Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

World-first miniaturized fiber-optical monitoring system embedded in composite material

This achievement paves the way toward smart composites that enable continued and automatic monitoring of the structural health of the composite material in for example tidal blades, wind turbines, airplanes or marine structures.

Posted: Jun 30th, 2014

Nanocircuits exhibit a counterintuitive phenomenon: the coexistence of superconductivity with dissipation

For his doctoral dissertation in the Goldman Superconductivity Research Group at the University of Minnesota, Yu Chen, now a postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Barbara, developed a novel way to fabricate superconducting nanocircuitry. However, the extremely small zinc nanowires he designed did some unexpected - and sort of funky - things.

Posted: Jun 30th, 2014

Waterproofing functional material with nanoscale cage-like structures

Researchers have developed a novel way to waterproof new functionalized materials involved in gas storage and separation by adding exterior surface grooves. Their study provides a blueprint for researchers to build similar materials involved in industrial applications, such as high performance gas separation and energy storage.

Posted: Jun 30th, 2014

Single-pixel 'multiplex' captures elusive terahertz images

A novel metamaterial enables a fast, efficient and high-fidelity terahertz radiation imaging system capable of manipulating the stubborn electromagnetic waves, advancing a technology with potential applications in medical and security imaging.

Posted: Jun 29th, 2014

Nanofluids improve performance of automobile radiator

Chemical engineers studied the performance of automobile radiators and realized that nanofluids significantly increase the amount of heat transfer in those systems.

Posted: Jun 29th, 2014

2D molybdenum disulfide could be a promising new transistor material

For the ever-shrinking transistor, there may be a new game in town. Cornell researchers have demonstrated promising electronic performance from a semiconducting compound with properties that could prove a worthy companion to silicon.

Posted: Jun 27th, 2014

Diamond plates create nanostructures through pressure, not chemistry

You wouldn't think that mechanical force could process nanoparticles more subtly than the most advanced chemistry. Yet, researchers appear to have achieved a start toward that end.

Posted: Jun 27th, 2014

'Compressive sensing' provides new approach to measuring a quantum system

In quantum physics, momentum and position are an example of conjugate variables. This means they are connected by Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, which says that both quantities cannot be simultaneously measured precisely. Recently, researchers have been developing novel techniques, such as 'weak measurement,' to measure both at the same time. Now Rochester physicists have shown that a technique called compressive sensing offers a way to measure both variables at the same time, without violating the Uncertainty Principle.

Posted: Jun 27th, 2014

Revealing the 'Scotch-tape' technique mechanism

First in-tandem experimental and theoretical modeling of a famous 'Scotch-Tape' technique for making two-dimensional graphene-like nanosheets.

Posted: Jun 27th, 2014

Testing nano materials to build consumer confidence

Engineered nano materials (ENM) are being used more and more in a variety of commercial products. However, there is also concern that some of these properties may be harmful to humans. The FP7-funded research project, NANOSOLUTIONS aims to address this problem by classifying the safety potential of a variety of ENMs.

Posted: Jun 27th, 2014

Watching nanofluids flow in 4D real-time (w/video)

Researchers have applied a new imaging technique called four-dimensional (4D) electron microscopy to the nanofluid dynamics problem. They describe how they visualized and monitored the flow of molten lead within a single zinc oxide nanotube in real time and space.