Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

The Universitat Jaume I leads the research on the use of nanotechnology in the search for alternative energies in Latin America

The Universitat Jaume I will lead the project 'Materiales y dispositivos de nanoescala para conversion y almacenamiento de energia' ("Nanoscale materials and devices for energy conversion and storage"). This three year long project has the main objective of promoting cooperation among countries in Latin America through the development of basic and applied research in various areas of nanotechnology in order to achieve clean energies such as photovoltaics, batteries, LED and a system to get fuel with sunlight.

January 31, 2011 Read more

New graphene transistor has 1000 times higher on/off switching ratio

The new transistor achieves a record high-switching performance which will make our future electronic devices - such as PDAs and computers - even more functional and high-performance.

January 31, 2011 Read more

Jordan and IBM in discussion over establishment of a nanotechnology center

Discussions are underway between the government and IBM to establish a nanotechnology centre for providing innovative solutions in the field of water and energy, according to a senior official.

January 31, 2011 Read more

New 3-D nanoscaffold could revolutionize human tissue engineering

Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Engineering have created a three-dimensional electrospun scaffold on the nano scale that more effectively and efficiently facilitates cell and tissue growth in the laboratory.

January 31, 2011 Read more

Nanotechnology researchers kick off CENA project at imec

King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) signed agreement today with imec, a world-leading nanoelectronics research center headquartered in Belgium, to host researchers from KACST-INTEL consortium Center of Excellence in Nano-manufacturing Applications (CENA) at imec facilities in Belgium starting September 2011 for a period of three years.

January 31, 2011 Read more

A new transistor: Thinner than silicon and better than graphene

Smaller and more energy-efficient electronic chips could be made using molybdenite.

January 30, 2011 Read more

Rice scientist recognized for stellar work on nanoparticles, cell membranes

The Welch Foundation awarded its prestigious Hackerman Award to Rice University scientist Jason Hafner '96, who was named this year's 'rising star' for his innovative chemical research. Hafner's discoveries include a new type of nanostructure called gold nanostars, which are proving useful for sensing, imaging and medicine, and the first method for measuring large electrical fields inside cell membranes.

January 29, 2011 Read more

A dash of disorder yields a very efficient photocatalyst

A little disorder goes a long way, especially when it comes to harnessing the sun's energy. Scientists from the Berkeley Lab jumbled the atomic structure of the surface layer of titanium dioxide nanocrystals, creating a catalyst that is both long lasting and more efficient than all other materials in using the sun's energy to extract hydrogen from water.

January 28, 2011 Read more

Touchscreens made of carbon nanotubes

Touchscreens are in - although the technology still has its price. The little screens contain rare and expensive elements. This is the reason why researchers at Fraunhofer are coming up with an alternative display made of low-priced renewable raw materials available all over the world. The researchers are presenting touchscreens that contain carbon nanotubes at the nano tech 2011 fair in Tokyo.

January 28, 2011 Read more

DNA caught rock 'n rollin'

DNA, that marvelous, twisty molecule of life, has an alter ego, research at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Irvine reveals. On rare occasions, its building blocks 'rock and roll', deforming the familiar double helix into a different shape.

January 28, 2011 Read more

Plankton inspires creation of stealth armour for slow release microscopic drug vehicles

The ability of some forms of plankton and bacteria to build an extra natural layer of nanoparticle-like armour has inspired chemists at the University of Warwick to devise a startlingly simple way to give drug bearing polymer vesicles (microscopic polymer based sacs of liquid) their own armoured protection.

January 28, 2011 Read more

Hydrogen-fuelled aircraft closer to take-off

The University of Glasgow is working with EADS Innovation Works (EADS IW) on developing a revolutionary storage system for hydrogen that would pave the way for using hydrogen as a clean alternative to hydrocarbon-based fuels in aeroplanes.

January 28, 2011 Read more

How safe Is Nano? Nanotoxicology: An interdisciplinary challenge

The rapid development of nanotechnology has increased fears about the health risks of nano-objects. Are these fears justified? Do we need a new discipline, nanotoxicology, to evaluate the risks? Harald F. Krug and Peter Wick of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology discuss these questions in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

January 28, 2011 Read more

Schumer pushes energy secretary Chu to approve creation of a federal high tech consortium at UAlbany CNSE

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer released a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, urging him to approve SEMATECH's application to form a new photovoltaic manufacturing consortium with support from the Department of Energy's Photovoltaic Manufacturing Initiative.

January 28, 2011 Read more

Nanotechnology researchers develop molecular machine in form of record player

A German research group has succeeded for the first time in directly controlling the magnetic state of a single molecule at room temperature.

January 28, 2011 Read more

Development of a 0.5 nm ultra-thin high-permittivity gate insulating film

Researchers in Japan have developed a new technology for the production of 0.5 nm ultra-thin high-permittivity gate insulating films.

January 28, 2011 Read more