Know What's Happening in Nanotech
Know What's Happening in Nanotech
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Graphene 'nano‑aquariums' capture atomic‑resolution videos of single gold atoms in liquid
Researchers at the University of Manchester have engineered graphene‑based nano‑aquariums that seal attoliter‑scale liquid pockets between atom‑thin graphene sheets. This platform enables transmission electron microscopy to film individual gold atoms moving in liquid, a capability previously blocked by the vacuum requirements of TEM. The technique works across many organic solvents, expanding real‑time nanoscale observation of chemical processes.
Researchers introduced a novel molecular‑design and component‑regulation strategy that grafts epoxy groups onto polyimide (PI) chains and incorporates rigid segments, forming a cross‑linked, interpenetrated network. This approach simultaneously boosts the foam’s mechanical strength and microwave absorption performance, maintaining structural integrity under 200 °C and loads up to 10,000 times its weight. The resulting PI microwave‑absorption foam achieves a 10.5 GHz effective absorption bandwidth with only 1.5 wt% carbon nanotubes at a 2.5 mm thickness. The method is presented as an industrial‑scale solution for electromagnetic and infrared stealth applications.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have demonstrated that a monolayer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) stacked on boron‑doped p‑type diamond creates a functional PN junction that operates at room temperature. The heterointegration uses electrostatic doping rather than traditional chemical dopants, allowing...
Researchers in China have created an implantable vascular scaffold equipped with magneto‑optical probes that capture circulating tumor cells (CTCs) directly from the bloodstream and eliminate them with near‑infrared (NIR) light. In rabbit and goat models the system achieved capture efficiencies...
Researchers have demonstrated that aspartame dipeptide crystals self‑assemble into a non‑centrosymmetric supramolecular lattice that exhibits a piezoelectric coefficient of 37.9 pC/N. A prototype device built from these crystals generated approximately 0.62 V and 2.08 nA under a 50 N mechanical load. The output remained...
Researchers used pulsed laser irradiation in liquids to embed iridium nanoclusters within a MoC/N‑doped carbon matrix, creating defect‑driven interfacial polarization. The resulting IrNC/MoC@NC catalyst delivers ultralow overpotentials of 25 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction at 10 mA cm⁻² and 338 mV for hydrazine...
The review outlines a systematic framework for engineering biomimetic osteochondral scaffolds, integrating four coordinated components: functional properties, bioactive material systems, advanced fabrication methods, and hierarchical structural designs ranging from monophasic to gradient configurations. By aligning these modules, researchers aim to...
Researchers introduced a biomimetic hierarchical composite surface (BHCS) that merges staggered denticle arrays, a flexible substrate, and a surface‑grafted PDMS molecular brush using multi‑material 3D printing and spray coating. The optimized BHCS delivered an 18.65% reduction in underwater drag by...
Researchers used operando optical microscopy on transparent micro‑Li‑ion cells to directly observe lithium plating during fast charging. An ether‑based electrolyte delayed plating onset, delivering up to 54 % more charge capacity at high C‑rates compared with conventional carbonate electrolytes. The effect...
The review surveys cutting‑edge surface and interface engineering tactics—crystal‑plane orientation, defect creation, functional component modification, and hierarchical geometry—to lift electrocatalyst activity while preserving stability. It underscores the persistent trade‑off between performance and durability under industrial‑scale, high‑current, corrosive environments. Looking forward,...
Researchers introduced a microgel‑integrated microneedle array patch (MI‑MAP) that concentrates recombinant proteins at the needle tips and stabilizes them through phenolic interactions. Compared with conventional hydrogel‑based patches, MI‑MAP achieved markedly higher tip‑loading efficiency and maintained protein activity after 28 days at...
Researchers created oxygen‑deficient WO3‑x nanosheets by thermochemical reduction, yielding phase‑separated WO2.9 domains within an insulating WO2 matrix. The mixed‑phase material exhibits unconventional gas‑sensing behavior, showing opposite resistance changes to NO2 and CO compared with pristine WO3. WO3‑x delivers −125 % response...
The researchers present a PDA@GelMA/HA-DA/Fe3+ dual‑network hydrogel that combines gelatin methacryloyl, dopamine‑modified hyaluronic acid, Fe3+ crosslinking and polydopamine nanoparticles. Fe3+ ions act as angiogenic cues while the nanoparticles provide mild photothermal stimulation under near‑infrared light. In vitro, bone‑marrow mesenchymal stem...
Researchers investigated nickel‑doped Pr0.5Sr0.5Ti0.5Mn0.5O3 anodes for solid oxide fuel cells, comparing PSTMN41 (Mn0.4Ni0.1) and PSTMN51 (Mn0.5Ni0.1). In‑situ reduction generated dispersed Ni nanoparticles and abundant oxygen vacancies, markedly improving methane oxidation and electron conductivity. PSTMN41 delivered peak power densities of 119.6 mW·cm⁻²...
Researchers engineered anthracene‑BTSO donor‑acceptor conjugated polymers with tunable monomer ratios to steer photocatalytic selectivity between nitrogen reduction (NRR) and hydrogen evolution (HER). The 1:1 donor‑to‑acceptor polymer AnSO‑6 delivered an unprecedented NH3 production rate of 1645.25 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under full‑spectrum light without sacrificial...
Researchers at QuTech and Delft demonstrated spin‑based control of phase differences in Kitaev chains, eliminating the need for external magnetic flux. Using a three‑site InSbAs 2DEG device with quantum‑dot‑superconductor hybrids, they tuned the superconducting phase via the spin state of...
A recent npj Metamaterials review compiles a decade of work on nano‑architected mechanical metamaterials, showing that nanoscale geometry can dictate strength, stiffness, and multifunctionality more effectively than chemical composition. It details design rules, fabrication routes such as 3‑D nanoprinting and...
UCLA chemists led by Neil Garg have overturned Bredt’s rule by synthesizing bridgehead carbon‑carbon double bonds in cage‑shaped molecules such as cubene and quadricyclene. The study shows these strained alkenes adopt a hyperpyramidalized, three‑dimensional geometry with bond orders around 1.5...
the #WorldEconomicForum is in full swing to discuss global challenges & strategic solutions. sharing our article on “how #nanotechnology can help grow more food”, published @wef . idea we proposed here about 10 years back now being implemented across the...
Researchers Zhao, Li, and Ooi have demonstrated a miniaturized ultraviolet spectral imager built on III‑nitride semiconductor technology. By integrating a dense array of GaN‑based photodetectors with on‑chip waveguides and nanoscale gratings, the device achieves benchtop‑level spectral resolution in a handheld...
Physicists at the University of British Columbia and the University of Freiburg have demonstrated the first controlled rotation of molecules embedded in liquid‑helium nanodroplets using a novel optical centrifuge. By introducing a timed delay between laser pulses, the team achieved...
Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have created a thermochromic composite film that autonomously toggles between passive heating and radiative cooling based on ambient temperature. The film embeds 4‑6 µm phase‑change microcapsules in a porous PVDF‑HFP matrix,...
The research team introduced ratiometric DNA nanodevices anchored to the cytosolic leaflet of lysosomes, enabling direct measurement of juxta‑lysosomal pH in living cells. They discovered a previously unknown acidic nanolayer up to 21 nm thick on the outer lysosomal membrane, whose...
Researchers at the University of Surrey have created battery‑free nano‑sensors that generate power from tiny human motions. The ultra‑thin borophene‑embedded nanofiber mat, tested with 16 sensors, can monitor sleep patterns and subtle body movements without charging. The self‑powered triboelectric devices...
Neurophos, an Austin‑based photonics startup spun out of Duke University, announced a $110 million Series A round led by Gates Frontier and backed by Microsoft’s M12 and other investors. The company has built a metasurface‑based optical processing unit that is claimed to...
Researchers at TU Graz and the University of Graz unveiled Riff‑Diff, a novel AI‑driven platform that builds enzyme scaffolds directly around a chosen active centre. The method combines generative models like RFdiffusion with atomistic refinement, achieving angstrom‑level precision and producing enzymes...
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have demonstrated that adjusting laser scan speed during additive manufacturing of a eutectic high‑entropy alloy can directly control atomic‑scale microstructures and resulting mechanical properties. By coupling thermodynamic modeling with molecular dynamics, they showed faster...
Physicists have experimentally realized a two‑dimensional topological crystalline insulator by growing a bilayer tin telluride (SnTe) film on a niobium diselenide (NbSe₂) substrate. Using molecular‑beam epitaxy and low‑temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, they observed conducting edge states protected by crystal symmetry...
Researchers at Peking University have demonstrated a silicon‑on‑chip photodetector that directly converts optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) into electrical currents. The device covers topological charges from –9 to +9, achieving a record‑high OAM responsivity of 226 nA W⁻¹. By employing momentum‑matched plasmonic...
Skoltech and international collaborators have demonstrated a DNA‑origami method to deposit organic dye molecules onto a monolayer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) with nanometer‑scale precision. The DNA nanostructures, about 100 nm across, carry dyes in predefined positions, enabling Förster resonance energy transfer...
A team led by Prof. Bingyang Shi at UTS has unveiled nanoparticle‑mediated targeting chimeras (NPTACs), engineered particles that bind and degrade disease‑causing proteins both inside and outside cells. The technology can cross the blood‑brain barrier, enabling precision treatment of hard‑to‑reach...
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University discovered that initially stacked benzene layers, specifically a [2.2]paracyclophane moiety, dramatically amplify fluorescence color shifts when subjected to pressure. The study compared two organoboron crystals: pCP‑H, which forms π‑stacked dimer layers and exhibits a pronounced...
The review details how functionalized metal‑organic frameworks (MOFs) are being engineered for ultra‑sensitive detection of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water. It outlines design strategies such as pre‑synthetic pore tuning, post‑synthetic functionalization, and MOF‑based composites, linking these to detection...
A brief SF6 plasma pre‑treatment switches glass substrates to a hydrophilic state, dramatically enhancing gold adatom mobility during thermal dewetting. This ion‑mediated wettability control yields uniform gold nanoislands with reduced size dispersion and tighter inter‑particle gaps. The improved morphology boosts...
Researchers introduced a novel molecular additive, 1,2,4‑triazole‑3‑carboxamide (TZC), to address non‑uniformity in ambient‑air blade‑coated perovskite films. TZC simultaneously chelates Pb²⁺ and reconfigures the hydrogen‑bond network, reducing formamidinium‑solvent interactions that cause local supersaturation. The additive enables large‑area modules with 20.3% efficiency...
Researchers introduced self‑defective silicon/silicon‑oxide (Si/SiOx) fillers into a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix, creating a solid‑state electrolyte that simultaneously delivers high ionic conductivity, robust mechanical strength, and a wide electrochemical stability window. The heterogeneous Si/SiOx interfaces generate a dipole effect that...
Carbon dots (CDs) are emerging as low‑cost, tunable photocatalysts for converting solar energy into chemical fuels. Their performance hinges on synthesis‑driven structural features, which dictate photophysical and redox behavior. The review highlights how heterogeneity hampers reproducibility and stresses the need...
Researchers have engineered magnetic nanocomposites cloaked in cell membranes to serve as carriers for DNA probes targeting cancer‑related microRNAs. Upon binding miRNA, duplex‑specific nuclease triggers cyclic cleavage, releasing labeled signal strands that bind to a tetrahedral DNA interface on an...
Researchers have engineered an intratumoral prodrug, AICST, that converts to the photosensitizer AICST‑SO3 when exposed to two‑photon NIR‑I (800 nm) light. The activated compound operates via an oxygen‑free photo‑redox cycle, producing cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals that kill cancer cells even in hypoxic...
Researchers have unveiled a mechanism to steer single‑walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) chirality by manipulating the phase of solid metallic‑carbide nanoparticles. Using molecular dynamics simulations, they showed that the nanoparticle phase hinges on the nucleation intermediate and the role of subsurface...
Researchers converted low‑cost anthracite into high‑performance hard‑carbon anodes for sodium‑ion batteries using a combined KOH activation and space‑confined methane CVD process. The method simultaneously generates abundant closed pores and repairs structural defects, limiting graphitic crystal growth. The optimized MDMA‑2‑6 sample...
Researchers have developed UV‑curable perovskite nanocrystal inks based on isobornyl acrylate that can be inkjet‑printed for precise color‑conversion layers. The inks, containing CsPbBr3 or CsPbI3 nanocrystals, deliver pure green (528 nm) and red (643 nm) emission with photoluminescence quantum yields above 92%....
Researchers have introduced aluminum phosphorus oxynitride (AlPON) thin films using plasma‑enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) as a novel passivation layer for aluminum metal anodes. The coating is deposited between 100 °C and 180 °C from trimethylaluminum, water, tris(dimethylamino)phosphine and oxygen plasma, yielding...
Researchers have designed a Ti‑Mo‑Hf‑Cu medium entropy alloy that spontaneously forms nanoscale acicular (Ti,Hf)2Cu precipitates. The precipitates generate localized micro‑area potential differences, delivering strong antibacterial activity while simultaneously promoting osteogenic cell growth. Additionally, the alloy’s low elastic modulus closely matches...
Researchers have engineered a new class of Ti‑Mo‑Hf‑Cu medium entropy alloys (MEAs) that combine antibacterial activity with enhanced bone‑forming capability. By adding copper and hafnium to Ti‑Mo, nanoscale (Ti,Hf)₂Cu precipitates form without heat treatment, delivering 97% bacterial kill rates against...
The review outlines recent progress in magneto‑optical Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopy, emphasizing its surface‑sensitive, nondestructive, and real‑time imaging capabilities. It details the three operational modes—polar, longitudinal, and transverse—each tailored to specific magnetization orientations. The article surveys MOKE applications across magnetic...
Researchers are positioning bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) as next‑generation antibacterial biomaterials. Their natural lipid bilayer enables encapsulation and protected delivery of antimicrobial agents, while intrinsic bioactivity can stimulate immune responses. Functionalization strategies improve biosafety, targeting specificity, and cargo loading, turning...
The review outlines how DNA and RNA can be chemically linked to polymers, peptides, proteins, lipids, and saccharides to create hybrid biomaterials. It details synthesis routes and matches each to appropriate purification techniques such as chromatography, membrane filtration, and electrophoresis....
Traditional broad‑spectrum antibiotics fuel resistance and disrupt the microbiome, prompting a shift toward species‑specific antibacterial materials that target only pathogenic microbes. These agents exploit unique bacterial signatures to preserve beneficial flora while eliminating disease‑causing strains. The review outlines selective mechanisms,...
Researchers introduced O₂/CdCl₂‑assisted engineering of Se‑diffusional CdSe precursors, achieving deeper, uniform selenium interdiffusion and improved crystallization. The method yields dense, graded CdSeTe absorbers with fewer buried voids and reduced surface‑potential fluctuations, lowering interfacial recombination. Resulting solar cells reach 20.6% power...
The review dissects why silicon anodes fail in lithium‑ion batteries, pinpointing volume expansion, unstable SEI formation, and phase transitions as primary culprits. It showcases how cutting‑edge techniques—such as in‑situ transmission electron microscopy, X‑ray tomography, and operando spectroscopy—provide real‑time structural and...
