Pioneering nanotechnology captures energy from people (w/video)

On the path toward wearable devices powered by human motion.

Electron highway inside crystal

Physicists have made an astonishing discovery in a specific type of topological insulators. The effect is due to the structure of the materials used.

A nano-roundabout for light

Just like in normal road traffic, crossings are indispensable in optical signal processing. In order to avoid collisions, a clear traffic rule is required. A new method has now been developed by researchers to provide such a rule for light signals.

Researchers use graphene to make state of the art sensors from silly putty

Researchers have used graphene to make the novelty children?s material silly putty (polysilicone) conduct electricity, creating extremely sensitive sensors. This research potentially offers exciting possibilities for applications in new, inexpensive devices and diagnostics in medicine and other sectors.

Researchers peer into atom-sized tunnels in hunt for better battery

Battery researchers seeking improved electrode materials have focused on 'tunneled' structures that make it easier for charge-carrying ions to move in and out of the electrode. Now a team has used a special electron microscope with atomic-level resolution to show that certain large ions can hold the tunnels open so that the charge-carrying ions can enter and exit the electrode easily and quickly.

Chemical trickery corrals 'hyperactive' metal-oxide cluster

After decades of eluding researchers because of chemical instability, key metal-oxide clusters have been isolated in water, a significant advance for growing the clusters with the impeccable control over atoms that's required to manufacture small features in electronic circuits.

Nanotechnology for environmentally sustainable electromobility

A closer look at the life-cycle impacts of lithium-ion batteries and proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

High performance graphene photodetectors set speed record

Graphene is an ideal material for optical communications systems. A new, waveguide-integrated photodetector sets a record high bandwidth for ultrafast, high data rate graphene devices.

Europeans to get more information on nanomaterials

Better access to relevant and understandable information about nanomaterials - that is the main goal of an agreement signed between ECHA and the Commission on the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials.

A thermoelectric material in paintable liquid form

Researchers have demonstrated a new type of high-performance thermoelectric materials that possess liquid-like properties. These newly developed materials are both shape-engineerable and geometrically compatible in that they can be directly brush-painted on almost any surface.

Researchers create hidden images with commercial inkjet printers

Images printed with silver and carbon reveal their secrets only with the right type of illumination; for use in security-related applications.

Ground-breaking project to replicate brain's neural networks though 3D nanoprinting

Major 3.3m euro stem cell research project to develop 3D nanoprinting techniques that could replicate brain's neural networks.

Graphene calligraphy

Graphene used as a 'paper' on which to 'write' chemical patterns thousand times narrower than human hair. This research opens up miniaturisation of chemical and biological sensors.

Dipole orientation: New dimension in super-resolution microscopy

Researchers have proposed a new polarization-dipole azimuth-based super-resolution technique. It not only provides a new dimension for super-resolution, but also provides a timely solution to a recent hot debate in the field.

Scientists track chemical and structural evolution of catalytic nanoparticles in 3-D

Up-close, real-time, chemical-sensitive 3-D imaging offers clues for reducing cost/improving performance of catalysts for fuel-cell-powered vehicles and other applications.