Alcohol-free zone - an effective process for coating noble nanoparticles

Noble metal nanoparticles can be coated with silica by a simple, environmentally friendly process that does not employ alcohol.

Giving infections the brush off

Metal-free catalysis generates brush-like polymer coatings that prevent build-up of toxic fouling films on medical devices.

One-atom-thin silicon transistors hold promise for super-fast computing

Researchers have created the first transistors made of silicene, the world's thinnest silicon material. Their research holds the promise of building dramatically faster, smaller and more efficient computer chips.

Rediscovering spontaneous light emission with a nano-antenna

Berkeley Lab researchers have developed a nano-sized optical antenna that can greatly enhance the spontaneous emission of light from atoms, molecules and semiconductor quantum dots. This advance opens the door to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can replace lasers for short-range optical communications, including optical interconnects for microchips, plus a host of other potential applications.

Penta-graphene, a new structural variant of carbon, discovered

The unique structure of the thin sheet of pure carbon was inspired by pentagonal tile pattern found in the streets of Cairo.

Physicists observe motion of skyrmions

Small magnetic whirls may revolutionize future data storage and information processing if they can be moved rapidly and reliably in small structures. A team of scientists has now been able to investigate the dynamics of these whirls experimentally.

Artificial blood vessels

Researchers create tri-layered artificial blood vessels for the first time.

Looking at graphene and other 2D crystals in energy conversion and storage

Scientists working with Europe's Graphene Flagship provide a wide-ranging review of the potential for 2D crystals in energy conversion and storage.