Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Interaction of tailored light with a single atom and individual nanostructures

By adapting a mode of the light field to a system under study, the interaction of light with matter can be optimized. In this context, the spatial distribution of the electric field of such a tailored mode plays an important role. Researchers use this approach to couple light to a single atom or individual nanoparticles.

Jun 24th, 2015

Giving atoms their marching orders with nanotubes

Highly homogeneous nanotube enforces single-file flow of atoms in gas diffusion.

Jun 24th, 2015

Nanowires could be the LEDs of the future

LEDs made from nanowires will use less energy and provide better light. Researchers studied nanowires using X-ray microscopy and with this method they can pinpoint exactly how the nanowire should be designed to give the best properties.

Jun 24th, 2015

Scientists highlight the importance of hybrid nanomaterials for non-invasive cancer diagnosis

Owing to recent spectacular advances in nanochemistry and nanomaterials sciences, substantial progress in the design and synthesis of synthetic nanoscale hybrid materials has been achieved with new or improved properties. This allows scientists to fabricate new hybrid materials that can be used in individual and multimodal imaging techniques simultaneously.

Jun 24th, 2015

The world's first full-color, flexible skin-like display

Researchers developed an ultrathin nanostructured surface that can change color by applying voltage. The new method doesn't need its own light source. Rather, it reflects the ambient light around it.

Jun 24th, 2015

Like cotton candy? You'll love electrospinning

Forget that old glucose test. In the future, suits of light and virus-filled fibers could detect trace amounts of biological molecules.

Jun 24th, 2015

New device tracks chemical signals within cells

Biomedical engineers have invented a new device that more quickly and accurately 'listens in' on the chemical messages that tell our cells how to multiply. The tool improves our understanding of how cancerous growth begins, and could identify new targets for cancer medications.

Jun 24th, 2015

First report of detecting spin precession in silicon nanowires

Scientists have reported the first observation of spin precession of spin currents flowing in a silicon nanowire transport channel, and determined spin lifetimes and corresponding spin diffusion lengths in these nanoscale spintronic devices.

Jun 24th, 2015

Researchers align atomic friction experiment

To study friction on the atomic scale, researchers have conducted the first atomic-scale experiments and simulations of friction at overlapping speeds.

Jun 24th, 2015

A novel scanning cavity microscope for nanosystems

Scientists can image the optical properties of individual nanoparticles with a novel microscope.

Jun 24th, 2015

New technique to accurately detect the 'handedness' of molecules in a mixture

Scientists have demonstrated for the first time the ability to rapidly, reliably and simultaneously identify the 'handedness' of different molecules in a mixture.

Jun 24th, 2015

Setting the standard for graphene

A recent estimate suggested there are more than 600 different types of graphene, commercial organisations looking to work with the material can struggle to know where to start. To address this problem, The University of Manchester and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have joined forces by holding the Graphene UK Standardisation Workshop at the National Graphene Institute (NGI).

Jun 24th, 2015

'Pick and mix' smart materials for robotics

Researchers have developed a simple 'recipe' for combining multiple materials with single functions into a single material with multiple functions: movement, recall of movement and sensing - similar to muscles in animals. The materials could be used to make robotics far more efficient by replacing bulky devices with a single, smarter, life-like material.

Jun 24th, 2015