Today's Nanotech Pulse
Updated 2h agoPhotonic‑crystal light sail demonstrates 90% reflectivity for laser propulsion
Researchers have built a photonic‑crystal light sail (PCLS) using a three‑dielectric nanostructure of germanium pillars, air holes, and a polymer matrix. Simulations and electron‑beam fabricated prototypes show about 90 % reflectivity at a 1.2 µm wavelength and the ability to generate continuous thrust when illuminated by a 100‑kW laser.
News•Jan 26, 2026
Granzyme B-Mimic Nanozyme Targets Cancer Cells
Researchers have engineered a granzyme B‑mimic nanozyme that selectively attacks cancer cells by replicating the proteolytic activity of the immune‑system enzyme granzyme B. Laboratory tests show the nanozyme cleaves tumor‑specific membrane proteins, triggering apoptosis while sparing healthy tissue. In mouse models, a single dose reduced tumor volume by up to 70% with no observable systemic toxicity. The technology is produced via a scalable nanomaterial synthesis route, positioning it for rapid pre‑clinical development.
By Bioengineer.org
Blog•Jan 26, 2026
Two-Faced Nanoparticles Revive Antibiotics Against Superbugs
Researchers at the University of Osaka have engineered amphiphilic Janus nanoparticles that physically breach the outer membrane of drug‑resistant Gram‑negative bacteria. By creating pores, these two‑faced particles enable conventional antibiotics to enter cells and kill pathogens such as Escherichia coli...
By Nanowerk
News•Jan 26, 2026
Researchers Use Agricultural Waste to Produce Graphene
Australian researchers at James Cook University and Flinders University have demonstrated a sustainable route to graphene by converting woody‑derived nanocellulose into bio‑char and then exfoliating it in a vortex fluidic device (VFD) using only water. The process operates at 500‑800 °C,...
By Graphene-Info
News•Jan 25, 2026
Cellulose Nanofibril‐Filled Damping and Lubricating Hydrogels for Mitigating Friction‐Induced Vibration of Polyurethane Composites
Researchers introduced a multi‑crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel reinforced with carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (MCPH) and blended it into thermoplastic polyurethane. The hydrogel supplies both hydration lubrication and reversible bonding that dissipates mechanical energy, dramatically improving the composite’s friction and damping behavior....
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Impact of Device Architecture on Proton Detection Efficiency in 2D Perovskite Thick Film Detectors
Researchers compared planar and stacked architectures for 2D perovskite thick‑film detectors targeting 5 MeV protons. The stacked configuration, featuring a vertical electric field, delivered superior charge collection, higher sensitivity, and stable, energy‑independent response across 3–5 MeV. Experiments spanning fluxes from 10⁸ to...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
A Customizable Perovskite Quantum Dots Platform for Visual Fluorescent Discrimination of Molecular Homologs and Enantiomers
Researchers have created a customizable fluorescence platform using chiral polymer‑coated perovskite quantum dots (CsPbBr3@PAAR/PAAS). The system delivers quasi‑mirror symmetric emission, allowing naked‑eye discrimination of (R)- and (S)-2‑butanol enantiomers. The achiral counterpart (CsPbBr3@PAA) differentiates C1–C4 monohydric alcohols, sulfoxides, and formamides through...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Designing with Li2S in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: From Fundamental Chemistry to Practical Architectures
The perspective outlines how Li2S‑based lithium‑sulfur batteries are reshaping cell design by tackling sulfur’s insulating nature and polysulfide shuttling. It highlights atomic‑level catalytic engineering, hierarchical carbon scaffolds, and electrolyte‑solvation co‑design as levers to activate Li2S and achieve reversible cycling. These...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Liquid NaK‐Enabled Strategy for the Facile and Scalable Synthesis of Porous Fe/Co/Ni‐Based Materials for Magnetically Enhanced OER Catalysis
Researchers have introduced a room‑temperature liquid NaK‑enabled alloy‑to‑alloy method to produce porous, multiphase Fe/Co/Ni magnetic electrocatalysts. The process avoids high‑temperature calcination and toxic etchants, delivering yields above 80 % and enabling solvent recovery. The resulting amorphous materials exhibit mesoporosity up to...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Determination of Nucleation Process and Spherical Micelle Growth by Time‐Resolved SAXS During PISA: Evidence From Liquid Crystalline Spherical Nanoparticles
Researchers employed time‑resolved small‑angle X‑ray scattering (TR‑SAXS) to monitor polymerization‑induced self‑assembly (PISA) of liquid‑crystalline spherical micelles. The data reveal that nucleation occurs early and particle growth proceeds through a structural shift from interdigitated to non‑interdigitated core conformations, a shift governed...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
D‐Band Modulation by Elements Synergistic Design for High‐Performance Zinc Air Batteries
Researchers engineered ultrafine high‑entropy nitride (HEN) nanoparticles that exploit elemental synergy to shift the d‑band center, accelerating *OH adsorption and desorption. Tungsten plays a pivotal role by reconstructing the electronic environment of the other metals. The resulting catalyst delivers an...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Bifunctional Cu–Sn Oxides for Electrocatalytic Upgrade of Nitrate and Glucose to Ammonium Formate
Researchers have introduced a bifunctional Cu‑Sn oxide catalyst that simultaneously drives nitrate reduction and glucose oxidation in a paired electrochemical cell. The catalyst delivers an NH₃ yield of 26.57 mg h⁻¹ cm⁻² with 85.3% Faradaic efficiency, while generating formate at 44.88 mg h⁻¹ cm⁻² and 81.8%...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Tuning Charge Storage in Bimetallic CoV–LDH for High‐Performance Supercapacitor: A Synergistic Experimental and Machine Learning Approach
Researchers employed a controlled partial‑reduction protocol to introduce oxygen vacancies into cobalt‑vanadium layered double hydroxides (CoV‑LDH). Density functional theory showed that these vacancies narrow the bandgap and increase electronic states near the Fermi level, boosting conductivity. Machine‑learning models linked synthesis...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Nanocomposite Cellulose Membranes for High‐Performance Water Evaporation Electricity Generation
Researchers at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics have created a nanocomposite cellulose membrane for hydrovoltaic electricity generation. By depositing bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) nanoparticles onto cellulose nanofibers via a two‑step liquid‑vapor method, the membrane achieves an open‑circuit voltage of ~3.7 V,...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Deconstruction Engineering of Lignocellulosic Biomass for the Preparation of High‐performance Hard Carbon Anode Materials in Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Researchers introduced a low‑corrosive maleic‑acid hydrothermal pretreatment to selectively strip hemicellulose from coconut shells, enriching lignin and cellulose while recovering xylose and furfural. The resulting hard‑carbon precursor exhibits a reduced closed‑pore size (1.64 nm) and increased closed‑pore volume (0.236 cm³ g⁻¹) after carbonization....
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Liquid Metal‐Architected Thermal Management Materials: Void Engineering for Simultaneous High Thermal Conductivity and Flame Retardancy
Researchers have introduced liquid‑metal‑architected silicone composites that use mechanochemical encapsulation of aluminum nitride with eutectic gallium‑indium to eradicate processing‑induced voids. The void‑free architecture creates continuous thermal pathways, delivering 4.60 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ in‑plane and 5.27 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ out‑of‑plane conductivity at just 50 vol.% filler loading. Simultaneously,...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Beyond Thin Stacks: Physics, Materials, and Architectures of Thick Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes
The review outlines how thick perovskite light‑emitting diodes—ranging from 100 nm to several micrometers—offer distinct physics, material, and architectural advantages over conventional thin stacks. By increasing the emitter‑metal separation, these devices suppress plasmonic loss, boost photon‑recycling, and achieve higher out‑coupling efficiency....
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Dual Enhancement of Electrochemical Ozone Production and Chlorine Evolution Reaction over Sulfur‐Doped 3D Ni‐Sb‐SnO2 Electrodes
Researchers introduced sulfur into a three‑dimensional Ni‑Sb‑SnO2 (DLS‑NATO/TiF) electrode, creating a dual‑function catalyst for electrochemical ozone production (EOP) and chlorine evolution reaction (CER). The sulfur‑doped electrode achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 50.10% for ozone and 95.70% for chlorine under acidic...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Beyond the Chill: Emerging Electrolytes, Cathodes, and Air Electrodes for Cryogenic Aqueous Zn Batteries
The review surveys recent breakthroughs in cryogenic aqueous zinc batteries, focusing on electrolyte engineering, cathode design, anode stabilization, and separator modification. Researchers have introduced liquid, suspension, and gel polymer electrolytes that disrupt hydrogen‑bond networks and improve Zn2+ solvation, enabling operation...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Low Temperature MOCVD Synthesis of High‐Mobility 2D InSe
Researchers have demonstrated low-temperature, wafer-scale metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of phase-pure two-dimensional indium selenide (InSe) on c-plane sapphire. By systematically varying the Se/In precursor ratio and growth temperature, they mapped the In-rich to Se-rich InxSey phase space and identified...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Miniaturized Self‐Powered Perovskite Spectrometer
Researchers have built a miniaturized perovskite spectrometer that uses only eight self‑powered photodetectors to deliver high‑resolution spectral data. The device achieves a peak external quantum efficiency of 75% and resolves wavelengths at ~5 nm across the 680–800 nm band. By leveraging compressive‑sensing...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Anion Component Engineering of Spontaneous Perovskite Passivators for Energy Alignment Modulations in Perovskite Solar Cells
Researchers introduced n‑octylammonium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide additives (OA‑FSI, OA‑TFSI, OA‑PFSI) to the spiro‑OMeTAD hole‑transport layer of perovskite solar cells. The anion component of these additives modulates the ionization energy of the HTM, shifting energy levels and improving charge extraction. Larger C‑F groups...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Fully Printed and Integrable Zn‐Ag Battery‐Hierarchical Sensor for Scalable Manufacturing of Monolithic Wearables
Researchers demonstrated a fully printed zinc‑silver (Zn‑Ag) battery paired with a hierarchical pressure sensor using screen‑printing technology. A mild ZnCl2 electrolyte curtails cathode dissolution, boosting battery stability, while the sensor’s multi‑scale structure delivers a record‑high sensitivity of 413.03 kPa⁻¹. The two...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Boosting Piezoelectric Catalytic H2O2 Production in Pure Water of Graphitic Carbon Nitride via Defect Engineering With Tunable Oxygen‐Doping
Researchers introduced tunable oxygen defects into graphitic carbon nitride (g‑C₃N₄) via a one‑step co‑calcination process, creating a metal‑free piezoelectric catalyst that converts mechanical energy into hydrogen peroxide. The optimized material, designated CN‑40, achieves a H₂O₂ production rate of 671 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, roughly...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Integrated Single‐Atom and Cluster Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Energy Technologies: Current Achievements and Challenges
The review highlights integrated single‑atom and cluster catalysts (ISACCs) as a breakthrough for electrocatalytic hydrogen technologies. By coupling atom‑level precision with multi‑site reactivity, ISACCs dramatically improve the kinetics of HER, OER, ORR and HOR while cutting dependence on scarce platinum‑group...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Spin Density Modulation by Ru Nanoparticles in ZIF‐67 Framework for Magnetically Enhanced Water Splitting Reaction
Researchers engineered a Ru nanoparticle‑decorated ZIF‑67 framework (RuNP/ZIF‑67) that reshapes cobalt oxidation states and boosts spin density, inducing ferromagnetism. The magnetic catalyst, tested under a 240 mT field, cuts the hydrogen evolution reaction overpotential from 68 mV to 51 mV and the oxygen...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Low Temperature Site‐Specific Pulsed Laser Annealing of MoS2
The study introduces a non‑thermal, ultrashort pulsed laser annealing technique that selectively modifies CVD‑grown MoS2 thin films at fluences below 12 mJ cm⁻², well under the damage threshold. High‑overlap laser scanning on SiO₂‑Si substrates converts amorphous regions to crystalline MoS2, as confirmed...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Ga‐Assisted Free‐Standing Growth of CsPbBr3 Nanowires for High‐Performance Optoelectronic Applications
Researchers have developed a gallium‑assisted method to directly grow free‑standing CsPbBr3 nanowires, allowing easy transfer onto any substrate. The transferred nanowires act as high‑Q optical cavities, achieving single‑mode lasing with a polarization ratio of 0.908. Integrated photodetectors based on these...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Stress Engineering in Flexible Thermoelectrics
Flexible thermoelectric generators (F-TEGs) are emerging as a viable route to harvest low‑grade heat from both flat and irregular surfaces. The review highlights stress engineering as a pivotal technique to reconcile the long‑standing trade‑off between thermoelectric efficiency and mechanical pliability....
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Enzyme‐Activated Programmable Theranostic Platform for Spatiotemporal Imaging of Intracellular MicroRNA and On‐Demand Manipulation‐Mediated Therapy
Researchers have engineered a cerium‑based metal‑organic framework (Ce‑MOF) loaded with DNA hairpins that responds to intracellular APE1 and miRNA‑21. The dual activation triggers a hybridization chain reaction, producing a Cy3‑Cy5 FRET signal for spatiotemporal imaging of miRNA expression in living...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Design Principles and Experimental Evidence for Semiconducting Heusler Thermoelectrics by Vacancy‐Filling
Researchers applied a vacancy‑filling strategy to selectively occupy 4d sites in Heusler alloys, creating an energy gap between occupied t2g and empty eg states while dramatically reducing lattice thermal conductivity to 2.77 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at room temperature. The TiFeₓCoᵧSb system, constrained by...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Ultrathin and High‐Efficiency Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling Coating via Polymer‐Particle Co‐Design
Researchers have created an ultrathin passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) coating using a polymer‑particle co‑design approach. By matching functional‑group resonances and applying Lorenz‑Mie scattering theory to size particles, the coating reaches 93.8 % solar reflectance and 97.1 % mid‑infrared emissivity. The film...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Nanoengineering‐Based Strategies for Enhancing Dynamic Therapy
Dynamic therapy, a ROS‑driven cancer treatment, is gaining traction for its high efficacy and low systemic toxicity. Recent nanoengineering advances focus on redesigning sensitizer nanostructures, deploying sophisticated nanocarriers, and modulating the tumor microenvironment to boost reactive oxygen species production. The...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Efficient, Reversible Lead Adsorption in a Thiol‐Decorated Zirconium‐Metal–Organic Framework
Researchers have introduced a zirconium‑based metal‑organic framework (Zr‑DMSA) functionalized with thiol groups that captures lead(II) ions from water with high efficiency. The material leverages mixed sulfur/oxygen chelation via flexible dangling ligands, as confirmed by solid‑state NMR and pair‑distribution function analyses....
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Triboelectric Capacitance Supplementation in Energy Storage Composites with Functionalized Carbon Fiber Electrodes
Researchers demonstrate that surface‑functionalized carbon‑fiber electrodes combined with electrospun polymer nanofiber separators can substantially boost the performance of structural supercapacitors. The triboelectric effect at the carbon‑fiber/separator interface generates additional charge, while a hybrid piezo‑triboelectric layer further raises voltage and specific...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Multifunctional Superwetting Sea‐Urchin‐Mimetic Nanosheet‐Based Interface for Remote Oil‐Water Separation
Researchers have developed a fluorine‑free, barium carbonate‑functionalized reduced graphene oxide (FBC‑rGO) coating that exhibits superhydrophobic (water contact angle >154°) and superoleophilic properties, enabling rapid oil uptake of 15‑65 g per gram and >97% separation efficiency. The coating’s hierarchical sea‑urchin‑like nanostructure stabilizes...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Engineering Metastability in Atomic Layer Deposition: Polymorph and Valence Control
The review outlines how atomic layer deposition (ALD) can be engineered to access metastable material phases, focusing on structural polymorphs and multivalence states. It details strategies such as temperature modulation, substrate lattice matching, grain‑size control, doping, solid‑solution formation, and precursor...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Lewis Acid‐Base Effects on Molecular Structure and Charge Density in Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Solid‐State Batteries
Researchers examined solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) based on PVDF‑HFP incorporating LiFSI, LiTFSI, and a 1:1 binary mixture. They found that salt polarity and Lewis basicity dictate dehydrofluorination, crystallinity, and charge density, directly influencing ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness. The binary...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Dynamic Adsorption of Molybdate Promoted Self‐Optimization and Self‐Healing of NiFe/NiMo in Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Researchers have engineered a NiFe/NiMo heterojunction catalyst that delivers exceptional bifunctional performance in alkaline water electrolysis. The material achieves 100 mA cm⁻² at only 99 mV overpotential for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 233 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Free molybdate...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 25, 2026
Superconducting Nanowire Memory Array Achieves Significantly Lower Error Rate
MIT researchers have demonstrated a 4 × 4 superconducting nanowire memory array that operates at 1.3 K and delivers a bit‑error rate of roughly 10⁻⁵, a ten‑fold improvement over earlier designs. The cell architecture combines temperature‑dependent switches with a kinetic inductor, enabling precise...
By Phys.org (Quantum Physics News)
Blog•Jan 25, 2026
Scientists Directly Visualize the Hidden Spatial Order of Electrons in a Quantum Material
A team led by KAIST professor Yongsoo Yang used liquid‑helium‑cooled 4D‑STEM to directly image charge‑density‑wave (CDW) amplitude in 2H‑NbSe₂ across its phase transition. The nanoscale maps reveal that CDW strength is highly inhomogeneous, with regions of strong order interspersed with...
By Nanowerk
News•Jan 25, 2026
Why You Should Not Miss Graphene Connect 2026
Graphene Connect 2026, a virtual conference hosted on the TechBlick platform, will take place March 11‑12, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and innovators in graphene and 2D materials. The two‑day program includes deep technical sessions on industrial‑scale production, standards, energy...
By Graphene-Info
News•Jan 24, 2026
Using Amino Acids as Fuels to Make Conductive Graphene
Researchers have demonstrated that blending graphene oxide with common amino acids and heating the mixture in a conventional furnace produces a highly conductive form of reduced graphene oxide (C‑rGO). The combustion of the amino acids supplies sufficient heat to graphitize...
By Phys.org – Nanotechnology
Blog•Jan 24, 2026
Researchers Discover Record-Setting Heat-Conducting Metallic Material
UCLA researchers have identified metallic theta‑phase tantalum nitride (θ‑TaN) as the most thermally conductive metal ever measured, achieving roughly 1,100 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹—about three times copper’s performance. The breakthrough was confirmed with ultrafast optical spectroscopy, X‑ray scattering, and theoretical modeling that reveal unusually...
By Nanowerk
News•Jan 24, 2026
Eco-Friendly Agrochemicals: Embracing Green Nanotechnology
The agrochemical sector is turning to green nanotechnology to create eco‑friendly pesticides and fertilizers. Researchers report that nano‑encapsulation can cut active ingredient use by up to 70% while maintaining pest control efficacy. Biodegradable nanomaterials ensure rapid breakdown, minimizing soil residues...
By Bioengineer.org
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
Graphene May Have Been Unintentional Byproduct of Edison's 1879 Light Bulb Experiments
Researchers at Rice University have shown that Thomas Edison’s 1879 carbon‑filament light bulbs likely generated turbostratic graphene through flash Joule heating. By applying a 110‑volt DC pulse for just 20 seconds, the carbon filaments reached 2,000‑3,000 °C, a temperature regime known...
By Nanowerk
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
Octopus Antioxidant Shields Perovskite Solar Cells From Decay
Researchers introduced a thin taurine interlayer between tin‑oxide electron‑transport layers and perovskite absorbers, dramatically slowing oxygen‑induced decay. The antioxidant quenches superoxide radicals, regenerates via a peroxide cycle, and reduces interfacial trap density, enabling 97% efficiency retention after 450 h at 65 °C....
By Nanowerk
News•Jan 23, 2026
Ultra-Thin Wireless Retinal Implant Offers Hope for Safely Restoring Vision Signals
An international team led by Prof. Dr. Sedat Nizamoğlu at Koç University has created an ultra‑thin, wireless retinal implant that uses a photovoltaic nano‑assembly to convert near‑infrared light into precise electrical stimulation. The device operates at light intensities far below...
By Phys.org – Nanotechnology
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
New Metal-Organic Framework Material Achieves Real-Time Fluoride Removal and Detection in Water
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have created a metal‑organic framework (MOF) that simultaneously removes fluoride ions from water and emits a visible fluorescence signal. By engineering interfacial water to expose specific crystal facets, the dual‑metal La/Fe‑MOF achieves high...
By Nanowerk
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
Researchers Redefine Capacitor Behavior at the Nanoscale
Researchers at Stony Brook University have introduced a quantum‑mechanical framework that accurately models nanocapacitors, overcoming the failures of conventional physics at the nanoscale. The method cleanly separates electrode and dielectric contributions, establishing fundamental size limits and enabling first‑principles evaluation of...
By Nanowerk
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
The Art of Custom-Intercalating 42 Metals Into Layered Titanate Nanostructures
A UNIST research team unveiled a one‑step synthesis that directly intercalates up to 42 different metal cations into layered‑titanate nanostructures. The proton‑rich H‑LT precursor exchanges its H⁺ ions for a broad spectrum of metals, from alkali to rare‑earth elements, without...
By Nanowerk