Quantum material goes where none have gone before

Alloy behaves strangely while traversing potential 'spin liquid' state.

Millions of parabolic nanoantennas for a high-precision sensor

Researchers have developed a multi-purpose sensor based on a specially designed gold film which surface contains millions of parabolic nanoantennas produced by femtosecond laser printing.

Curved nanochannels allow independent tuning of charge and spin currents

Scientists discovered that this new curved geometry makes it possible to independently tune charge and spin currents. \

Silicon technology boost with graphene and 2D materials

Researchers and collaborators report on the current state, challenges, opportunities of graphene and 2D material integration in silicon technology.

Borophene on silver grows freely into an atomic 'skin'

By using a silver substrate and through careful manipulation of temperature and deposition rate, scientists have discovered they can grow elongated hexagon-shaped flakes of borophene.

Towards safer, more effective cancer radiation therapy using X-rays and nanoparticles

X-rays could be tuned to deliver a more effective punch that destroys cancer cells and not harm the body.

Physicists found weak spots in ceramic/graphene composites

Physicists found out the structures in nanomaterials made of ceramic and graphene plates, in which cracks appear most frequently.

Light in a new light

Researchers describe a noteworthy step forward in the quantum manipulation and control of light.

Physicists score double hit in LED research

In two breakthroughs in the realm of photonics, researchers are reporting the successful demonstration of an LED based on half-light half-matter quasiparticles in atomically thin materials. This is also the first successful test of an electrically driven light emitter using atomically thin semiconductors embedded in a light trapping structure (optical cavity).

Novel nanogels hold promise for improved drug delivery to cancer patients

Engineers developed multifunctional nanoscale gels for more precise delivery of therapeutic cancer treatments. The nanogels can deliver drugs, target malignant cells (or biomarkers), degrade into nontoxic components and execute multiple clinical functions.

New lattice designs defy conventional wisdom on metamaterials

Researchers have designed a new class of 3D-printed lattice structures that combine light weight and high stiffness, despite breaking a rule previously thought to be required to exhibit such properties. One of the new structures additionally displays perfectly uniform response to forces in all directions.

Researchers unveil the dynamic nature of single fission

Chemists have unveiled the dynamic nature of single fission, a novel photophysical phenomenon that bears an unprecedented potential to drastically improve the solar cell efficiency.

New design of bioactive peptide nanofibers keeping both temperature reversibility and stiffness control

Researchers have developed a new method of molecular design to control both temperature reversibility and stiffness of nanofibers that are gel-forming peptides. The peptide nanofiber hydrogel can be used as biomedical materials. This method will allow the peptide nanofibers more biomedical applicable.

Use of nanopores could lead to cleaner water

Scientists have reviewed recent Single Digit Nanopore experiments and identified critical gaps in understanding nanoscale hydrodynamics, molecular sieving, fluidic structure and thermodynamics.

A laser, a crystal and molecular structures

Researchers have built a new tool to study molecules using a laser, a crystal and light detectors. This new technology will reveal nature's smallest sculptures -- the structures of molecules -- with increased detail and specificity.

Liquid crystals and chirality explored

In a newly funded research project, scientists are trying to create what amounts to a chiral dipole.

Discovery in gallium nitride a key enabler of energy efficient electronics

Gallium nitride, a semiconductor that revolutionized energy-efficient LED lighting, could also transform electronics and wireless communication, thanks to a recent discovery.

Converting carbon dioxide to valuable resources with the help of nanoparticles

Researchers have adopted the principle from enzymes that produce complex molecules in multi-step reactions. The team transferred this mechanism to metallic nanoparticles.

An artificial skin that can help rehabilitation and enhance virtual reality

Scientists have developed a soft artificial skin that provides haptic feedback and -- thanks to a sophisticated self-sensing mechanism -- has the potential to instantaneously adapt to a wearer's movements. Applications for the new technology range from medical rehabilitation to virtual reality.

Shocking heat waves stabilize single atoms

Single atoms work great as catalysts, but they usually don't stay single for long. Scientists use high-temperature shock waves to keep them in their place.

'Safe-by-Design' - On the road to safe nanomedicine

An international research consortium has developed guidelines that should enable the safe development of nanoparticles for medical use.

Compute at the speed of light

A new way to achieve integrated photonics could have applications in imaging, sensing and quantum information processing, such as on-chip transformation optics, mathematical operations and spectrometers.

Study finds EU regulatory framework ready for the next generation of nanomaterials

A study commissioned by the EU nanomaterials observatory has found that the current EU regulatory framework for characterising and identifying 'next generation' nanomaterials is able to address the majority of them and that no significant changes will be needed in the near future.

Nanotechnology improves chemotherapy delivery

Scientists have invented a new way to monitor chemotherapy concentrations, which is more effective in keeping patients' treatments within the crucial therapeutic window.

Quantum sensing on a chip

Researchers integrate diamond-based sensing components onto a chip to enable low-cost, high-performance quantum hardware.

Machine learning finds new metamaterial designs for energy harvesting

Design would enable thermophotovoltaic devices that convert waste heat to electricity.

Researchers report a new way to produce curvy electronics

New method fills a need in emerging applications for electronic devices.

A stretchable and flexible buckypaper-based biofuel cell that runs on sweat

Researchers have developed a unique new flexible and stretchable device, worn against the skin and capable of producing electrical energy by transforming the compounds present in sweat.

Bottom-up synthesis of crystalline 2D polymers: A dream finally comes true

The 2D polymers consist of only a few single atomic layers and, due to their very special properties, are a promising material for use in electronic components and systems of a new generation.

Engineered protein crystals make cells magnetic

Researchers have engineered genetically encoded protein crystals that can generate magnetic forces many times stronger than those already reported.

Scientists create sensors with traps for free radicals

Scientists have designed extremely sensitive sensors for free oxygen-containing radicals that are able to disrupt cell function. These sensors are an alternative to traditional analytical chemical methods of analysis.

Nanocatalyst makes heavy work of formic acid

Researchers report an inexpensive and scalable route to hydrogen isotope compounds.

Iridium 'loses its identity' when interfaced with nickel

Study could lead to greater manipulation of quantum materials and deeper understanding of the quantum state for novel electronics.

Quantum destabilization of a water sandwich

When a thin layer of water is squeezed between two hydrophobic surfaces, the laws of classical physics break down.

Research could help flexible technology last longer, avoid critical failures

A new study uses the topography of human skin as a model not for preventing cracks but for directing them in the best way possible to avoid critical components and make repairs easy.

How molecular footballs burst in an X-ray laser beam

Study shows effect of X-ray flashes on sensitive biomolecules.

Highly sensitive nanowire diode converts microwaves to electricity

The new technology is expected to play a role in harvesting energy from radio waves in the environment, in which electricity is generated from ambient radio waves, such as those emitted from mobile phone base stations.

Researchers can now place single ions into solids

New technique enables implantation of individual ions into crystals with an accuracy of 35 nanometers.

Seeing sound: Scientists observe how acoustic interactions change materials at the atomic level

Scientists used X-rays to observe spatial changes in a silicon carbide crystal when using sound waves to strain buried defects inside it.

Converting absorbed photons into twice as many excitons: successful high-efficiency energy conversion with organic monolayer on gold nanocluster surface

Scientists have found that when light was exposed to the surface of a tetracene alkanethiol-modified gold nanocluster, which they developed themselves, twice as many excitons could be converted compared to the number of photons absorbed by the tetracene molecules.

Researchers recreate living 3D displays (w/video)

Researchers are developing a smart skin inspired by the cephalopod which can be used in 3D displays, as interfaces for the visually impaired, and to help reduce drag on marine vehicles.

How to design efficient materials for OLED displays

A major problem is that in many organic semiconductors the flow of electricity is hampered by microscopic defects. Scientists have now investigated how organic semiconductors can be designed such that the electric conduction is not influenced by these defects.

Wearable brain-machine interface could control a wheelchair, vehicle or computer

Combining new classes of nanomembrane electrodes with flexible electronics and a deep learning algorithm could help disabled people wirelessly control an electric wheelchair, interact with a computer or operate a small robotic vehicle without donning a bulky hair-electrode cap or contending with wires.

A process for making ductile glass

Numerous applications for special glass may include tougher smart phone screens and transparent structural materials.

Researchers develop new framework for nanoantenna light absorption

Researchers have developed nanoantennas that pack the energy captured from light sources, such as LEDs, into particles with nanometer-scale diameters, making it possible to detect individual biomolecules, catalyze chemical reactions, and generate photons with desirable properties for quantum computing.

Tiny, biocompatible nanolaser could function inside living tissues

Nanolaser has potential to treat neurological disorders or sense disease biomarkers.

'Valley states' in this 2D material could potentially be used for quantum computing

Physicists manipulate energy valleys in tungsten disulfide, with potential applications in quantum computing.

Graphene is actually a 3D material as well as a 2D material

Researchers found that 2D graphene has many of the same mechanical properties as 3D graphite, which is a naturally occurring form of carbon made up from a very weak stack of many layers of graphene.

A new way to turn heat into energy

The discovery could create more efficient energy generation from heat in things like car exhaust, interplanetary space probes and industrial processes.

New sensors could lead to earlier lymphoma diagnosis

Researchers have developed a new method of detecting multiple cytokines - the body's messenger proteins - in very small volume samples, which could lead to earlier diagnosis of diseases such as lymphoma.