Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Higher-order topology found in 2D crystal

The research team took a new approach by using the Josephson junctions to spatially resolve the supercurrent flow and to show that WTe2 does indeed appear to have hinge states and be a higher-order topological insulator.

Jul 15th, 2020

The smallest micro-gripper, grown on optical fibers, is operated remotely with light

The 200-micrometer gripers are controlled remotely, without electric wiring or pneumatic tubing, with green light delivered through the fibers - absorbed light energy is directly converted into the gripper jaws' action.

Jul 15th, 2020

Using magnetic worms to engineer nanoscale communication systems

Researchers have shown that electromagnetic waves coupled to precisely engineered structures known as artificial ferromagnetic quasicrystals allow for more efficient information transmission and processing at the nanoscale. Their research also represents the first practical demonstration of Conway worms, a theoretical concept for the description of quasicrystals.

Jul 15th, 2020

Scientists identify new 2D material with potential for brain-like computing

The work demonstrates the effectiveness of a design strategy that functionalizes a 2D material with an organic molecule.

Jul 15th, 2020

The force necessary to kill a single bacterium

Scientists quantify the forces that cause critical damage on a single bacterium E.coli under physiological conditions using two combined techniques: AFM nanoindentation and fluorescence imaging.

Jul 15th, 2020

A nanomaterial path forward for COVID-19 vaccine development

Nanoengineers detail the current approaches to COVID-19 vaccine development, and highlight how nanotechnology has enabled these advances.

Jul 15th, 2020

Nanocomposites with rich oxygen vacancies promote sensitive electroanalysis of heavy metal ions

Researchers developed ruthenium-loaded cerium dioxide nanocubes with rich oxygen vacancies to construct electrochemical sensing interface, which was used to detect Hg(II).

Jul 15th, 2020

Unusual state of matter holds promise for transformative quantum technologies

New research provides evidence of a highly unusual quantum state, a quantum spin liquid for potential use in the development of spintronic devices, quantum computers and other transformative quantum technologies.

Jul 15th, 2020

Turning hair into water sensors

Researchers synthesised carbon dots from human hair waste which can detect trace amounts of chloroform in water, a major by-product of water disinfection.

Jul 15th, 2020

International collaboration unlocks van der Waals heterostructure

Researchers designed and fabricated a heterostructure comprising two layered transition metal dichalcogenides. Such a heterojunction enables multifunctional operation - as a highly-responsive, high-speed photodetector as well as a photovoltaic device with large open-circuit voltage.

Jul 15th, 2020

Scientists construct 'DNA droplets' comprising designed DNA nanostructures

The droplets exhibit dynamic functions such as fusion, fission, Janus-shape formation, and protein capture. Their technique is expected to be applicable to a wide variety of biomaterials, opening doors to many promising applications in materials design, drug delivery, and even artificial cell-like molecular systems.