Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Researchers discover new method to dissipate heat in electronic devices

By modulating the flow of phonons through semiconductor nanowires, engineers can create smaller and faster devices.

Nov 10th, 2016

Desalination with layered graphene membranes

Membranes made from carefully arranged graphene layers could help transform seawater desalination from an energy intensive process into one that is significantly more energy efficient. Such a transformation would reduce the carbon footprint and power demand of countries that rely on desalination to meet their freshwater needs.

Nov 10th, 2016

Water, water - the two types of liquid water

Scientists explain how the physical and chemical properties of water have been studied for more than a century and revealed some odd behavior not seen in other substances.

Nov 10th, 2016

Engineers develop self-powered mobile polymers (w/video)

Researchers have identified new materials that directly convert ultraviolet light into motion without the need for electronics or other traditional methods.

Nov 10th, 2016

A 'magnetic slippery surface' improves de-icing

Icy conditions can be deadly, whether you're flying into bad weather or too close to power transmission lines during a storm. Researchers now have reported the discovery of a material that can be applied to any surface to repel ice.

Nov 10th, 2016

Tailored carbon nanomaterials could help treating neurological diseases

This joint research effort may help Parkinson's patients and people with memory disorders.

Nov 10th, 2016

'Exceptional' nanosensor architecture based on exceptional points

Researchers have developed a novel design for a compact, ultra-sensitive nanosensor that can be used to make portable health-monitoring devices and to detect minute quantities of toxins and explosives for security applications.

Nov 10th, 2016

Solar cells get boost with integration of water-splitting catalyst onto semiconductor

Scientists have found a way to engineer the atomic-scale chemical properties of a water-splitting catalyst for integration with a solar cell, and the result is a big boost to the stability and efficiency of artificial photosynthesis.

Nov 10th, 2016

First random laser made of paper-based ceramics

New biotemplating process makes it possible to create lasers out of cellulose paper.

Nov 10th, 2016

Spin Hall effect in decorated graphene

In a new paper, scientists question the interpretation of large values from the Spin Hall effect (SHE) signals, reported experimentally in chemically decorated graphene. Further, they propose new device geometry to suppress background contributions on the non-local resistance to access the upper limit of SHE in two-dimensional materials.

Nov 10th, 2016

Functional textiles clean pollutants from air and water

Researchers have shown the ability to infuse cotton with a beta-cyclodextrin (BCD) polymer, which acts as a filtration device that works in both water and air.

Nov 9th, 2016

Nanoparticle treatment adds antimicrobial coatings to leather

Traditional leather manufacturing requires the use of several toxic chemicals, such as halogenated flame retardants or organic antimicrobial solvents, which cause pollution. Now, researchers are testing an eco-friendly alternative: silver-titanium nanoparticles.

Nov 9th, 2016

Possible reason for carcinogenicity of silica dust is found

Scientists have found unusual properties of silicon nanoparticles. They have shown that at normal conditions silica nanoparticles are enriched in oxygen. Such nanoparticles are magnetic and contain reactive oxygen species. This may explain the known high toxicity and carcinogenicity of silica dust.