Graphene ribbons result in 100-fold increase in gold catalyst's performance

Bottom-up synthesis of tunable carbon nanoribbons provides a new route to enhance industrial, automotive reactions.

Nan-Oh-Canada

Measuring 32 atoms, Canadian scientists have created a maple leaf 10,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

New photoacoustic technique detects gases at parts-per-quadrillion level

A team of researchers has found a way to detect trace gases down to concentrations at the parts-per-quadrillion level using a new variation on the photoacoustic effect, a technique that measures the sound generated when light interacts with molecules.

Coating individual bacterial cells with a conducting polymer

Coating of individual bacterial cells with an electron-conducting polymer provides for a high-performance anode for microbial fuel-cell applications.

Physicists make quantum leap in understanding life's nanoscale machinery

A diagnostic technique that can detect tiny molecules signalling the presence of cancer could be on the horizon.

Cotton candy capillaries lead to circuit boards that dissolve when cooled

The silver nanowires are held together in the polymer so that they touch, and as long as the polymer doesn't dissolve, the nanowires will form a path to conduct electricity similar to the traces on a circuit board.

Bacteria-coated nanofiber electrodes digest pollutants

Materials scientists and bioelectrochemical engineers may have created an innovative, cost-competitive electrode material for cleaning pollutants in wastewater.

Graphene and terahertz waves could lead the way to future communication

By utilizing terahertz waves in electronics, future data traffic can get a big boost forward. So far, the terahertz (THz) frequency has not been optimally applied to data transmission, but by using graphene, researchers have come one step closer to a possible paradigm shift for the electronic industry.

3-D-printed jars in ball-milling experiments

Recently, in situ observations of mechanochemical reactions have been achieved by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Solid-state reactions can be directly tracked, revealing phase transitions and other material transformations during synthesis in a ball mill jar.

New 'gold standard' for flexible electronics

Simple, economical process makes large-diameter, high-performance, thin, transparent, and conductive foils for bendable LEDs and more.

Atomic magnet curve balls

A twisted array of atomic magnets were driven to move in a curved path, a needed level of control for use in future memory devices.

Targeting neurons with nanoparticles

A research team has elucidated the mechanisms through which nanoparticles modulate bioelectric activity from single neuron to neuronal networks.

Use of machine learning to design optimal nanostructures to control heat current in materials

Scientists have developed a calculation method for identifying optimal nanostructures to either maximize or minimize the thermal resistance of target materials. This method reduced the amount of calculation by more than 90% compared to conventional methods.

Nanoparticles as food additives: improving risk assessment

The anticaking agent E551 silicon dioxide, or silica, has been used widely in the food industry over the past 50 years, and was long thought to be quite safe. Now, however, researchers have discovered that these nanoparticles can affect the immune system of the digestive tract.