Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Researchers developed a cost-effective and efficient electrocatalyst rival for platinum

Platinum has traditionally been used as the electrocatalyst in electrolysers that store electric energy as chemical compounds. However, platinum is a rare and expensive metal. Now, researchers have succeeded in developing a substitute to it that is cheap and effective.

Feb 18th, 2015

A novel approach for high performance field emission electron sources

Scientists have reported an original approach for the development of novel graphenated multiwalled carbon nanotubes with enhanced field electron emission properties.

Feb 18th, 2015

Gold nanotubes for theranostic applications

Researchers have exploited gold nanotubes with controlled length and tunable absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region for applications as photothermal conversion agents and in vivo photoacoustic imaging contrast agents. They developed a length-controlled synthesis to fabricate gold nanotubes with well-defined shape, high crystallinity, and tunable NIR surface plasmon resonance.

Feb 18th, 2015

New paper-like nanomaterial could boost electric vehicle batteries

Researchers create silicon nanofibers 100 times thinner than human hair for potential applications in batteries for electric cars and personal electronics.

Feb 18th, 2015

How to make silver nanowires almost indestructible

Researchers found that silver nanowires can be made almost indestructible and highly bendable by covering the minuscule wire with silicon dioxide. The new material can be used for making next generation optical cables, which until now have been easily fractured if bent. The new material 'memorizes' its original position and regenerates when needed.

Feb 18th, 2015

Discovery of a factor that determines the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide

Researchers have discovered through the in situ observation of the behavior of photoexcited carriers on the surface of a titanium dioxide crystal used as a photocatalyst that the carrier (electron and positive hole) lifetime on the crystal surface is an important factor to determine the catalytic activity.

Feb 18th, 2015

Extremely repellent surfaces

A computational technique reveals how tiny pillars affect the condensation of vapor onto a surface.

Feb 18th, 2015

Three-dimensional opto-electric integration

Depositing different materials on top of bulk silicon wafers enables three-dimensional opto-electric integration.

Feb 18th, 2015

New solder for semiconductors creates technological possibilities

Researchers worked out new chemistry for a broad class of compositions relevant to technologically important semiconductors.

Feb 17th, 2015

Voltage tester for beating cardiac cells

For the first time, scientists have succeeded in recording the current in membrane channels of contracting cardiac cells. To do this, the scientists combined an atomic force microscope with a widely used method for measuring electrical signals in cells.

Feb 17th, 2015

A rapid extension of graphene sheets from readily available hydrocarbons

Precisely controlled synthesis of structurally uniform carbon sheets could advance graphene materials science.

Feb 17th, 2015

Novel crumpling method takes flat graphene from 2-D to 3-D

Researchers have developed a unique single-step process to achieve three-dimensional (3D) texturing of graphene and graphite. Using a commercially available thermally activated shape-memory polymer substrate, this 3D texturing, or 'crumpling', allows for increased surface area and opens the doors to expanded capabilities for electronics and biomaterials.