Freshwater from salt water using only solar energy and nanotechnology

Modular, off-grid desalination technology could supply families, towns.

Possible enhanced pesticide absorption from fresh food via nanoemulsions

New project to study the possibility that eating food nanoemulsions found in dressings, dips or sauces might increase the amount of pesticides absorbed from co-ingested fruits and vegetables, thus increasing risk of adverse health effects.

Sound waves direct particles to self-assemble, self-heal

New framework supports research into lifelike behavior of inanimate objects.

Sugar-coated nanomaterial excels at promoting bone growth

Method offers pathway for improving patient outcomes after spinal fusion surgery.

Alloying materials of different structures offers new tool for controlling properties

New research into the largely unstudied area of heterostructural alloys could lead to greater materials control and in turn better semiconductors, advances in nanotechnology for pharmaceuticals and improved metallic glasses for industrial applications.

To connect biology with electronics, be rigid, yet flexible

Researchers uncover design principles to make polymers that can transport both ions and electrons.

Fabric, the next software

New center for development of high-tech fibers and fabrics opens its headquarters, unveils two products ready for commercialization.

Toward optical quantum computing

Prototype device enables photon-photon interactions at room temperature.

Inspired by bones and bamboo, researchers create tougher metal materials

Drawing inspiration from the structure of bones and bamboo, researchers have found that by gradually changing the internal structure of metals they can make stronger, tougher materials that can be customized for a wide variety of applications - from body armor to automobile parts.

Precision control of the timing, structure and functions in molecular self-assembly

Researchers have developed a new methodology that can easily and precisely control the timing of and the structure as well as functions obtained in self-assembly of conjugated molecules, which is a key technology in the field of organic electronics materials.

Theoretical model predicts how carbon components will perform as electrodes

The model is based on intrinsic electronic characteristics of materials used as battery anodes. These include the material's quantum capacitance (the ability of the material to absorb charge) and the material's absolute Fermi level, which determines how many lithium ions may bond to the electrodes.

Centre for Green Nanotechnology launched in South Africa

The establishment of the University of the Western Cape's Centre for Green Nanotechnology was made a reality through a positive partnership between the University of Missouri (UM) and UWC that has spanned approximately 30 years.

New study calls into question the existence of silicene

A recent study at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has called into question the existence of silicene, thought to be one of the world's newest and hottest two-dimensional nanomaterials.

Understanding the source of extra-large capacities in promising Li-ion battery electrodes

Researchers recently studied a class of Li-ion battery electrodes that have capacities much greater than those of the materials used in today's batteries. The researchers wanted to determine why these materials can often store more charge than theory predicts.

Pentagonal nanorods show catalytic promise

A novel route to pentagon-shaped gold-copper nanorods could advance the field of heterogeneous catalysis.

To bolster lithium battery life, add a little salt

Cornell chemical engineers have achieved a breakthrough in the race to achieve safer, longer-lasting batteries to power the world's automobiles, cell phones, computers and autonomous robots.

Molecular engineers record an electron's quantum mechanical behavior

Researchers have developed a technique to record the quantum mechanical behavior of an individual electron contained within a nanoscale defect in diamond. Their technique uses ultrafast pulses of laser light, both to control the defect's entire quantum state and observe how that single electron state changes over time.

Doped graphene nanoribbons with potential

Researchers developed a new method to selectively dope graphene molecules with nitrogen atoms. By seamlessly stringing together doped and undoped graphene pieces, they were able to form heterojunctions in the nanoribbons, thereby fulfilling a basic requirement for electronic current to flow in only one direction when voltage is applied - the first step towards a graphene transistor.

Novel method for con­trol­lably con­structing pre­cise inter-nanotube junc­tions

The method is facile and easily scal­able, which will allow tailoring the phys­ical prop­er­ties of nan­otube net­works for use in appli­ca­tions ranging from elec­tronic devices to CNT-reinforced com­posite mate­rials found in every­thing from cars to sports equipment.

E2SWITCH aimsto develop new nanoelectronics with ultra-low energy consumption

The European project E2SWITCH is aiming to develop new electronic systems with ultra-low energy consumption. The nine partners, universities, research institutes and companies, are committed to making these 'circuits of tomorrow' more energy efficient.

Restoring order - A spin Hall effect without all the fuss

Scientists have developed a model for what happens when ultracold atomic spins are trapped in an optical lattice structure with a 'double-valley' feature, where the repeating unit resembles the letter W. This new theory result opens up a novel path for generating what's known as the spin Hall effect, an important example of spin-transport.

Novel nanoparticles that can simultaneously perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescent imaging

MIT chemists have developed new nanoparticles that can simultaneously perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescent imaging in living animals. Such particles could help scientists to track specific molecules produced in the body, monitor a tumor's environment, or determine whether drugs have successfully reached their targets.

Controlling a material with voltage

Technique could let a small electrical signal change materials' electrical, thermal, and optical characteristics.

Moving toward a cheaper, better catalyst for hydrogen production

Researchers have long viewed molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) as a promising, much cheaper alternative to platinum. The drawback is that MoS2's catalytic performance is far worse than platinum's. To get around that problem, researchers have been trying to find ways to improve MoS2's catalytic performance. And now they may be on to something.

Graphene-boron nitride heterostructures propagate light at the nanoscale

A new study exploits near-field microscopy to image propagating plasmons in high-quality graphene encapsulated between two films of hexagonal boron nitride. It finds unprecedentedly low plasmon damping combined with strong field confinement and confirms the high uniformity of this plasmonic medium.

Generating Moebius strips of light

Researchers have experimentally produced Möbius strips from the polarization of light, confirming a theoretical prediction that it is possible for light's electromagnetic field to assume this peculiar shape.

Double vision: New technique can see nanoscale 'tree' and microscale 'forest' simultaneously

A close-up view of an individual tree won't tell you much about what's going on in the forest, or even what's going on in the tree's upper branches. The same goes for studying nanoparticles.

Theoretical physicists show topological states in multi-orbital HgTe honeycomb lattices

Scientists propose a design for robust topological insulators that combine the properties of the honeycomb lattice and strong spin-orbit coupling.

Dunkin' Donuts ditches nano titanium dioxide - but is it actually harmful?

In response to pressure from the advocacy group As You Sow, Dunkin' Brands has announced that it will be removing allegedly 'nano' titanium dioxide from Dunkin' Donuts' powdered sugar donuts.

API and NINT to keynote 2015 Nanotechnology for Renewable Nanomaterials conference

TAPPI announced that Dr. Theodora Retsina, CEO of American Process, Inc. (API) and Dr. Maria Delorio, Executive Director of the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and Professor of Physics and Assistant Vice President of Research at the University of Alberta, will be keynote speakers at the 2015 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Nanomaterials, in Atlanta, Georgia, June 22-25.

Detecting effects of 3D shapes in nanoscale chip features

Researchers have determined that, at the ultra-small scale of the latest chip features, SEM measurements are strongly affected by variations in the gate's three-dimensional shape that can occur in the course of fabrication, including the line width and center position, the angle formed by a raised feature's sidewalls, the curvature radius of the top edge area, and the effect of adjacent structures.

Implantable neuronal electrode nanocoating good as gold

Researchers have found that covering an implantable neural electrode with nanoporous gold could eliminate the risk of scar tissue forming over the electrode's surface.

Nano memory cell can mimic the brain's long-term memory

Researchers have built the one of the world's first electronic multi-state memory cell which mirrors the brain's ability to simultaneously process and store multiple strands of information.

Nanoengineers win grant to make smart clothes for personalized cooling and heating

Imagine a fabric that will keep your body at a comfortable temperature - regardless of how hot or cold it actually is. Wearing this smart fabric could potentially reduce heating and air conditioning bills for buildings and homes.

Chain mail nano-coat made from synthetic DNA

DNA bundles transform into stable chain-armor-like nanostructures by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne click chemistry.

EU project applies nanotechnology to food packaging

The SVARNISH project will develop a varnish with antimicrobial, oxygen and water vapour barrier properties and improved physic - mechanical properties to be used in the food industry.

U.S. government calls for nanotechnology-inspired Grand Challenges

Today, the Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking suggestions for Nanotechnology-Inspired Grand Challenges for the Next Decade. A Grand Challenge is an ambitious but achievable goal that requires advances in science and technology to achieve, and that has the potential to capture the public's imagination.

California court revokes US EPA approval of nanosilver product

A federal appeals court in California has revoked the Environmental Protection Agency's conditional approval of a nanosilver product used in a wide range of consumer products.