluded the field for decades.
July 27, 2023Source or Source

A nickle-platinum nanoscale core with a platinum shell cracks oxygen molecules into useful ions
Platinum (Pt) can act as a catalyst to make reactive oxygen ions for many applications. In this research, scientists used a method called electrochemical cycling to modify the surface of Nickel (Ni)/Pt nanoparticles.
July 27, 2023Source

Unleashing the power of metal-organic frameworks for next-gen catalysts
For nearly a century, metal promoters have been recognized for their significant role in catalysis. These substances, often metal salts, have the ability to regulate the catalytic activity of metal catalysts in reduction reactions.
July 27, 2023Source or Source

Fullerene-pillared porous graphene with high water adsorption capacity
Separation processes are essential in the purification and concentration of a target molecule during water purification, removal of pollutants, and heat pumping, accounting for 10--15% of global energy consumption.
July 27, 2023Source or Source

How molecular entanglements determine the structure of polymers
The structure of semi-crystalline polymers largely depends on how strongly their molecular chains are entangled. This has been shown in a new study by researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg which was published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences".
July 27, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — July 25th, 2023

Characterizing atomic defects in 2D materials to determine suitability as quantum emitters
The term molybdenum disulfide may sound familiar to some car drivers and mechanics. No wonder: the substance, discovered by U.S. chemist Alfred Sonntag in the 1940s, is still used today as a high-performance lubricant in engines and turbines, but also for bolts and screws.
July 25, 2023Source

Looking deeper into graphene using rainbow scattering
Graphene is a two-dimensional material that has been suggested for a wide range of applications in energy, technology, construction, and more since it was first isolated from graphite in 2004.
July 25, 2023Read Source or Source

Masters of defects
Bruno Schuler and his young team are embarking on an ambitious research project: He will selectively generate defects in atomically-thin semiconductor layers and attempt to measure and control their quantum properties with simultaneous picosecond temporal resolution and atomic precision.
July 25, 2023Source

Nanomaterials Help Promote Inflammasome Activation
Too much activation of inflammasomes has been linked to several diseases, such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, gout, and type 2 diabetes.
July 25, 2023Source

New research explores durability of 2D hybrid materials
New research has unveiled the fatigue resistance of 2D hybrid materials. These materials, known for their low cost and high performance, have long-held promise across semiconductor fields. However, their durability under cyclic loading conditions remained a mystery--until now.
July 25, 2023Source or Source

Researchers build a DNA structure and coat it with glass, creating a very low density, very strong material
Materials that are both strong and lightweight could improve everything from cars to body armor. But usually, the two qualities are mutually exclusive. Now, University of Connecticut researchers and colleagues have developed an extraordinarily strong, lightweight material using two unlikely building blocks: DNA and glass.
July 25, 2023Source

Researchers explore the potential of a novel compound for X-ray detection and imaging
Prof. Pan Xu's team at the Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), in collaboration with Zheng Xiaojia at the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), and other researchers, discovered the remarkable potential of one-dimensional (1D) δ-phase formamidinium lead iodide (δ-FAPbI3) as an advanced material for X-ray detection.
July 25, 2023Source

Soft Coating Cools Wearable Devices
Scientists at the City University of Hong Kong have developed a coating for wearable technologies that can help to dissipate heat, reducing the chances of skin burns and increasing the life of such devices.
July 25, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — July 21st, 2023

Much ado about nothing: Insights into designing advanced stimuli-responsive materials
The "nothing" (empty space) feature of porous soft materials is foundational to their properties and applications, and has been a focus of study for many years. Now, researchers from Japan have solved a long-standing puzzle of these materials that will speed up research and development, and improve their utility in practical devices.
July 21, 2023Source

RHK Technology Comes to QDUKI
RHK delivers compelling value and proven quality to broaden the frontiers of atomic scale research. RHK's surface science systems integrate only the best analytical and preparation instruments from top industry suppliers.
July 21, 2023Source

Simultaneous synthesis and fixing of covalent organic frameworks
An electrogenerated acid can catalyze the synthesis and simultaneous immobilization of imine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) onto electrodes, report scientists from Tokyo Tech. Starting with amine and aldehyde monomers, they obtained corresponding COF films, including three-dimensional ones, with high crystallinity, porosity, and controlled thickness.
July 21, 2023Source

Spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride created by helium ion bombardment
National University of Singapore (NUS) physicists have developed a method using a focused beam of helium ions to create arrays of defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) that can potentially be used for magnetic sensing applications.
July 21, 2023Source

Two types of ultrafast mode-locking operations generation from an Er-doped fiber laser based on germanene nanosheets
Saturable absorbers as passive modulators in passively mode-locked fiber lasers play a crucial role in the generation of ultrashort pulses. Germanene, a graphene-like two-dimensional material with fast carrier relaxation time and large nonlinear absorption coefficient comparable to that of graphene, is a saturable absorber material with very fast response.
July 21, 2023Source

Unchained Labs goes all in on Lipid Nanoparticles, acquires Blacktrace Holdings
Unchained Labs, the life sciences company that's all about getting biologics and gene therapy researchers the right tools for the job, acquired Blacktrace Holdings today. For decades, Blacktrace's Dolomite microfluidics have been helping scientists with complex workflows.
July 21, 2023Source

Wide field-of-view metasurface-enhanced scanning lidar technology
Pulsed laser scanning lidar is a core technology for autonomous driving and robotic mobility. Herein, a directional light pulse is backscattered by a reflective object and the elapsed time between emission and detection of the pulse is used to calculate depth.
July 21, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — July 20th, 2023

Brighter fluorescent markers allow for finer imaging
Researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis have pioneered a new technique that will enable higher-resolution imaging of very small objects like neurons.
July 20, 2023Source

Chemists recycle shrimp waste as catalyst for hydrogen generation
Flexible spheres of the biomolecule chitosan, made from shrimp waste, can be used for catalysts that generate hydrogen gas from borohydride salts. In a paper in Green Chemistry, a research team at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) shows how the spheres can "breathe out" hydrogen bubbles without breaking. This is an important step towards practical and safe h
July 20, 2023Source

Discovery may lead to terahertz technology for quantum sensing
Visible light is a mere fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the manipulation of light waves at frequencies beyond human vision has enabled such technologies as cell phones and CT scans.
July 20, 2023Source

Presenting Multi-Nanolayer Design and Synthesis of a Graphene/Amorphous Boron Nitride Aerogel
Thermal superinsulation materials, which have low thermal conductivities, are necessary for protection and thermal insulation in adverse conditions. Such materials are especially needed in fields such as aerospace, mechanical, deep-space exploration, and thermal power engineering, which require outstanding reliability and stability.
July 20, 2023Source

General — Nanotechnology — July 19th, 2023

Aluminum materials show promising performance for safer, cheaper, more powerful batteries
A good battery needs two things: high energy density to power devices, and stability, so it can be safely and reliably recharged thousands of times. For the past three decades, lithium-ion batteries have reigned supreme — proving their performance in smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.
July 19, 2023Source

Analysis of Lipids Concentrating on Graphene Oxide
A study team from the Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science at the Toyohashi University of Technology found a phenomenon in which particular lipids were concentrated on graphene oxide in a multicomponent lipid bilayer membrane acting as a cell membrane model.
July 19, 2023Source

Chemically bonded multi-nanolayer aerogel for thermal superinsulation
Thermal superinsulation materials with low thermal conductivities are essential for thermal insulation and protection under extreme conditions. These materials are particularly required in fields including deep-space exploration, aerospace, mechanical, and thermal power engineering, which need exceptional insulation and reliability.
July 19, 2023Source

Dynamics of molecular rotors in bulk superfluid helium
Molecules immersed in liquid helium can probe superfluidity since their electronic, vibrational and rotational dynamics can provide valuable cues about the superfluid at the nanoscale.
July 19, 2023Source

Metals can heal themselves — revealing possibility of self-healing machines
Scientists for the first time have witnessed pieces of metal crack, then fuse back together without any human intervention, overturning fundamental scientific theories in the process.
July 19, 2023Source

PI Offers New Custom Air Bearing Motion Systems for Advanced Industrial Applications
Auburn, MA — PI, a global leader in precision motion control design and manufacturing, is offering custom air bearing motion systems, designed to boost performance in production, test, and metrology in a wide range of industrial applications including photonics, medical design, aerospace, and semiconductors.
July 19, 2023Source

Pt single atoms meet metal--organic frameworks to enhance electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity
The electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) effectively produces clean, renewable, and sustainable hydrogen; however, the development of efficient electrocatalysts is required to reduce the high energy barrier of the HER.
July 19, 2023Source

Researchers investigate 'lipid raft' phenomenon on nanocarbon surfaces
A research team from the Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science at the Toyohashi University of Technology has discovered a phenomenon in which specific lipids were concentrated on graphene oxide in a multicomponent lipid bilayer membrane serving as a cell membrane model.
July 19, 2023Source

Researchers put a new twist on a graphite-graphene interface
For decades, scientists have been probing the potential of two-dimensional materials to transform our world. 2D materials are only a single layer of atoms thick. Within them, subatomic particles like electrons can only move in two dimensions.
July 19, 2023Source or Source

Unveiling the quantum dance: Experiments reveal nexus of vibrational and electronic dynamics
Nearly a century ago, physicists Max Born and J. Robert Oppenheimer developed an assumption regarding how quantum mechanics plays out in molecules, which are comprised of intricate systems of nuclei and electrons. The Born-Oppenheimer approximation assumes that the motion of nuclei and electrons in a molecule are independent of each other and can be treated separately.
July 19, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — A

A new class of interlocking supramolecular systems: MOFaxanes
A team of chemists and material scientists at the University of Tokyo has developed a new class of interlocking supramolecular systems by combining metal-organic frameworks with rotaxanes.
June 23, 2023Source

A new method to keep thickening agents tiny in transport and big in application
Many commercial products such as food, cosmetics, and inks contain cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as a thickening agent. However, CNFs have some limitations that prevent their more widespread use.
June 27, 2023Source

A New Twist on Chirality: Researchers Extend the Concept of Directionality and Propose a New Class of Materials
It is often desirable to restrict flows--whether of sound, electricity, or heat--to one direction, but naturally occurring systems almost never allow this. However, unidirectional flow can indeed be engineered under certain conditions, and the resulting systems are said to exhibit chiral behavior.
May 9, 2023Source

A novel method for enhancing optical properties of MXenes
Two-dimensional layered materials are a novel class of materials that exhibit strong and distinctive light-matter interactions, offering broad application prospects in optoelectronic devices and photonic elements.
May 11, 2023Source

A photonic artificial synapse with a reversible multifaceted photochromic compound
Modern computational technology based on the von Neumann architecture physically partitions memory and the central processing unit, resulting in fundamental speed limitations and high energy consumption.
April 21, 2023Source

A sticky colloidal sciences question now solved
The soft, solid-like properties of colloidal gels are essential in fields such as food and medical applications, but how these properties manifest themselves is a long-standing mystery. Until now, it was believed that the solid nature of gels emerges through glass formation.
May 23, 2023Source

Active Brownian particles have four distinct states of motion
Active Brownian motion describes particles which can propel themselves forwards, while still being subjected to random Brownian motions as they are jostled around by their neighbouring particles.
May 26, 2023Source

Amplified EQCM-D detection of extracellular vesicles using 2D gold nanostructured arrays fabricated by block copolymer self-assembly
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are routinely released from nearly all cell types as transport vehicles and for cell communication. Crucially, they contain biomolecular content for the identification of health and disease states that can be detected from readily accessible physiological fluids, including urine, plasma, or saliva.
April 21, 2023Source

An innovative strategy for efficient wastewater treatment: Cross-stacked super-aligned carbon nanotube membranes
Membrane separation technology has been widely recognized as a more advantageous technology owing to its high treatment efficiency, low footprint, reliable effluent quality. However, its further sustainable growth has been hampered due to membrane fouling.
April 27, 2023Source

An interlayer spacing design approach for efficient sodium ion storage in N-doped MoS2
MoS2 in a graphene-like structure that possesses a large interlayer spacing is a promising anode material for sodium ion batteries (SIBs).
April 21, 2023Source

An ultra-sensitive NH3 gas sensor enabled by an ion-in-conjugated polycroconaine/Ti3C2Tx core--shell composite
MXenes are emerging sensing materials due to their metallic conductivity and rich surface chemistry for analytes; they, however, suffer from poor stability. Incorporation with functional polymers can largely prevent the performance decay and enhance the sensing performance.
April 21, 2023Source

Anti-counterfeiting fluorescent marker developed
A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) has developed a method that could make it more difficult to counterfeit products in the future. The new and patented method makes it possible to produce unique, non-copyable fluorescent patterns quickly, environmentally friendly and at low costs.
June 6, 2023Source

Archer Achieves Qubit Material Functionality at Room Temperature in Air
Archer Materials Limited ("Archer", the "Company"), a semiconductor company that advances the quantum computing and medical diagnostics industries, has achieved a significant development milestone in the functionality of its cutting-edge qubit material.
June 20, 2023Source

Artificial intelligence-assisted chiral nanophotonic designs
Chiral nanostructures can enhance the weak inherent chiral effects of biomolecules and highlight the important roles in chiral detection. However, the design of the chiral nanostructures is challenged by extensive theoretical simulations and explorative experiments.
May 26, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — B

Breakthrough Coating Technology to Accelerate the Adoption of Green Hydrogen
Oxford nanoSystems (OnS), an advanced materials technology company, has today announced a major breakthrough in the race to drive down the production cost of zero-emission green hydrogen.
June 27, 2023Source

Breakthrough in material design will help football players, car occupants and hospital patients
The discovery that football players were unknowingly acquiring permanent brain damage as they racked up head hits throughout their professional careers created a rush to design better head protection. One of these inventions is nanofoam, the material on the inside of football helmets.
July 14, 2023Source

Bringing ultimate depth to scanning tunnelling microscopy: deep subsurface vision of buried nano-objects in metals
A method for subsurface visualization and characterization of hidden subsurface nano-structures based on scanning tunelling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) has been developed.
April 21, 2023Source

Buckle up! A new class of materials is here
Usually, the two characterizations of a material are mutually exclusive: something is either stiff, or it can absorb vibrations well — but rarely both.
June 2, 2023Source or Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — C

Carbon-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction: Mechanistic understanding and porous structure
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) have attracted much attention because of high conversion efficiency, low environmental pollution, and high specific energy, which can be widely used in vehicles such as automobiles, airplanes, and stationary power stations.
May 26, 2023Source

Carbonic anhydrase IX-targeted nanovesicles potentiated ferroptosis by remodeling the intracellular environment for synergetic cancer therapy
Ferroptosis is one critical kind of regulated cell death for tumor suppression, yet it still presents challenges of low efficiency due to the intracellular alkaline pH and aberrant redox status. Herein, we reported a carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX)-targeted nanovesicle (PAHC NV) to potentiate ferroptosis by remodeling the intracellular environment.
April 21, 2023Source

Cheaper method for making woven displays and smart fabrics — of any size or shape
Researchers have developed next-generation smart textiles — incorporating LEDs, sensors, energy harvesting, and storage — that can be produced inexpensively, in any shape or size, using the same machines used to make the clothing we wear every day.
April 21, 2023Source

Chemists create the microspine with shape-transforming properties for targeted cargo delivery at microscale
With the goal of advancing biomimetic microscale materials, the research team has developed a new method to create microscale superstructures, called MicroSpine, that possess both soft and hard materials which mimic the spine structure and can act as microactuators with shape-transforming properties.
July 7, 2023Source

Chemists develop ferromagnetic single-atom spin catalyst for boosting water splitting reactions
Chemists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a scalable hydrothermal approach for obtaining ferromagnetic single-atom spin catalysts which can boost the efficiency of water splitting reactions under the influence of a magnetic field.
May 26, 2023Source

Coexistence of ferromagnetism and charge density waves in monolayer LaBr2
Charge density waves (CDWs), a common phenomenon of periodic lattice distortions, often suppress ferromagnetism in two-dimensional (2D) materials, hindering their magnetic applications.
June 23, 2023Source

Controlling materials properties through nanoscale patterning
Scientists have developed a new way to control the electronic properties of materials. They created a nanoscale pattern of holes on a thin film of metal oxide known as titania. This noticeably improved the flow of electrons and inhibited the flow of ions in the material. Just like ripples in a pond, the electrons traveling in waves interfered to create a unique pattern.
April 25, 2023Source

Core--shell GaN/AlGaN nanowires grown by selective area epitaxy
GaN/AlGaN core--shell nanowires with various Al compositions have been grown on GaN nanowire array using selective area metal organic chemical vapor deposition technique. Growth of the AlGaN shell using pure N2 carrier gas resulted in a smooth surface for the nonpolar m-plane sidewalls with superior optical properties, whereas, growth using a mixed N2/H2 carrier gas resulted in a striated surface similar to the commonly observed morphology in the growth of nonpolar III-nitrides.
April 21, 2023Source

Coupling of plasmonic hot spots with shurikens for superchiral SERS-based enantiomer recognition
Detection of enantiomers is a challenging problem in drug development as well as environmental and food quality monitoring where traditional optical detection methods suffer from low signals and sensitivity.
April 21, 2023Source

cRGD-modified nanoparticles of multi-bioactive agent conjugate with pH-sensitive linkers and PD-L1 antagonist for integrative collaborative treatment of breast cancer
Targeted co-delivery and co-release of multi-drugs is essential to have an integrative collaborative effect on treating cancer. It is valuable to use few drug carriers for multi-drug delivery.
April 21, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — D

Dehydrated cellulose nanofiber: New method to keep thickening agents tiny in transport and big in application
Many commercial products such as food, cosmetics, and inks contain cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as a thickening agent. However, CNFs have some limitations that prevent their more widespread use.
June 27, 2023Source

Depolarization induced III--V triatomic layers with tristable polarization states
The integration of ferroelectrics that exhibit high dielectric, piezoelectric, and thermal compatibility with the mainstream semiconductor industry will enable novel device types for widespread applications, and yet there are few silicon-compatible ferroelectrics suitable for device downscaling.
May 2, 2023Source

Distributional Graphormer: Toward equilibrium distribution prediction for molecular systems
Structure prediction is a fundamental problem in molecular science because the structure of a molecule determines its properties and functions. In recent years, deep learning methods have made remarkable progress and impact on predicting molecular structures, especially for protein molecules.
July 7, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — E

Edible cellulose-based colorimetric timer
A biocompatible and edible colorimetric timer is obtained by exploiting the dynamic colour changes of the cholesteric liquid crystalline mesophases of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) in aqueous suspensions.
April 21, 2023Source

Efficient nanostructuring of glass with elliptically polarized pulses
Photoexcitation, particularly photoionization, represents a vital aspect of light-matter interactions in nature, with applications spanning photosynthesis in plants, vision in biology, photography, and laser processing of materials.
April 4, 2023Source or Source

Engineering graphene-based quantum circuits with atomic precision
Imagine having a building made of stacks of bricks connected by adaptable bridges. You pull a knob that modifies the bridges and the building changes functionality. Wouldn't it be great?
May 2, 2023Source or Source

Engineering self-integrated atomic quantum wires to form nano-networks
Quantum advances rely on the production of nanoscale wires that are based on several state-of-the-art nanolithographic technologies, to develop wires via bottom-up synthesis. However, a critical challenge is to grow uniform atomic crystalline wires and construct network structures to build nanocircuits.
May 9, 2023Source

Enhancing biomarker detection with manganese oxide nanozymes
A recent publication in Sensors and Actuators: B. Chemical ("Laser-generated defect-rich MnOx nanobelts with high oxidase mimic activity for glutathione detection") showcases the creation of highly potent oxidase-mimicking nanozymes through the use of MnOx nanobelts (NBs) produced by laser irradiation in liquid (LIL) techniques.
April 25, 2023Source

Enhancing CNTs' Electrochemical Energy Storage
Due to their excellent electrical conductivity, substantial theoretical surface area, and superior chemical stability, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are seen to be the perfect electrochemical energy storage materials.
June 9, 2023Source or Source

Evaluating charge-type of polyelectrolyte as dielectric layer in memristor and synapse emulation
Based on credible advantages, organic materials have received more and more attention in memristor and synapse emulation.
April 21, 2023Source

Examining domain walls in magnetic nanowires
Magnetic domains walls are known to be a source of electrical resistance due to the difficulty for transport electron spins to follow their magnetic texture. This phenomenon holds potential for utilization in spintronic devices, where the electrical resistance can vary based on the presence or absence of a domain wall.
June 2, 2023Source

Exciting possibilities with amorphous MXene materials
Scientists have recently discovered a new class of amorphous nanomaterials that are created by introducing atomic irregular arrangements. These materials demonstrate excellent performance in catalysis, energy storage, and mechanics.
May 9, 2023Source

Experiments reveal that water can 'talk' to electrons in graphene
For the last 20 years, scientists have been puzzled by how water behaves near carbon surfaces. It may flow much faster than expected from conventional flow theories or form strange arrangements such as square ice.
June 23, 2023Source

Exploring the properties of very thin hafnium dioxide
The chemistry of hafnium dioxide (known as hafina) is rather boring. Yet, the behavior of ultrathin layers that are based on this material is very interesting: they can be used as non-volatile computer memory through the switching of dipoles with an electric field.
June 20, 2023Source

Extracting a clean fuel from water
A plentiful supply of clean energy is lurking in plain sight. It is the hydrogen we can extract from water (H2O) using renewable energy. Scientists are seeking low-cost methods for producing clean hydrogen from water to replace fossil fuels, as part of the quest to combat climate change.
May 30, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — F

Fabrication and applications of van der Waals heterostructures
The explosion of two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) with various unique properties provides basic building blocks for van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs). The vdWHs integrated with various stacking alignments of 2DLMs exhibit many promising functionalities in diverse fields, including electronics, optoelectronics, thermoelectrics, sensing and energy conversion and storage.
April 25, 2023Source

Facile synthesis of high-entropy alloy nanoparticles on germanane, Ge nanoparticles and wafers
The unique solid-solution structure and multi-element compositions of high-entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA NPs) have garnered substantial attention. Various methods have been developed to prepare a diverse array of HEA NPs using different substrates for support and stabilization.
June 27, 2023Source

Flow of water on a carbon surface is governed by quantum friction, says study
Water and carbon make a quantum couple: the flow of water on a carbon surface is governed by an unusual phenomenon dubbed quantum friction. A new work published in Nature Nanotechnology experimentally demonstrates this phenomenon--which was predicted in a previous theoretical study--at the interface between liquid water and graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms.
June 23, 2023Source

Fluorescent aromatic nanobelts with unique size-dependent properties
A new type of aromatic nanobelt, methylene-bridged [n]cycloparaphenylene, has been synthesized and its properties elucidated by researchers at the Institute of Transformative Bio-molecules at Nagoya University in Japan, in collaboration with researchers at the Università degli Studi di Salerno in Italy and the University of Nevada in the U.S.
April 25, 2023Source

For a bright future in eco-friendly light devices, just add dendrimers, cellulose, and graphene
In research that could lead to a new age in illumination, researchers from Japan and Germany have developed an eco-friendly light-emitting electrochemical cells using new molecules called dendrimers combined with biomass derived electrolytes and graphene-based electrodes.
July 7, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — G

Gaining New Insights Into New Smart Active Materials
As far as nature is concerned, the skin of cephalopods (animals with tentacles fixed to the head) displays incredible camouflage ability.
May 19, 2023Source

Gravitational waves innovation could help unlock cosmic secrets
New frontiers in the study of the universe — and gravitational waves — have been opened up following a breakthrough by University of the West of Scotland (UWS) researchers.
June 8, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — H

Harnessing machine learning in designing soft materials
Soft materials such as polymers, rubbers, and hydrogels play a significant role in your everyday life. From your car's tires to the elastic in your favorite loungewear, from cutting-edge flexible electronics to wearable technology like electronic tattoos — these versatile materials are everywhere.
May 23, 2023Source

Harnessing machine learning to make nanosystems more energy efficient
Getting something for nothing doesn't work in physics. But it turns out that, by thinking like a strategic gamer, and with some help from a demon, improved energy efficiency for complex systems like data centers might be possible.
May 12, 2023Source

Heat transport in energy materials: Study clarifies fundamental microscopic mechanisms
The NOMAD Laboratory researchers have recently shed light on fundamental microscopic mechanisms that can help with tailoring materials for heat insulation. This development advances the ongoing efforts to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability.
June 9, 2023Source

Here's what caused black stains on Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus
The culprit: nanoparticles of metacinnabar, a mercury sulphide black crystalline phase.
May 2, 2023Source

How well toxic elements leach out of coal ash depends on the ash's nanoscale composition, shows study
Everyone knows that burning coal causes air pollution that is harmful to the climate and human health. But the ash left over can often be harmful as well.
June 6, 2023Source

Hybrid bound states in the continuum in terahertz metasurfaces
The quality factor (Q) is a critical parameter that characterizes the strength of light-matter interactions. Cavities with higher quality factors have the ability to efficiently confine light and thus enhance light-matter interactions.
May 26, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — I

Innovative imaging technique uses the quantum properties of X-ray light
An international team of researchers including scientists from FAU has, for the first time, used X-rays for an imaging technique that exploits a particular quantum characteristic of light. In their article, which has now been published in the journal Physical Review Letters, the researchers detail how this process could be used for imaging non-crystallized macromolecules.
May 19, 2023Source

InP/ZnS quantum dot photoluminescence modulation via in situ H2S interface engineering
InP quantum dots (QDs) are attracting significant interest as a potentially less toxic alternative to Cd-based QDs in many research areas. Although InP-based core/shell QDs with excellent photoluminescence properties have been reported so far, sophisticated interface treatment to eliminate defects is often necessary.
April 21, 2023Source

Insect wings could inspire new self-cleaning technologies
Fresh insights into how insects use water droplets to wash dirt and pollutants from their bodies could help improve the performance of self-cleaning devices, a study suggests.
June 2, 2023Source

Integrated cascade catalysis of microalgal bioenzyme and inorganic nanozyme for anti-inflammation therapy
Inspired by the abundant content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Spirulina platensis (SP), we establish an integrated cascade catalysis for anti-inflammation therapy by decorating catalase (CAT)-biomimetic ceria nanoparticles (CeO2) onto the SP surface via electrostatic interaction to build microalgae-based biohybrids.
April 21, 2023Source

Intrinsic exchange bias state in silicene and germanene materials EuX2
2D magnets have recently emerged as a host for unconventional phases and related phenomena. The prominence of 2D magnetism stems from its high amenability to external stimuli and structural variations.
April 21, 2023Source

IQM Quantum Computers Announces Global Expansion Into Asia-Pacific Region, Opens Singapore Office
IQM Quantum Computers, the European leader in building quantum computers, today announced the expansion of its global operations into Asia-Pacific (APAC) with an office opening in Singapore, its first in the region and outside Europe, to drive the advancement of quantum technology.
April 4, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — K

KISS method for 2D material preparation: Unlocking new possibilities for materials science
It has almost been 20 years since the establishment of the field of two-dimensional (2D) materials with the discovery of unique properties of graphene, a single, atomically thin layer of graphite. The significance of graphene and its one-of-a-kind properties was recognized as early as 2010 when the Nobel prize in physics was awarded to A. Geim and K. Novoselov for their work on graphene.
June 9, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — L

Laser pulse creates exotic order in quantum material
Water flows, ice is rigid — this clear difference between the liquid and solid state of substances is part of our everyday experience. It follows from the very regular arrangement of atoms and molecules in crystalline solids, which is lost when they melt.
July 7, 2023Source

Laser-based method could help scientists discover new puncture-resistant materials
A bullet piercing the protective armor of a first responder, a jellyfish stinging a swimmer, micrometeorites striking a satellite: High-speed projectiles that puncture materials show up in many forms.
July 3, 2023Source or Source

Laser-induced monolayer graphene nanoprocessing
Graphene has revolutionized materials science since its discovery in 2004, with its high electron mobility, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity.
May 26, 2023Source

'Light shining through a wall' experiment ALPS starts searching for dark matter
The world's most sensitive model-independent experiment to search for particularly light particles, of which dark matter might be composed, starts today at DESY in the form of the 'light shining through a wall' experiment ALPS II.
May 23, 2023Source

Linear conductance update improvement of CMOS-compatible second-order memristors for fast and energy-efficient training of a neural network using a memristor crossbar array
Memristors are two-terminal memory devices that can change the conductance state and store analog values. Thanks to their simple structure, suitability for high-density integration, and non-volatile characteristics, memristors have been intensively studied as synapses in artificial neural network systems.
June 27, 2023Source

Liquid metal nanodroplets formed with new technique have promising properties for catalysis
Liquid metal, planet-like nanodroplets have been successfully formed with a new technique developed at RMIT University, Australia. Like our own planet Earth, the nanodroplets feature an outer "crust," a liquid metal "mantle," and a solid "core."
July 14, 2023Source or Source

Localized Coherent Phonon Generation in Monolayer MoSe2 from Ultrafast Exciton Trapping at Shallow Traps
We report spectroscopic evidence for the ultrafast trapping of band edge excitons at defects and the subsequent generation of defect-localized coherent phonons (CPs) in monolayer MoSe2. While the photoluminescence measurement provides signals of exciton recombinations at both shallow and deep traps, our time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy on a sub-picosecond time scale detects localized CPs only from the ultrafast exciton trapping at shallow traps.
July 11, 2023Source

Looking deeper with adaptive six-dimensional nanoscopy
Matthew Lew, an associate professor of electrical and systems engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, has received a five-year $2 million Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support his ongoing work to improve microscopic imaging techniques.
June 8, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — M

Machine Intelligence for designing molecules and reaction pathways
Researchers in Japan have developed a machine learning process that simultaneously designs new molecules and suggests the chemical reactions to make them.
May 23, 2023Source

Machine learning enhances X-ray imaging of nanotextures
Using a combination of high-powered X-rays, phase-retrieval algorithms and machine learning, Cornell researchers revealed the intricate nanotextures in thin-film materials, offering scientists a new, streamlined approach to analyzing potential candidates for quantum computing and microelectronics, among other applications.
July 7, 2023Source or Source

Manipulating hypersound in mesoporous materials
These high-frequency acoustic vibrations, also known as acoustic phonons, have the potential to revolutionize various industries, including materials science, medical imaging, data processing, and quantum technologies.
April 11, 2023Source

Marcy NanoCenter
With more than $14 billion in private and public investment in New York State in high-tech R&D and manufacturing, this cluster includes semiconductor industry giants AMD, ASML, Applied Materials, IBM, NXP Semiconductor, and Tokyo Electron among others.
Provides InformationSource

Merons and antimerons
Sliding and twisting of van der Waals layers can produce fascinating physical phenomena.
April 11, 2023Source

Meta-optics shows physical processes in the attosecond range
Developed at Harvard, and successfully tested at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), a revolutionary new meta-optics for microscopes with extremely high spatial and temporal resolution has proven its functional ability in laboratory tests at the Institute of Experimental Physics at TU Graz.
April 7, 2023Source

Metamaterials: Time crystal gives light a boost
Time crystals, a subset of metamaterials, are synthetic materials displaying properties absent in naturally occurring substances. Conceived by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frank Wilczek in 2012, time crystals diverge from conventional crystals by periodically altering their properties temporally rather than spatially.
April 25, 2023Source

Metasurface enables strong coupling effects between light and transition metal dichalcogenides
The interaction of light and matter on the nanoscale is a vital aspect of nanophotonics. Resonant nanosystems allow scientists to control and enhance electromagnetic energy at volumes smaller than the wavelength of the incident light.
June 23, 2023Source or Source

Molding of nanowires spurs unanticipated phases
Sometimes to make big breakthroughs, you have to start very small.
April 20, 2023Source

Molecular template growth of organic heterojunctions to tailor visual neuroplasticity for high performance phototransistors with ultralow energy consumption
The optical and charge transport properties of organic semiconductors are strongly influenced by their morphology and molecular structures. Here we report the influence of a molecular template strategy on anisotropic control via weak epitaxial growth of a semiconducting channel for a dinaphtho[2,3-b:2′,3′-f]thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (DNTT)/para-sexiphenyl (p-6P) heterojunction.
May 2, 2023Source

Monolayer hexagonal boron nitride can extend plasmonic enhancement limit
A research team led by Prof. Yang Liangbao from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences found that hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) could effectively block electron tunneling and extend the ultimate plasmonic enhancement limits in a single-atom-layer gap, providing deep insights into quantum mechanical effects in plasmonic systems and enabling potential novel applications based on quantum plasmonics.
April 25, 2023Source

Move over diamond: hBN is quantum's new best friend
Diamond has long been the go-to material for quantum sensing due to its coherent nitrogen-vacancy centres, controllable spin, sensitivity to magnetic fields, and ability to be used at room temperature. With such a suitable material so easy to fabricate and scale, there's been little interest in exploring diamond alternatives.
June 27, 2023Source

Multi-Axis Microscopy Stages for Super-Resolution Microscopes and High Resolution Imaging Applications Provide Nanometer Resolution
Nanopositioning and Air Bearing specialist PI offers a family of piezoelectric microscopy nanopositioning stages for super resolution microscopy and other high precision scanning applications. The PInano® product line of high resolution XY/XYZ multi-axis nanopositioning stages includes the piezo scanner, software, and a state-of-the art digital motion controller.
July 11, 2023Source

Multi-foci metalens for spectra and polarization ellipticity recognition and reconstruction
A new publication from Opto-Electronic Science considers multi-foci metalens for spectra and polarization ellipticity recognition and reconstruction.
April 4, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — N

Nanoparticle-coated sponge removes lead from water
Northwestern University engineers have developed a new sponge that can remove metals — including toxic heavy metals like lead and critical metals like cobalt — from contaminated water, leaving safe, drinkable water behind.
May 11, 2023Source

Nanoscale compositional segregation in epitaxial AlScN on Si (111)
We report the growth of epitaxial wurtzite AlScN thin films on Si (111) substrates with a wide range of Sc concentrations using ultra-high vacuum reactive sputtering. Sc alloying in AlN enhances piezoelectricity and induces ferroelectricity, and epitaxial thin films facilitate systematic structure-based investigations of this important and emerging class of materials.
May 2, 2023Source

Nanowire networks can exhibit both short- and long-term memory like the human brain
An international team led by scientists at the University of Sydney has demonstrated nanowire networks can exhibit both short- and long-term memory like the human brain.
April 21, 2023Source or Source

Near Perfect Particle-hole Symmetry in Graphene Quantum Dots
Researchers at RWTH Aachen University and Forschungszentrum Jülich have uncovered important characteristics of double quantum dots in bilayer graphene, an increasingly promising material for possible applications in quantum technologies.
May 5, 2023Source

New 6-Axis Hexapod Robotic Stages and Cartesian Linear Robots Showcasing at the 2023 Robotics Summit
Discover PI's featured applications for micro-precision 6-axis hexapod parallel kinematic robots, cartesian robots (gantries), and high precision linear-motor and torque motor stages at the 2023 Robotics Summit. The Summit's expo, held annually in Boston, offers hands-on access to state-of-the-art design and development of applications utilizing robotics and intelligent robotic systems and services.
May 9, 2023Source

New anti-counterfeiting system relies on completely new approach to non-copyable nanopatterns
A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) has developed a method that could make it more difficult to counterfeit products in the future. The new and patented method makes it possible to produce unique, non-copyable fluorescent patterns quickly, environmentally friendly and at low costs.
June 6, 2023Source

New family of wheel-like metallic clusters exhibit unique properties
While the wheel does not need to be reinvented, there are benefits to the development of new nano-wheels, according to a multi-institute research team based in China. The group fabricated a novel family of metallic compounds, each of which exhibit unique properties desirable for next-generation technologies, such as advanced sensors.
April 14, 2023Source or Source

New frontiers in CO2 reduction: A novel approach to double metal atom catalysts
As we grapple with the escalating threat of climate change, the quest to decarbonize our atmosphere is more urgent than ever. A promising strategy to reduce atmospheric CO2 concentration lies in the use of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) powered by clean energy sources.
July 11, 2023Source

New Manual for Engineering Spin Dynamics in Nanomagnets
A comprehensive manual for engineering spin dynamics in nanomagnets has been developed by an international research group at the University of California, Riverside, and the Institute of Magnetism in Kyiv, Ukraine.
May 5, 2023Source

New Method for Accurate and Quick Thickness Measurements of 2D Materials
Flakes of two-dimensional (2D) materials have exceptional quantum qualities that are not seen in common materials since they only have one to a few atomic layers. As a result, these materials have a tremendous amount of potential for both advanced research and industrial applications.
June 23, 2023Source

New Nanoparticle-Coated Sponge Aids in the Recovery of Heavy-Metal Toxins
Engineers from Northwestern University have created a new type of sponge that can extract metals such as lead and cobalt from polluted water, resulting in clean and safe drinking water.
May 12, 2023Source

New Nanopositioning and Ultra-Precision Motion Control Systems for Semiconductor Test and Manufacturing featuring at 2023 Semicon West
PI's booth #5678 at the 2023 Semicon West will feature a new high precision multi-axis wafer stage along with air bearing stages for wafer stealth dicing, precision direct-drive gantry stages, and high speed beam steering systems for laser beam delivery. For applications such as surface metrology, fast focus stages are available with a choice of piezo and voice coil motors.
June 27, 2023Source

New Response Mechanism Specific to Exposure to Nanoparticles Discovered
A new response mechanism particular to exposure to nanoparticles that are common to multiple species has been found by scientists.
May 30, 2023Source

New self-powered ultraviolet photodetector
Ultraviolet (UV) light detection can revolutionize industries such as civil engineering, military defense, aerospace exploration, and medical research.
April 18, 2023Source

New surface coating technology increases materials' electron emission seven-fold
An international research group has developed a new surface coating technology that is capable of significantly increasing electron emission in materials.
May 12, 2023Source

Newly developed hydrogel nanocomposite for the mass production of hydrogen
A research team led by Prof. Hyeon Taeghwan at the Center for Nanoparticle Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Seoul, South Korea has developed a new photocatalytic platform for the mass production of hydrogen.
April 27, 2023Source or Source or Source

Non-contact microsphere ultrafast laser nanopatterning technology
In the past decades, the development of nano-fabrication technology is driven by the need to increase the density of components and performance, which requires high accuracy in material processing and the capability of manufacturing in an atmospheric environment.
May 26, 2023Source or Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — O

Open-source software to speed up quantum research
Within a few decades, quantum technology is expected to become a key technology in areas such as health, communication, defence and energy. The power and potential of the technology lie in the odd and very special properties of quantum particles.
June 20, 2023Source

Orientation--polarization dependence of pressure-induced Raman anomalies in anisotropic 2D ReS2
We report an in situ high-pressure (0--30.24 GPa) optical study of the 2D ReS2 crystal under four specific configurations of sample orientation and laser polarization. Unlike the horizontal measurement configuration that has been widely used, under the vertical sample configuration we observe the anomalous disappearance behavior of Raman modes.
April 21, 2023Source

Origami-based integration of robots that sense, decide, and respond
Roboticists have been using a technique similar to the ancient art of paper folding to develop autonomous machines out of thin, flexible sheets. These lightweight robots are simpler and cheaper to make and more compact for easier storage and transport.
April 4, 2023Source

Outstanding Reviewers for Nanoscale Horizons in 2022
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Nanoscale Horizons' reviewers, and in particular highlight the Outstanding Reviewers for the journal in 2022.
June 27, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — P

pH-Responsive wound dressings: advances and prospects
Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process, in which the pH value plays an important role in reflecting the wound status. Wound dressings are materials that are able to accelerate the healing process.
April 21, 2023Source

Photonic time crystals could open the door to a new branch of optics
Refractive index — the ratio of the speed of electromagnetic radiation in a medium to its speed in a vacuum — can be modulated fast enough to generate photonic time crystals in the near-visible part of the spectrum, a new study published in the journal Nanophotonics demonstrates.
July 7, 2023Source

Protective molecules facilitate molybdate anion binding to create novel silver nanoclusters
Silver nanocluster synthesis, or the binding of a silver atom to negatively charged anions, is often plagued by stability, sizing uniformity and surface composition issues. Protective molecules that bind the surface of silver nanoclusters, called ligands, can mitigate these issues, creating new nanoclusters with unique physical and chemical properties.
June 20, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — Q

Quantifying intracellular nanoparticle distributions with three-dimensional super-resolution microscopy
Led by Stefan Wilhelm, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, a team of researchers from the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU, OU Health Sciences Center and Yale University recently published an article in ACS Nano that describes their development of a super-resolution imaging platform technology to improve understanding of how nanoparticles interact within cells.
May 9, 2023Source

Quantum entanglement of photons doubles microscope resolution
Using a "spooky" phenomenon of quantum physics, Caltech researchers have discovered a way to double the resolution of light microscopes.
May 2, 2023Source

Quantum materials: Electron spin measured for the first time
An international research team has succeeded for the first time in measuring the electron spin in matter — i.e., the curvature of space in which electrons live and move — within "kagome materials", a new class of quantum materials.
June 9, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — R

Recent advances in iridium-based catalysts with different dimensions for acidic oxygen evolution reaction
Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is considered a promising technology for green hydrogen production, and Iridium (Ir)-based catalysts are the best materials for anodic oxygen evolution reactions (OER) owing to their high stability and anti-corrosion ability in the strong acid electrolyte.
June 20, 2023Source

Recent innovations in the technology and applications of low-dimensional CuO nanostructures for sensing, energy and catalysis
Low-dimensional copper oxide nanostructures are very promising building blocks for various functional materials targeting high-demanded applications, including energy harvesting and transformation systems, sensing and catalysis.
May 2, 2023Source

Research on light emission from black phosphorus hints at new applications
Energy efficient LEDs (light emitting diodes) have begun to replace many types of lighting both indoor and outdoor. A key reason for the rise of LEDs has been materials research that greatly improved the quality and intensity of light achievable with these devices.
April 27, 2023Source or Source

Research team realizes quantum-enhanced microwave ranging
A study published in Nature Communications highlights the progress made in practical quantum sensing by a team led by academician Guo Guangcan and Prof. Sun Fangwen from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
April 7, 2023Source

Researchers develop a new source of quantum light
Using novel materials that have been widely studied as potential new solar photovoltaics, researchers at MIT have shown that nanoparticles of these materials can emit a stream of single, identical photons.
June 23, 2023Source

Researchers discover a way to produce hydrogen and purify water at the same time
University of Alberta researchers have developed a new catalyst that could revolutionize how we generate power and purify water. When placed in any type of water and provided with a small amount of power, the catalyst produces hydrogen that can be fed into a fuel cell to generate electricity along with distilled water that is safe to drink.
April 25, 2023Source

Researchers report technique to fabricate nanosheets in one minute
A research group led by Professor Minoru Osada (he, him) and postdoctoral researcher Yue Shi (she, her) at the Institute for Future Materials and Systems (IMaSS), Nagoya University in Japan, has developed a new technology to fabricate nanosheets, thin films of two-dimensional materials a couple of nanometers thick, in about one minute.
May 19, 2023Source

Researchers use AI to identify similar materials in images
A robot manipulating objects while, say, working in a kitchen, will benefit from understanding which items are composed of the same materials. With this knowledge, the robot would know to exert a similar amount of force whether it picks up a small pat of butter from a shadowy corner of the counter or an entire stick from inside the brightly lit fridge.
May 23, 2023Source

Revolutionizing optical control with topological edge states
Nanophotonics and topology have generated significant interest due to the unique properties they offer. One area of focus is the investigation of topological edge states (TESs). These states have captured widespread attention because they are very resistant to errors and imperfections.
June 6, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — S

Scientists develop a novel light-field sensor for 3D scene construction with unprecedented angular resolution
A research team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Science, led by Professor Liu Xiaogang from the Department of Chemistry, has developed a 3D imaging sensor that has an extremely high angular resolution, which is the capacity of an optical instrument to distinguish points of an object separated by a small angular distance, of 0.0018o.
May 11, 2023Source or Source

Scientists develop artificial molecules that behave like real ones
Scientists from the Radboud University have developed synthetic molecules that resemble real organic molecules. A collaboration of researchers, led by Alex Khajetoorians and Daniel Wegner, can now simulate the behaviour of real molecules by using artificial molecules.
June 8, 2023Source

Scientists identify new benchmark for freezing point of water at -70 C
Scientists have discovered yet another amazing aspect of the weird and wonderful behavior of water--this time when subjected to nanoscale confinement at sub-zero temperatures.
April 14, 2023Source

Scientists propose theory of σ bond resonance in flat boron materials
Recently, two-dimensional (2D) boron sheets--borophenes--have drawn great interest from materials scientists because of their similarity to graphene. However, understanding of how the material can be stable in the 2D form is still lacking, mainly due to boron's unique electron-deficient nature.
April 27, 2023Source

Scientists use computational modeling to design 'ultrastable' MOFs
Materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have a rigid, cage-like structure that lends itself to a variety of applications, from gas storage to drug delivery. By changing the building blocks that go into the materials, or the way they are arranged, researchers can design MOFs suited to different uses.
April 4, 2023Source

Scientists use peroxide to peer into metal oxide reactions
Researchers at Binghamton University led research partnering with the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)—a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory—to get a better look at how peroxides on the surface of copper oxide promote the oxidation of hydrogen but inhibit the oxidation of carbon monoxide, allowing them to steer oxidation reactions.
April 7, 2023Source or Source

Self-folding origami machines powered by chemical reaction
A Cornell-led collaboration harnessed chemical reactions to make microscale origami machines self-fold — freeing them from the liquids in which they usually function, so they can operate in dry environments and at room temperature.
May 2, 2023Source

Simulation Model of Industry's First 1200 V GaN-on-Sapphire Device Released by Transphorm
Transphorm, Inc.--global leader in fundamentally superior, quantitatively outperforming GaN power semiconductors--today announced availability of its 1200 V FET simulation model and preliminary datasheet.
May 9, 2023Source

Single-atom alloy Ir/Ni catalyst boosts CO2 methanation via mechanochemistry
A new catalytic approach is pioneered to achieve CO2 methanation via a single atom alloy Ir/Ni catalyst using a ball-milling method.
April 21, 2023Source

Smart textile might be the sports clothing of the future
Using nanomagnets composites and conductive yarn, scientists have invented a smart textile that can sense and measure body movements--from muscles flexing to veins pulsing.
June 27, 2023Source

Soaking it up: Nanoparticle sponge boosts photocatalysis
Exciton Science researchers have created a new type of highly absorbent material that could help to increase the efficiency of photocatalysis for hydrogen production and water purification.
May 12, 2023Source

Speedy robo-gripper reflexively organizes cluttered spaces
When manipulating an arcade claw, a player can plan all she wants. But once she presses the joystick button, it's a game of wait-and-see. If the claw misses its target, she'll have to start from scratch for another chance at a prize.
April 27, 2023Source

Spin-isolated ultraviolet-visible dynamic meta-holographic displays with liquid crystal modulators
Wearable displays or head-mounted displays (HMDs) have the ability to create a virtual image in the field of view of one or both eyes. Such displays constitute the main platform for numerous virtual reality (VR)- and augmented reality (AR)-based applications.
April 21, 2023Source

Stable Continuous-Wave Lasing from Discrete Cesium Lead Bromide Quantum Dots embedded in a Microcavity
All-inorganic cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) quantum dots (QDs) with high photoluminescence (PL) quantum efficiency have been reported as ideal gain materials for high-performance lasers.
July 14, 2023Source

Strange Physical Phenomenon to Control Light in New Ways
Researchers at the University of Michigan have demonstrated how to create cage structures with nanoparticles using computer simulations, which could indicate a way to create structured nanostructures with heterogeneous materials.
May 26, 2023Source

Structure engineering of CeO2 for boosting the Au/CeO2 nanocatalyst in the green and selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene
Exploring eco-friendly and cost-effective strategies for structure engineering at the nanoscale is important for boosting heterogeneous catalysis but still under a long-standing challenge.
April 21, 2023Source

Study demonstrates that heat can freeze fluids in the quantum world
At the beginning of springtime, snow and ice start to melt as temperatures rise. This phenomenon exemplifies the transition from solid to liquid when thermal energy is added to matter.
May 23, 2023Source

Study shows hexagonal boron nitride has potential to replace diamond as quantum sensing material
Diamond has long been the go-to material for quantum sensing due to its coherent nitrogen-vacancy centers, controllable spin, sensitivity to magnetic fields, and ability to be used at room temperature. With such a suitable material so easy to fabricate and scale, there's been little interest in exploring diamond alternatives.
June 27, 2023Source

Swarming microrobots self-organize into diverse patterns
A research collaboration between Cornell and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems has found an efficient way to expand the collective behavior of swarming microrobots: Mixing different sizes of the micron-scale 'bots enables them to self-organize into diverse patterns that can be manipulated when a magnetic field is applied.
June 6, 2023Source

Symmetric Graphene Quantum Dots for Future Qubits
Quantum dots in semiconductors such as silicon or gallium arsenide have long been considered hot candidates for hosting quantum bits in future quantum processors. Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University have now shown that bilayer graphene has even more to offer here than other materials. The double quantum dots they have created are characterized by a nearly perfect electron-hole-symmetry that allows a robust read-out mechanism — one of the necessary criteria for quantum computing.
May 9, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — T

Team develops solvent- and hydrogen-free method to upcycle high-density polyethylene plastics
A research team led by Prof. Zeng Jie from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has made a significant breakthrough in the field of plastic upcycling.
July 14, 2023Source

Team creates 'quantum composites' for various electrical and optical innovations
A team of UCR electrical engineers and material scientists demonstrated a research breakthrough that may result in wide-ranging advancements in electrical, optical, and computer technologies.
April 20, 2023Source

Team successfully demonstrates laser-induced monolayer graphene nanoprocessing
Discovered in 2004, graphene has revolutionized various scientific fields. It possesses remarkable properties like high electron mobility, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity.
May 26, 2023Source

Template-directed 2D nanopatterning of S = 1/2 molecular spins
Molecular spins are emerging platforms for quantum information processing. By chemically tuning their molecular structure, it is possible to prepare a robust environment for electron spins and drive the assembly of a large number of qubits in atomically precise spin-architectures.
May 2, 2023Source

The problems with coal ash start smaller than anyone thought
How well toxic elements leach out of coal ash depends on the ash's nanoscale composition
June 6, 2023Source

The senescence-associated secretory phenotype induces neuroendocrine transdifferentiation
A new editorial paper, titled "The senescence-associated secretory phenotype induces neuroendocrine transdifferentiation," was recently published in the journal Aging
May 12, 2023Source

Thermomechanical nanomolding of nanowires spur unanticipated phases
Sometimes to make big breakthroughs, you have to start very small.
April 20, 2023Source

Time-varying orbital angular momentum generated by a metasurface
The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of electromagnetic waves — a kind of "structured light" — is associated with a helical or twisted wavefront. The helical modes are characterized by a topological charge. OAM beams with distinct topological charges are mutually orthogonal, which allows them to carry information and to be multiplexed.
April 20, 2023Source

This is the world's smallest 3D-printed wineglass, Swedish scientists claim
Scientists also made a tiny optical resonator out of silica glass for telecommunications.
July 7, 2023Source

Topological phase protection reams to sub-symmetry
An international team led by researchers at Nankai University in China and at University of Zagreb in Croatia, along with team at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) in Canada, led by Roberto Morandotti has made an important breakthrough in the study of topological phases.
June 8, 2023Source

Topologically structured light detects the position of nano-objects with atomic resolution
While these techniques have recently become increasingly advanced, the resolutions they achieve are still significantly lower than those attained by methods using focused beams of electrons, such as atomic-scale transmission electron spectroscopy and cryo-electron tomography.
May 19, 2023Source

Toward controlling contact polarity and contact resistance in 2D-material devices
National University of Singapore (NUS) physicists found that contacts made of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten diselenide (WSe2) on gold metal are both p-type, while the same contacts with chalcogen vacancy defects become n-type.
April 18, 2023Source

Transition metal single atom-optimized g-C3N4 for the highly selective electrosynthesis of H2O2 under neutral electrolytes
Neutral electrosynthesis of H2O2via the 2e− ORR is attractive for numerous applications, but the low activity and high cost of electrocatalysts have become important constraints. Therefore, the development of cheap and efficient electrocatalysts for the 2e− ORR is necessary. Herein, we report the embedding of transition metal single atoms (TM SAs) in g-C3N4 nanosheets (CNNS).
May 2, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — U

Understanding the Wider Applications of 2D Materials
The strength of 2D materials has proven challenging to harness, despite being among the world's strongest materials.
April 4, 2023Source

Unravelling the room temperature growth of two-dimensional h-BN nanosheets for multifunctional applications
The room temperature growth of two-dimensional van der Waals (2D-vdW) materials is indispensable for state-of-the-art nanotechnology. Low temperature growth supersedes the requirement of elevated growth temperatures accompanied with high thermal budgets.
May 2, 2023Source

Unusual interactions between polymers explain hydrogel formation
Many people use hydrogels without knowing it. As superabsorbents in nappies, for example, hydrogels absorb a lot of liquid. In the process, the initially dry material becomes jelly-like, but it does not wet. Some people place the swellable material on their eyeballs--soft contact lenses are also just hydrogels.
April 27, 2023Source

Upcycling method turns textile trash to functional coatings
In an effort to make textiles more sustainable, a new method allows researchers to break old clothing down chemically and reuse polyester compounds to create fire resistant, anti-bacterial or wrinkle-free coatings that could then be applied to clothes and fabrics.
May 2, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — V

Van der Waals integration permits novel hetero-integrated photonic devices and flexible optical applications
Today, electronic and photonic devices are ubiquitous in smart phones, computers, light sources, sensors, and communications. To underpin the demand for optoelectronic applications, functional materials are essential.
April 25, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — W

Want to make better materials? Read between the lines. Or the 'grain boundaries', as they're known in materials science
The orientations of these infinitesimally small separations between individual "grains" of a polycrystalline material have big effects. In a material such as aluminum, these collections of grains (called microstructures) determine properties such as hardness.
April 25, 2023Source

Wetting hysteresis induces effective unidirectional water transport through a fluctuating nanochannel
We propose a water pump that actively transports water molecules through nanochannels. Spatially asymmetric noise fluctuations imposed on the channel radius cause unidirectional water flow without osmotic pressure, which can be attributed to hysteresis in the cyclic transition between the wetting/drying states.
May 2, 2023Source

When crystals flow: Semicrystalline polymer shown to flow at temperatures below its melting point
The capillary process was strong during the phenomenon and dragged the polymer chains into the pores without melting the crystal. The unexpected improvement in flow facilitated polymer processing conditions applicable to low temperatures, suited for use in organic electronics.
May 19, 2023Source

With new experimental method, researchers probe spin structure in 2D materials for first time
For two decades, physicists have tried to directly manipulate the spin of electrons in 2D materials like graphene. Doing so could spark key advances in the burgeoning world of 2D electronics, a field where super-fast, small and flexible electronic devices carry out computations based on quantum mechanics.
May 11, 2023Source or Source

World's first mass production of metalenses for visible wavelengths
Do you hate the camera bumps on the back of your smartphone? A new optical component called metalens--which was named one of the top 10 future technologies by the World Economic Forum in 2019--may be the answer. Composed of a nanostructured array, this incredibly thin and lightweight optical device is currently the focus of much attention in the scientific community, even featured in a special issue of Nature Photonics.
May 9, 2023Source

Nanotechnology — Resources — Resources

Accelrys
world-class employees help you to accelerate design, discovery, and development of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and materials by providing and integrating products and services in informatics and computation.
Provides InformationSource

Asylum Research
Advanced tools for nanoscale science and technology.
Provides ProductsSource

AZoNano.com
The aim of AZoNano.com is to become the primary Nanotechnology information source for the science, engineering and design community worldwide.
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Nanogen — Making the revolutionary routine™
Nanogen's mission is to become a leading supplier of molecular diagnostic tests to the medical community and to clinical researchers.
Provides ProductsSource

NanoMarkets Market Research Reports on Nanotechnology, Nanostorage and Nanoelectronics
NanoMarkets' mission is to measure the impact of nanotechnology on the communications, information technology and computing industries and provide both qualitative and quantitative assessments of the opportunities available to companies operating within these markets as well as the component, semiconductor, materials and manufacturing companies that supply them.
Provides a ServiceSource

Nanomix sensors
operate at the intersection between the molecular and macroscopic worlds. the central element, carbon nanotubes, are individual molecules to which electrical leads can be attached.
Provides ProductsSource

Nanophase Technologies
is an industry-leading nanocrystalline materials innovator and manufacturer with an integrated family of nanomaterial technologies.
Provides ProductsSource

QuantumSphere
manufactures leading metallic nanopowders for breakthrough propellants, munitions and other energetic applications in the aerospace, defense, automotive, energy and other markets demanding advanced material applications.
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