Chip lights up optical neural network demo

Researchers have made a silicon chip that distributes optical signals precisely across a miniature brain-like grid, showcasing a potential new design for neural networks.

The quest for longer-lasting solar cells

Nanoscientists are studying the causes of silicon solar cell degradation in an effort to make solar power more affordable.

Dental plaque is no match for catalytic nanoparticles

Twice-daily rinses of FDA-approved nanoparticles broke apart oral biofilms and prevented tooth decay in a study.

A colossal breakthrough for topological spintronics

BiSb expands the potential of topological insulators for ultra-low-power electronic devices.

Titanium dioxide as a nanoscale sensor of mechanical stress

Scientists have revealed a new property of the cheap and abundant material anatase titanium dioxide, which promises applications as a medium for room-temperature nanosensors of mechanical stress with an optical read-out.

Better way found to determine the integrity of metals

Researchers have found a better way to identify atomic structures, an essential step in improving materials selection in the aviation, construction and automotive industries.

Supercomputing the 'how' of chemical reactions

Scientists use supercomputer systems to uncover the mechanisms behind chemical reactions.

Magnetic nanoparticles deliver chemotherapy to difficult-to-reach spinal tumors

Researchers have demonstrated that magnetic nanoparticles can be used to ferry chemotherapy drugs into the spinal cord to treat hard-to-reach spinal tumors in an animal model.

Trapping light that doesn't bounce off track for faster electronics

Replacing traditional computer chip components with light-based counterparts will eventually make electronic devices faster due to the wide bandwidth of light. A new protective metamaterial 'cladding' prevents light from leaking out of the very curvy pathways it would travel in a computer chip.

Nano-sized traps show promise in diagnosing pathogenic bacterial infections

New type of lab-on-chip device could quickly detect disease-causing bacteria, save lives.

Memory-processing unit could bring memristors to the masses

A new way of arranging advanced computer components called memristors on a chip could enable them to be used for general computing, which could cut energy consumption by a factor of 100.

Extreme conditions in semiconductors

Physicists have succeeded in experimentally demonstrating Wannier-Stark localization.

Great Pyramid of Giza inspires nanoparticle design

Study reveals the Great Pyramid of Giza can focus electromagnetic energy.

Looking inside the lithium battery's black box

Material scientists use stimulated Raman scattering microscopy to observe -- for the first time -- ions moving in liquid electrolyte; findings could lead to improving battery safety while also increasing next-generation energy storage.

Lasers write better graphene anodes

Laser-scribed disordered graphene significantly improves sodium-ion battery capacity.

Researchers construct all-optical nanowire pocket calculator

New findings have the potential to change how electronics process logic functions, the elementary building blocks of computing.

Researchers propose a facile, general, and effective strategy to prepare carbon nanomaterials

A research team proposes a simple, effective, and versatile method to prepare a series of functional carbin nanomaterials from small organic molecules by a transition metal assisted carbonization process.

Individual silver nanoparticles observed in real time

Chemists have developed a new method of observing the chemical reactions of individual silver nanoparticles in real time.

An expressway for electrons in oxide heterostructures

Physicists have developed a new methodology for determining the impact of screening effects on charge carrier mobility at the interface of complex material structures.

Tin type

Researchers are examining tin as a silicon-friendly material to help create new cost-effective memory devices. The new candidate offers the same performance advantages of more commonly used elements such as copper or silver, yet is compatible with silicon.

Carbon nanotubes on holey silicon make bright source of single photons

Carbon nanotubes coated onto a holey silicon substrate emit a superabundance of single particles of light.

Scientists develop novel approach to spontaneous emission using atomic matter waves

The research creates an alternative platform for advancing quantum physics applications.

New optics: Nano-hedgehogs of light

Researchers have created a new type of optical system. Their 'nano-hedgehogs of light', also known as optical skyrmions, set the stage for a new platform for information processing, transfer and storage applications.

New two-dimensional material could revolutionize solar fuel generation

International group of researchers obtain new material from iron ore with application as a photocatalyst.

Technique to easily fabricate ceramic films used as OPV inter-layers developed

Researchers develop coating technique to create ceramic ultra-thin films using solution.

Two-faced edge makes nanotubes obey

Theorists find mechanism behind nearly pure nanotubes from the unusual catalyst.

Researchers report unraveling the immune recognition of nucleic acid nanoparticles

Particle-specific immune responses may be 'an alphabet for talking to the immune system'.

Researchers design a nano-carrier to release drugs into damaged cells

Researchers have devised strategies to eliminate senescent cells. Senescence is a cell program that is triggered by many types of damage and senescent cells are present in many diseases.

Scientists use excitons to take electronics into the future

Scientists have developed a transistor based on excitons that is able to function at room temperature. This breakthrough could lead to a new breed of faster, more energy efficient and smaller electronics.

A nanotechnology breath test for early-stage Parkinson's

Researchers have developed a device with an array of 40 sensors based on gold nanoparticles or single-walled carbon nanotubes.

DOE grant to study single nanoparticles and their ability to act as electrocatalysts

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences has awarded researchers $1.1 million to study single nanoparticles and their ability to act as electrocatalysts.

What happens in a solar cell when the lights go out?

Researchers are now able to measure the processes taking place in a perovskite solar cell with great precision.

Vibrations at an exceptional point

Scientists have developed a lasing system already adept at producing tiny light packets called photons into a tunable system that also makes little bits of mechanical energy called phonons - the energy products of oscillation, or vibration.

Scientists unlock the properties of new 2D material

The research succeeded in the first experimental realisation and structural investigation of single-layer vanadium disulphide.

Researchers use nanotechnology to improve the accuracy of measuring devices

Researchers have synthesized multi-layered nanowires in order to study their magnetoresistance properties. Improving this effect will allow scientists to increase the accuracy of indicators of various measuring instruments, such as compasses and radiation monitors.

Made-to-measure silicon building blocks

Researchers describe a new way to produce long-awaited silicon building blocks in a simple and efficient way.

Improving nanotube biosensors for implantable sensing

Scientists have developed new nanotube biosensors using synthetic biology, which improves their sensing capabilities in complex biofluids, such as blood and urine.

Liquid microscopy technique reveals new problem with lithium-oxygen batteries

Using an advanced, new microscopy technique that can visualize chemical reactions occurring in liquid environments, researchers have discovered a new reason lithium-oxygen batteries tend to slow down and die after just a few charge/discharge cycles.

Generation of random numbers by measuring phase fluctuations from a laser diode with a silicon-on-in

Millimeter-scale chip uses less power to create quantum random numbers at high speeds.

Real-time imaging of chemical processes

Scientists observe the real-time formation of hollow structures in the galvanic replacement reaction between silver and gold with nanometre resolution, gaining insights on the mechanisms behind the structural transformations.

Scientists develop new materials that move in response to light

Elastomeric composites can flex, grip, release, or rotate when exposed to lasers, diffuse light or sunlight.

Researchers charge quest to end 'voltage fade'

Scientists designed a regime showing that heat treatments removed the defects in the bulk structure of Lithium-rich NMC materials and restored the battery output voltage.

Scientists introduce new way to mimic 'machine of machines' (w/video)

Researchers have introduced a new approach to assemble specially designed microscopic blocks into small gear-like machines.

Engineers model agraphene-based artificial synapse after the human brain

A team of researchers have developed an 'artificial synapse' that does not process information like a digital computer but rather mimics the analog way the human brain completes tasks.

Cell-sized robots can sense their environment

Made of electronic circuits coupled to minute particles, the devices could flow through intestines or pipelines to detect problems.

Writing the future of rewritable memory

Scientists have perfected a technique to exceed capacity of current hard drives 1000-fold.

A new metamaterial for solar cells and nanooptics

Researchers have developed a metamaterial-dielectric that has unique characteristics and is easy to manufacture. This ease of access will allow researchers to use it to create the latest optical devices.

Nanocrystals emit light by efficiently 'tunneling' electrons

Using advanced fabrication techniques, engineers have built a nanosized device out of silver crystals that can generate light by efficiently 'tunneling' electrons through a tiny barrier.

An overview of healthcare monitoring by flexible electronics

A new review articles discusses the recent advances in flexible and stretchable electronics that are currently used for electronic skins and biological devices in human healthcare.

Physicists design a nano-resonator with strong nonlinear response

An international research team has found a way to make light frequency conversion at the nanoscale a hundred times more efficient.