Nanosized silicon heater and thermometer combined to fight cancer

Physicists have found out that spherical silicon nanoparticles can be effectively heated up, and simultaneously emit light depending on their temperature.

Low cost, scalable water splitting fuels the future hydrogen economy

Scientists have developed a lower cost and industrially scalable catalyst to produce pure hydrogen through a low-energy water-splitting process.

Photonic 'hypercrystals' shed stronger light

Sources that integrate two artificial optical material concepts may drive ultrafast 'Li-Fi' communications.

Nanoparticle drug-delivery method holds promise for controlling crop parasites

Researchers are applying drug-delivery technology to agriculture to control parasitic roundworms more effectively and safely.

Microwave spectroscopy of a carbon nanotube charge qubit

Carbon nanotubes allow accurate control of electron charge, spin and valley degrees of freedom, are atomically perfect and can be made isotopically pure.

Looking at complex light wave forms

Using a new method, researchers can see for the first time how weak electric fields evolve in time.

New type of nanocomposite for stem cell therapy

Researchers have developed versatile magnetic nanoclusters capable of simultaneous gene delivery, direction of cell migration, and cell tracking for stem cell research.

When gold turns invisible

A gold compound shifts from a visible fluorescence to emitting infrared when ground - a big shift with potential applications in bioimaging and security inks.

Physicists discover why drying liquid crystal drops leave unusual 'coffee rings'

Scientists have uncovered the complex and remarkably different behavior arising in a liquid crystal drop that is drying.

Research grant to study multifunctional nanoporous ceramics

Office of Naval Research awards grant to study fundamental toughening mechanisms of novel ceramic composites and their use as alternative materials.

Graphene chills out

Flat sheets of carbon, and other two-dimensional materials, lose heat more easily when encased.

New plasmonic sensor improves early cancer detection

A new plasmonic sensor will serve as a reliable early detection of biomarkers for many forms of cancer and eventually other diseases.

Copper embedded in carbon nano-spikes can turn carbon dioxide into ethanol

Scientists found that tiny spikes of carbon combined with copper particles convert carbon dioxide into ethanol fuel. The catalysts take a waste product of coal used in power plants and other hydrocarbon combustion reactions, in the presence of electrical energy, and create liquid fuel.

Reusable sponge for mitigating oil spills

A new foam called the Oleo Sponge was invented that not only easily adsorbs oil from water but is also reusable and can pull dispersed oil from an entire water column, not just the surface.

A low-tech, solution-based route to high-performance carbon nanotube thin films

This novel method produces a film with millions of carbon nanotubes aligned and tightly packed, like water pipes on a flatbed truck. The tubes are orders of magnitude better aligned than previously possible.

Nearly ideal performing regions in perovskite films could boost solar cells

Nanoscale images yield surprise that could push solar cell efficiency to 31 percent.

Seeing below the surface of solar cells

Method could help scientists learn new ways to boost photovoltaic efficiency.

Scientists see electron bottleneck in simulated battery

Scientists have discovered how interactions between electrons and ions slow the performance of electrodes made with vanadium pentoxide.

Changing the nature of optics in one step

A new one-step method directs the self-assembly of metallic gold pillars into a special oxide using pulsed laser deposition.

Scientists detect light-matter interaction in single layer of atoms

Discovery could lead to advances in 2-D materials, controlling light.

The synchronized dance of skyrmion spins

Researchers used computer simulations to further probe the behaviors of skyrmions, gaining insight that can help scientists and engineers better study the quasi-particles in experiments.

Tricking molecules into creating new nano-shapes

Scientists have devised materials that can create complex three-dimensional structures. They did it by exploiting how molecules self-assemble, spontaneously packing into nano-sized shapes.

Magnetoelectric memory cell increases energy efficiency for data storage

Researchers developed a magnetoelectric random access memory cell based on the stress-mediated magnetoelectric effect that promises extremely low bit-reading and low bit-writing energies.

Researchers measure the coherence length in glasses using a supercomputer

The use of the JANUS supercomputer has enabled researchers to reproduce the experimental protocol of equilibrium dynamics in spin glasses.

Nanosubmarine with self-destroying activity

Self-destroyed redox-sensitive stomatocyte nanomotor delivers and releases drugs for cells.

A network of crystals for long-distance quantum communication

In order to extend the reach of quantum communications, researchers have demonstrated a novel protocol based on a crystal than can emit quantum light as well as store it for arbitrary long times.

Quantum states reveal themselves with measurable 'fingerprint'

Discovery by international team offers route to certify devices for quantum computing and quantum cryptography.

Model for 2-D materials based RRAM found

Researchers develop a resistive random access memory device using only 2-D materials (graphene electrodes and hexagonal boron nitride insulators), and develop a complete theoretical model to describe its functioning.

Nanoscale computer model helps discover mechanisms that controls bone formation

An international, multidisciplinary research team has discovered a mechanism that controls the formation and function of plate-like nanocrystals that play a critical role in bone composition.

Frequency modulation accelerates the research of quantum technologies

In quantum devices, frequency modulation is utilized in controlling interactions.

Nanofiltration of waste water from molecules as small as 200 Daltons

Researchers were able to significantly reduce the separation limits of nanofiltration membranes and to reliably filter off dissolved organic molecules with a molar mass of only 200 Dalton.

3D printer nanoinks from the woods (w/video)

Researchers have succeeded in developing an environmentally friendly ink for 3D printing based on cellulose nanocrystals. This technology can be used to fabricate microstructures with outstanding mechanical properties, which have promising potential uses in implants and other biomedical applications.

New method of characterizing graphene

Scientists have developed a new method of characterizing graphene?s properties without applying disruptive electrical contacts, allowing them to investigate both the resistance and quantum capacitance of graphene and other two-dimensional materials.

New microchip speeds up DNA separation from hours to minutes

Researchers have developed a glass microchip for ultrafast separation and purification of DNA fragments. The chip, moreover, is easy to produce and cheap.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites could be a game changer for future spintronic devices

Scientists have discovered that perovskites possess two contradictory properties necessary to make spintronic devices work - the electrons' spin can be easily controlled, and can also maintain the spin direction long enough to transport information, a property known as spin lifetime.

Nanoengineers squeeze every drop of fresh water from waste brine

The research involves the development of a carbon nanotube-based heating element that will vastly improve the recovery of fresh water during membrane distillation processes.

Graphene and quantum dots put in motion a CMOS-integrated camera that can see the invisible

Researchers have shown for the first time the monolithic integration of a CMOS integrated circuit with graphene, resulting in a high-resolution image sensor consisting of hundreds of thousands of photodetectors based on graphene and quantum dots.

Researchers work to expand access to health care using nanotechnology

Researchers are using commercially available nanotechnology to develop a low-cost, handheld diagnostic device that can monitor HIV.

New method improves stability of perovskite quantum dots

Scientists have built a new type of inorganic nanocomposite that makes perovskite quantum dot exceptionally stable against air exposure, sunlight, heat, and water.

Nanoparticles provide protection against toxic oxygen radicals in cigarette smoke

Chemists have developed a technique that reduces the toxic effects of commercially available cigarettes.

Atomic nanostructures of ancient crystal fragments help understanding of meteorite crashes

Scientists are using new imaging techniques to measure the atomic nanostructure of ancient crystal fragments at meteorite impact sites. The end goal? To understand when impacts ended and life began.

Novel method to study quantum fluctuations in exotic phases of matter

An international research team has discovered a clear link between quantum fluctuations and the effective charge of current-carrying particles. This discovery will help researchers uncover how quantum fluctuations govern systems in which many particles interact.

Pioneering new methods for designing magnetism

Controlling magnetization by band engineering and quantum confinement.

Conch shells spill the secret to their toughness

Three-tiered structure of these impact-resistant shells could inspire better helmets, body armor.

A nanomedicine approach against multidrug-resistant bacteria

A new study illustrates a strategy for curing full-thickness wounds infected by multidrug-resistant multidrug-resistant bacteria via an electrospun scaffold containing pharmaceutical intermediate-capped gold nanoparticles.

New nano photocatalyst speeds up the conversion of carbon dioxide into chemical resources

Researchers have developed a new titania photocatalyst that converts carbon dioxide into methane three times more efficiently than the existing photocatalyst by manipulating its surface.

Gecko-inspired multipurpose gripper

An elastic membrane covered with tiny fibres paired with a pressure differential enables a new soft gripper system with a high adhesion performance even on curved surfaces.

Project develops a new radical approach to probe complex quantum systems for quantum simulations

By using quantum physics in computers, scientists could also in the future simulate chemical reactions, in order to facilitate drug design and improve machine learning.

Nanopore technology makes leap from DNA sequencing to identifying proteins

Scientists report on a study that could open up the field for nanopore-based protein identification - and eventually proteomic profiling of large numbers of proteins in complex mixtures of different types of molecules.

Study takes step toward mass-producible quantum computers

Process for positioning quantum bits in diamond optical circuits could work at large scales.