A fast, non-destructive test for two-dimensional materials

Researchers have developed a fast, nondestructive optical method for analyzing defects in two-dimensional materials.

New organic lasers one step closer to reality

New research could make lasers emitting a wide range of colors more accessible and open new applications from communications and sensing to displays.

Tiny joints for reconfigurable microstructure

Physicists exploit self-assembly of small particles to someday create functional structures such as micro-robots from the bottom up. Now they took an important step forward by experimentally realizing joints on the micrometer scale.

Dawn of organic single crystal electronics

Hall effect in doped organic single crystals.

Atomically thin layers of water hold promise for the energy storage of the future

Researchers have found that a material which incorporates atomically thin layers of water is able to store and deliver energy much more quickly than the same material that doesn't include the water layers.

Scientists set record resolution for drawing at the one-nanometer length scale

An electron microscope-based lithography system for patterning materials at sizes as small as a single nanometer could be used to create and study materials with new properties.

A material inspired by a sea worm changes according to the environment

A hydrogel made from a synthesized protein, similar to the one that makes up the jaw of a sea worm and which gives it structural stability and impressive mechanical performance.

Interfering with graphene

Characteristic patterns formed by carbon sheets on metal foil can reveal sources of strain.

For first time, researchers measure forces that align crystals and help them snap together

Understanding crystal growth is important for designing new materials.

Unexpected damage found rippling through promising exotic nanomaterials

Novel technique reveals unprecedented detail in the 3D structure and composition of powerful, custom-made high-temperature superconductors.

Looking for the quantum frontier

Beyond classical computing without fault-tolerance?

Light has new capacity for electronics

Photodielectric discovery brings new optical control to electronics.

Metal nanoparticles induced visible-light photocatalysis

A review paper on metal nanoparticles induced photocatalysis.

Understanding crystal growth in butterfly wings

Tiny, individual crystals on the underside of a Mexican butterfly?s wings give the insect a distinctive green color that allows it to hide from predators. Researchers now have shown for the first time how these crystals might grow.

Scientists explain the way Weyl particles 'dance' on crystal surface

Researchers have examined the behavior of Weyl particles trapped on the surface of Weyl semimetals.

Control of molecular motion by metal-plated 3-D printed plastic pieces

New 3-D-printing and electroplating method produces high-quality metal electrodes for molecular beam-splitters.

Study offers new theoretical approach to describing non-equilibrium phase transitions

Physicists have offered a way to mathematically describe a particular physics phenomenon called a phase transition in a system out of equilibrium. Such phenomena are central in physics, and understanding how they occur has been a long-held and vexing goal; their behavior and related effects are key to unlocking possibilities for new electronics and other next-generation technologies.

Stabilizing molecule could pave way for lithium-air fuel cell

Lithium-oxygen fuel cells boast energy density levels comparable to fossil fuels and are thus seen as a promising candidate for future transportation-related energy needs. Several roadblocks stand in the way of realizing that vision. An engineering lab has focused on one of those roadblocks - the loss of battery power, also known as capacity fade.

Video captures bubble-blowing nanobattery in action (w/video)

Researchers propose how bubbles form, could lead to smaller lithium-air batteries.

Physicists design 2-D materials that conduct electricity at almost the speed of light

Physicists have fabricated new two-dimensional quantum materials with breakthrough electrical and magnetic attributes that could make them building blocks of future quantum computers and other advanced electronics.

Diamond quantum sensor reveals current flows in graphene

For the first time, scientists have imaged how electrons move in two-dimensional graphene, a boost to the development of next-generation electronics.

Scientists discover new atomically layered, thin magnet

Study reveals unprecedented control of ferromagnetic behavior in 2-D material.

Longer-lasting pain relief with metal-organic frameworks

Scientists are working on a way to package the commonly used drug so it can last longer.

Super-resolution spectral imaging to monitor dynamic processes in real time

Research team develops approach to increase resolution of multichannel spectrometers.

Nanoparticles can travel from lungs to blood, possibly explaining risks to heart

Scientists have found evidence in human and animal studies that inhaled nanoparticles can travel from the lungs into the bloodstream, potentially explaining the link between air pollution and cardiovascular disease.

Hybrid heterostructures with programmable potentials

Researchers have added a new option for tailoring the electronic properties, using molecular monolayers to create controllable periodic potentials on the surface of graphene.

Nanodiamond-enhanced MRI offers greater range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Scientists have devised a means of tracking nanodiamonds noninvasively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), opening up a host of new applications.

Nanotechnology designed to speed up the hardening of concrete

Researchers propose an ultrarapid synthesis of nano-tobermorite, a nanoparticle used to speed up the hardening of concrete and regarded as a high-added value addition.

A more than 100% quantum step toward producing hydrogen fuel

Researchers have created a quantum dot photoelectrochemical cell that catalytically achieved quantum efficiency for hydrogen gas production exceeding 100% - in the case of their experiments an efficiency approaching 114%.

Scientist invents way to trigger artificial photosynthesis to clean air

A chemistry professor has just found a way to trigger the process of photosynthesis in a synthetic material, turning greenhouse gases into clean air and producing energy all at the same time.

Stabilizing molecule could pave way for lithium-air fuel cell

A novel approach for creating a functional designer interphase is based on bromide-containing ionic polymers (ionomers) that selectively tether to the lithium anode to form a few-nanometers-thick conductive coating that protects the electrode from degradation and fade.

Nano-notch sends self-assembling polymers into a spiral

Template modification could speed up the fabrication of sensing substrates and other novel structures.

Revolutionary method reveals impact of short circuits on battery safety

How lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries behave under short-circuit conditions can now be examined using a new approach to help improve reliability and safety.

Researchers change the color of assembled nanoparticles with an electrical stimulant

The team used core/shell nanoparticles to improve color contrast and expand color schemes by using a combination of pigmentary color (from inherent properties) and structural color (from particle assemblies).

A nano form of iron for fortification of foods

Whey protein nanofibrils loaded with iron nanoparticles: Researchers are developing a new and highly effective way of fortifying iron into food and drinks.

Model for multivalley polaritons

Scientists model the formation of multivalleys in semiconductor microcavities, bringing new ideas to the emerging valleytronics field.

Using light to propel water

With new method, engineers can control and separate fluids on a surface using only visible light.

Efficient Earth-abundant heterogeneous electrocatalysts for photoelectrochemical water splitting

A new review article summarizes the recent progress in the design, synthesis, and catalytic performance evaluation of earth-abundant heterogeneous electrocatalysts for the application of PEC water splitting.

Researchers develop eco-friendly, 4-in-1 nanocatalyst

Researchers have developed a new composite catalyst that can perform four separate chemical reactions in sequential order and in one container to produce compounds useful in making a wide range of pharmaceutical products.

Nanosponges lessen severity of Streptococcal infections

In a new study, researchers show that engineered nanosponges that are encapsulated in the membranes of red blood cells can reduce the severity of infections caused by group A Streptococcus, the bacteria responsible for strep throat and life-threatening infections.

First-ever direct observation of chiral currents in quantum Hall atomic simulation

Using an atomic quantum simulator, scientists have achieved the first-ever direct observation of chiral currents in the model topological insulator, the 2-D integer quantum Hall system.

A new system of building structures based on nanostrutured concrete

Scientists created several types of building blocks based on nanostructured high-strength lightweight concrete, reinforced with skew-angular composite coarse grids. The development has unique characteristics, enabling the increase of load-carrying capability by more than 200% and decrease in specific density of the construction by 80%.

Nanoparticle vaccine shows potential as immunotherapy to fight multiple cancer types

Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind nanoparticle vaccine immunotherapy that targets several different cancer types.

From abundant hydrocarbons to rare spin liquids

Scientists have discovered how to take hydrocarbon molecular components, dress them with electrons, each of which carries a small compass - an unpaired spin - and pack them together like cookies in a box to create a quantum spin liquid - a long-sought hypothetical state of matter.

Growth under pressure: New metamaterial designed with counterintuitive property

A newly designed metamaterial that expands with increasing hydrostatic pressure may advance what 3-D printers are capable of producing beyond what occurs in nature.

Chip-based nanoscopy: Microscopy in HD quality

Physicists have developed a photonic chip that makes it possible to carry out super-resolution light microscopy, also called nanoscopy, with conventional microscopes. In nanoscopy, the position of single fluorescent molecules can be determined with a precision of just a few nanometers.

Bright future for self-charging batteries

New light-based technology could one day make battery chargers obsolete.

Solar cell design with over 50 percent energy-conversion efficiency

A new solar cell design could raise the energy conversion efficiency to over 50% by absorbing the spectral components of longer wavelengths that are usually lost during transmission through the cell.

New self-sustained multi-sensor platform for environmental monitoring

Researchers have engineered a self-sustaining sensor platform to continuously monitor the surrounding environment without having an external power source.

New breakthrough in battery charging technology

A team of researchers has developed a single-unit, photo-rechargeable portable power source based on high-efficiency silicon solar cells and lithium-ion batteries.