Friday, July 29, 2016

Boron boosts graphene's sensitivity to noxious gases

International team shows that modified graphene is 105 times more sensitive at detecting ammonia.

White paper highlights federal vision for nanotechnology-inspired Grand Challenge for future computing

Today, Federal agencies participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) released a white paper describing the collective Federal vision for the emerging and innovative solutions needed to realize the Nanotechnology-Inspired Grand Challenge for Future Computing.

An ultrathin, transparent oxide thin-film transistors for wearable display

Researchers have developed ultrathin and transparent oxide thin-film transistors for an active-matrix backplane of a flexible display by using the inorganic-based laser lift-off method.

New method for making green LEDs enhances their efficiency and brightness

Using an industry-standard semiconductor growth technique, researchers have created gallium nitride (GaN) cubic crystals grown on a silicon substrate that are capable of producing powerful green light for advanced solid-state lighting.

Triple-therapy patch delivers local treatment, prevents recurrence in colon cancer model

Investigators have developed a hydrogel patch that can adhere to tumors in a preclinical model of colon cancer, delivering a local, combination treatment as the elastic gel breaks down over time.

Two-dimensional materials 'as revolutionary as graphene'

Extremely thin stacks of two-dimensional materials, which could deliver applications fine-tuned to the demands of industry, are set to revolutionise the world in the same way that graphene will.

Acquiring graphene-like films from salts to boost nanoelectronics

Physicists use supercomputers to find a way of making 'imitation graphene' from salt.

Something deep within: Nanocrystals grown in nanowires

This development could lead to new materials for ultra-small transistors, diodes, and more.

Materials scientists make breakthrough in biomimetic coatings

Researchers employ novel approach to assemble peptoids on a solid surface.

Vortex laser offers hope for Moore's Law

The optics advancement may solve an approaching data bottleneck by helping to boost computing power and information transfer rates tenfold.

International team of scientists unveils fundamental properties of spin Seebeck effect

Direct correlation between temperature dependent generation of spin currents and atomic composition of interfaces found.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Funding for a novel computational framework that can custom design nanoparticles

Researchers are investigating bimetallic nanoparticles to more effectively control their adsorption properties for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Nanotechnology research aimed at colorectal cancer receives $1.8 million in funding

Researchers received a $1.8 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to apply their nanotechnology expertise to more effectively deliver cancer drugs into tumor cells and combat cancer drug resistance.

Sustainable sensors to detect, predict muscle fatigue

Enzyme-based sensors detection lactate levels in sweat.

Moving beyond semiconductors for next-generation electric switches

Meticulously designed oxide thin films exhibit well-defined ON/OFF states that could be used in small, energy-efficient electronics.

Selective sensing of harmful molecules with light

Scientists are developing more highly sensitive devices for the detection of biological and chemical compounds.

Getting light in shape with metamaterials

Nanoscale metallic cavities coupled to semiconductor materials can dramatically change the characteristics of light from a laser.

New material could advance superconductivity

For the first time researchers have experimentally produced a new class of materials blending hydrogen with sodium that could alter the superconductivity landscape and could be used for hydrogen-fuel cell storage.

Beating the heat a challenge at the nanoscale

Scientists detect thermal boundary that hinders ultracold experiments.

The intravenous swim team

Microswimmer robot chains can decouple and reconnect in a magnetic field.

New cluster technology for surface polishing of materials

With an aim of creation of the new generation devices, corresponding to the highest standards of the semiconductor plates? surface purity, researchers have come close to the creation of a new technology of planarization of silicone carbide materials? surface by accelerator cluster ions.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Only the good shall pass: Battery with a built-in bouncer

Microporous polymer separator prevents specific molecules from crossing battery and causing degradation and shorter lifetimes.

Novel porous materials made from flexible 'spaghetti-like' molecules

Scientists transformed flexible one-dimensional molecular chains into a structured, well-defined porous three-dimensional material.

Graphene used for treatment of damaged muscle tissue

Researchers use graphene to synthesize a scaffold to treat damaged muscles.

Serendipitous observation may lead to more efficient solar cells and new gas sensors

While investigating perovskite crystals, scientists made an observation that could make perovskite solar cells more efficient.

Cellulosic nanomaterials could help strengthen auto parts

Trees that are removed during forest restoration projects could find their way into car bumpers and fenders.

Watering solar cells makes them grow... in power

Perovskite solar cells are usually exposed to ambient air for several hours after fabrication. This procedure increases their efficiency, even if the reason behind the phenomenon was unclear.

Atomic blimp stretches a crystal

Implanted helium ions 'tuned' complex behaviors - enabling design of new materials for efficient electricity storage and testing theories.

The hot attraction of gold

Gold had long been considered a non-magnetic metal. But researchers recently discovered that gold can in fact be magnetized by applying heat.

Novel self-assembly can tune the electronic properties of graphene

In what could prove to be a significant advance in fabricating new technologies, scientists discovered a new self-assembly mechanism that surprisingly drives negatively charged molecules to clump together to form islands when graphene is supported by an electrical insulator.

A new family member for 2D nanomaterials

First atomically thin, halide perovskite sheets could be an alternative to graphene for future electronics.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

How to build nanoelectronic devices atom by atom?

Atomistic simulation of quantum transport in nanoelectronic devices shows how, using NanoDsim.

Asymmetrical magnetic microbeads transform into micro-robots

Thanks to the ordering effects of two-faced magnetic beads, they can be turned into useful tools controlled by a changing external magnetic field.

Making terahertz lasers more powerful

Researchers nearly double the continuous output power of a type of terahertz laser, opening up applications in spectroscopy, imaging, remote sensing and more.

Imaging the brain at multiple size scales

New technique can reveal subcellular details and long-range connections.

More power to you

Engineers discover highly conductive materials for more efficient electronics.

Pixel-array quantum cascade detector paves the way for portable thermal imaging devices

Researchers have developed a new 'cooler' sensing instrument thereby increasing energy-efficiency and enhancing mobility for diagnostic testing.

Nanodisks drive a polarizing transformation

Manipulating magnetic and electric dipoles inside nanostructured insulators enables newfound control of light polarization at any angle.

Disposable and ultrafast optical humidity sensors from graphene oxide

Disposable and ultrafast optical humidity sensors provide better moisture control for manufacturing and storage.

Researchers print energy-producing photographs

With the method developed in Aalto University, any picture or text could be inkjet-printed as a solar cell.

Lonely atoms, happily reunited

The remarkable behaviour of platinum atoms on magnetite surfaces could lead to better catalysts.

Researchers use nanoparticles to break up plaque and prevent cavities

Instead of simply applying an antibiotic to the teeth, researchers took advantage of the pH-sensitive and enzyme-like properties of iron-containing nanoparticles to catalyze the activity of hydrogen peroxide, a commonly used natural antiseptic.

Engineers use graphene oxide sheets to clean dirty water

Engineers have found a way to use graphene oxide sheets to transform dirty water into drinking water, and it could be a global game-changer.

A graphene window to better microfluidics

A team of experimenters utilized high-brightness x-rays as they combined microfluidics with another cutting-edge technology, single-layer graphene, for serial protein crystallography in an ultrathin microfluidic chip.

A new type of quantum bits

Researchers have realized quantum bits, short qubits, in a new form. They utilized electron holes as qubits, rather than electrons.

Self-assembling nano inks form conductive and transparent grids during imprint

Researchers have combined a new self-assembling nano ink with an imprint process to create flexible conductive grids with a resolution below one micrometer.

Observation of a quantum spin liquid

A novel and rare state of matter known as a quantum spin liquid has been empirically demonstrated in a single crystal of the compound calcium-chromium oxide.

Monday, July 25, 2016

Chemical etching method helps transistors stand tall

The etching technique addresses many problems in trying to create 3-D devices, typically done now by stacking layers or carving out structures from a thicker semiconductor wafer.

Scientists test nanoparticle drug delivery in dogs with osteosarcoma

An engineer teamed up with a veterinarian to test a bone cancer drug delivery system in animals bigger than the standard animal model, the mouse.

Building a Moebius strip of good vibrations

Physicists have created something similar to a Moebius strip of moving energy between two vibrating objects, opening the door to novel forms of control over waves in acoustics, laser optics, and quantum mechanics.

New nontoxic process promises larger ultrathin sheets of 2-D nanomaterials

The environmentally friendly process generates a 20-fold increase in surface area per sheet, which could expand the nanomaterials' commercial applications.

Enhancing molecular imaging with light

New technology platform increases spectroscopic resolution by 4 fold.

Researchers show novel technique that can 'taste' DNA

Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to selectively sequence fragments of DNA in real time, greatly reducing the time needed to analyse biological samples.

Patch delivers drug, gene, and light-based therapy to tumor sites

In mice, device destroyed colorectal tumors and prevented remission after surgery.

New lithium-oxygen battery greatly improves energy efficiency, longevity

New chemistry could overcome key drawbacks of lithium-air batteries.

Ultra-flat circuits will have unique properties

Researchers study 2-D hybrids to see how they differ from common electronics.

Researchers 'watch' crystal structure change in real time

Researchers have met the long-standing scientific challenge of watching a material change its crystal structure in real time.

Spiders spin unique phononic material

Scientists discover band gaps in spider silk.

Materials based on clusters of atoms may revolutionize the whole solar cell industry

Lead-free, more efficient solar cells and other optoelectronics devices will likely be based on a family of materials known as hybrid perovskites. Scientists identified how to control different properties and stability in these solar cell materials using lead-free preparation.