New nanodevice defeats drug resistance

Chemotherapy often shrinks tumors at first, but as cancer cells become resistant to drug treatment, tumors can grow back. A new nanodevice can help overcome that by first blocking the gene that confers drug resistance, then launching a new chemotherapy attack against the disarmed tumors.

Graphene and glass coating improves battery performance

To improve lithium-sulfur batteries, researchers added glass cage-like coating and graphene oxide.

Researchers use lab-scale human colon to study impact of copper nanoparticles on the environment

What do a human colon, septic tank, copper nanoparticles and zebrafish have in common? They were the key components used by researchers to study the impact copper nanoparticles, which are found in everything from paint to cosmetics, have on organisms inadvertently exposed to them.

Pens filled with high-tech inks for do-it-yourself sensors

A new simple tool developed by nanoengineers, is opening the door to an era when anyone will be able to build sensors, anywhere, including physicians in the clinic, patients in their home and soldiers in the field.

Forbidden quantum leaps possible with high-res spectroscopy

A new twist on an old tool lets scientists use light to study and control matter with 1,000 times better resolution and precision than previously possible.

Scientists observe the current flow along nanochannels at the crystal surfaces of topological insulators

Scientists report that they could observe experimentally the current flow along channels at the crystal surfaces of topological insulators. The channels are less than one nanometer wide and extend along atomic steps of the crystal lattice. The scientists demonstrated also how these steps can be introduced in any arrangement.

Breakthrough in OLED technology

A new study shows that OLEDs made with finely patterned structures can produce bright, low-power light sources, a key step toward making organic lasers.

Ultrathin layers of black phosphorus improve optical communication

In a new study, researchers used an ultrathin black phosphorus film - only 20 layers of atoms - to demonstrate high-speed data communication on nanoscale optical circuits.

New analysis shows ion slowdown in fuel cell material

Dislocations in oxides seen as promising electrolytes create a 'traffic jam' for charged ions.

Researchers turn unzipped nanotubes into possible alternative for platinum

Aerogels made of graphene nanoribbons and modified with boron and nitrogen are more efficient catalysts for fuel cells and air-metal batteries than expensive platinum is.

The first ever photograph of light as a particle and a wave

Light behaves both as a particle and as a wave. Since the days of Einstein, scientists have been trying to directly observe both of these aspects of light at the same time. Now, scientists have succeeded in capturing the first-ever snapshot of this dual behavior.

Smart crystallization

The first semi-liquid, non-protein nucleating agent for automated protein crystallization trials is described. This 'smart material' is demonstrated to induce crystal growth and will provide a simple, cost-effective tool for scientists in academia and industry.

An ice-assisted transfer technique for carbon nanotube arrays

Following the icing phenomenon in daily life, researchers developed an ice-assisted transfer technique to transfer carbon nanotube arrays onto a variety of target substrates by using ice as a binder.

Plasmonic nanostructures could lead to big benefits for everything from TVs to microscopes

Researchers are investigating the manipulation of light in plasmonic nanostructures using the dephasing and population dynamics of electron-hole-pairs in metal coated, core-shell semiconductor nanowires. The technique would minimize energy loss and heat production.

A blend of polymers could make solar power lighter, cheaper and more efficient.

A University of Cincinnati research partnership is reporting advances on how to one day make solar cells stronger, lighter, more flexible and less expensive when compared with the current silicon or germanium technology on the market.

Silver nanoparticles adorn graphene to utilise light efficiently

Researchers designed a novel device based on graphene and metal nanoparticles that shows greatly enhanced response to light and is colour sensitive. This may foster applications like colour based ultra-sensitive photodetectors, efficient solar cells and detection of single molecules.