Graphene-ITO Electrodes Show Promise for More Efficient Space Solar Power
Researchers combined monolayer graphene with indium tin oxide (ITO) to create hybrid transparent electrodes, boosting nanoscale tunneling current by roughly 60% while preserving surface uniformity. Raman spectroscopy confirmed high‑quality graphene with minimal defects after transfer, and TUNA‑AFM mapping revealed smoother, more interconnected conductive pathways compared with bare ITO. Although the study stopped short of testing full solar‑cell performance, the materials‑level gains suggest a route to lighter, more efficient photovoltaic arrays for aerospace missions. The work positions graphene‑ITO hybrids as a promising solution to the durability and efficiency limits of current space solar technology.
Nicotinamide Nanotubes Restore Brain Cell Energy After Acute Injury
Researchers reported that nicotinamide‑loaded peptoid nanotubes (NAM‑PNTs) restore cellular energy in acute neonatal brain injury models. The nanostructures deliver an NAD⁺ precursor directly to microglia, boosting ATP, reducing inflammatory cytokines, and improving tissue histology after a single systemic dose. Efficacy...
Hamamatsu Photonics Expands Intended Use of NanoZoomer® MD Series in Europe to Include Cytology
Hamamatsu Photonics announced that its NanoZoomer MD series is now cleared for cytology slide digitization across Europe. The expansion follows a peer‑reviewed validation study by University College London that proved digital cytology reliable for primary diagnosis. The platform can capture Pap...
How Surfaces Steer Electrons Could Shape Better Batteries and Sensors
Researchers published a Nature paper showing that an electrode’s electronic density of states (DOS) directly controls the reorganization energy that governs interfacial electron transfer. By engineering graphene‑based van der Waals heterostructures with tunable hBN spacers, they demonstrated that higher DOS strengthens Thomas‑Fermi...
New Nanomedicine Approach Boosts Chemotherapy And Immune Activity In Pancreatic Cancer
A preclinical mouse study published in Advanced Science demonstrates that photoactivatable multi‑inhibitor liposomes (PMILs) can deliver irinotecan directly to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors when activated by light. The regimen combines minocycline‑mediated DNA‑repair inhibition, photodynamic priming, and localized chemotherapy, boosting...
See the Latest Advancements in Fast Steering Mirrors, Hexapods and Nanopositioning Technology
Physik Instrumente (PI) showcased its latest high‑performance motion solutions at the Defense + Security expo on April 22, 2026. The display featured vacuum‑compatible fast steering mirrors for free‑space optical communications, precision gimbals for laser beam control, and 6‑DOF hexapod platforms...
Improved Surface Chemistry Lifts HgTe Nanocrystal Photodiode Voltage
Researchers have demonstrated that an ultrathin CdS shell combined with revised Cd‑based interface chemistry pushes HgTe nanocrystal photodiodes past a long‑standing voltage ceiling. The optimized devices achieve a 420 mV open‑circuit voltage—exceeding half the material bandgap—and reduce dark current to ~10⁻⁷ A cm⁻²....
Governor Hochul Announces NY Creates Begins Installation of the First Major Tool for High NA EUV Lithography Center at Albany...
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of installation of Tokyo Electron’s 300 mm wafer coater/developer, the LITHIUS Pro DICE, at NY Creates’ Albany NanoTech Complex. The tool is the first major piece for the upcoming High NA EUV Lithography Center, North America’s only publicly owned...
Minus K Congratulates to the Following Winners of Minus K's 2025/2026 Educational Giveaway
Minus K Technology announced the 2025/2026 Educational Giveaway winners, distributing over $125,000 worth of its patented negative‑stiffness vibration isolators to six U.S. university labs. Recipients include UT‑Dallas (quantum transport and STM), University of Pittsburgh (quantum‑twisting microscope), Northwestern (ultra‑high‑Q mechanical oscillator and...
Graphene Helps Molecular Qubits Keep Strong Antiferromagnetic Order
Researchers deposited a monolayer of the copper‑based molecular qubit Cu(dttt)₂ onto graphene grown on silicon carbide and demonstrated that the film retains the bulk‑like one‑dimensional antiferromagnetic order. Scanning tunneling microscopy, X‑ray spectroscopies and density‑functional theory show densely packed, flat chains...
Conductive Hydrogel Can Sense Oxygen and Guide Cell Behaviour
Researchers have created a conductive hydrogel, PEDOT:sGAGh, that mimics the extracellular matrix while sensing oxygen and electrically regulating growth‑factor release. By polymerizing less than 1 wt % PEDOT within a sulfated glycosaminoglycan hydrogel, they achieved a 95 wt % water‑rich, soft material with dual...
Pittcon Announces 2025 Nobel Laureate, Dr. Omar Yaghi, as Wallace H. Coulter Keynote Lecturer
Dr. Omar Yaghi, the 2025 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, will deliver the Wallace H. Coulter keynote at Pittcon 2027 in Pittsburgh from April 24‑28. His award‑winning work on metal‑organic frameworks (MOFs) underpins technologies for water harvesting, carbon capture and gas storage. Yaghi’s startup...
6-Channel Piezo Driver for Piezo Stacks, Transducers, Scanner Tubes, and Precision Actuators
Physik Instrumente (PI) Ceramic has launched the E‑413, a six‑channel, low‑noise piezo driver designed for high‑precision actuation across static and dynamic applications. Each channel delivers up to ±250 V, 100 mA and 50 W peak power, enabling simultaneous control of multi‑axis piezo stacks,...
Microbiome-Activated Nanogel Successfully Delivers Butyrate in Mice
A preclinical study in Small describes an inulin‑butyrate nanogel that releases butyrate directly in the inflamed colon of mice, markedly improving colitis outcomes. The nanogel remains stable through the upper GI tract and is enzymatically activated by colonic microbes, delivering...
Orange Leaf Extract Produces Greener Antibacterial Nanoparticles
Researchers have refined a green synthesis route for copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) using water extracts from dried orange (Citrus sinensis) leaves. The optimal protocol—pH 7, 10 g/L copper acetate, and calcination at 300 °C—produces 20‑30 nm particles with strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli...
Silicon Metasurface Design Could Enable Dual-Channel Optical Encryption
Researchers have designed a silicon metasurface that uses circular polarization as a cryptographic key, enabling two distinct holographic images to be stored in a single nanostructured layer. By applying an improved Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm and FDTD simulations, they mapped phase information...
Silver-Coated Microrobots Break Down Antibiotics in Water
Researchers have created silver‑coated g‑C₃N₄ Janus microrobots that swim upward under UV light and act as photocatalysts. In laboratory tests they removed about 88 % of tetracycline within 90 minutes, and retained roughly 82 % efficiency in real wastewater. The silver layer forms...
3D Printable Nanotube Composite Shields Electronics In Extreme Environments
Researchers have created an ultrathin, stretchable, 3D‑printable composite that combines single‑walled carbon nanotubes and boron nitride nanotubes to simultaneously block electromagnetic interference and absorb neutron radiation. The hybrid films achieve over 50 dB EMI shielding at micrometer thicknesses, while a 2:8...
Free-Standing 3D Na Ion Anode Material for Higher Energy Density
Researchers have developed a free‑standing sodium‑ion battery anode that combines bismuth nanoparticles, MoS₂ nanospheres, and a carbon nanofiber matrix with a thin carbon coating. The Bi@MoS₂@C composite delivers a reversible capacity of about 275 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ and retains 96 % of...
PI Introduces Configurable Modular Precision Linear Stage Family with Thousands of Possible Configurations
Physik Instrumente (PI) has launched its Modular Precision Linear (MPL) stage family, a configurable platform that lets engineers assemble high‑precision linear stages online. The system supports thousands of unique configurations by mixing travel ranges, drive types, motors and feedback options....
Magnetic Nanoparticles Could Make Doxorubicin Delivery More Precise
Researchers have engineered a magnetic nanocarrier (IO@MBD) that combines γ‑Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles with a melamine‑based dendrimer to deliver doxorubicin. The platform achieves roughly 17 wt% drug loading, remains dispersible in water, and releases the drug preferentially under acidic conditions typical of tumor...
Next Generation, Permanent DNA-Based Data Storage for the AI Age
imec and Atlas Data Storage have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate synthetic DNA‑based data storage, combining Atlas’s ASIC design and DNA synthesis expertise with imec’s advanced chip fabrication capabilities. The collaboration produced a monolithic nano‑scale electrochemical array built on...
Guiding Nano Assembly for Drug Delivery with Machine Learning
Researchers repurposed the FAP inhibitor SP‑13786 as a co‑assembly excipient to create SP co‑assembled nanoparticles (SCAN) that encapsulate hydrophobic drugs. Using molecular dynamics and a random‑forest machine‑learning model, they identified 228 physicochemical descriptors that predict successful nano‑co‑assembly, highlighting aromaticity and...
Flexure-Guided Piezo Stages Deliver Frictionless Motion for Nanopositioning, Scanning, and Alignment Applications
Physik Instrumente (PI) unveiled its flexure‑guided piezo stages, which combine friction‑free flexure guidance with high‑force PICMA multilayer piezo actuators to deliver sub‑nanometer resolution, millisecond response times, and virtually wear‑free operation. The monolithic flexure design eliminates backlash and stiction, while the...
From First Discussion to Final Delivery of a High‑End Industrial AFM
Nanosurf’s industrial‑grade atomic force microscope (AFM) development hinges on a seamless handoff from concept to commissioning, guided by application engineer Dr. Marco Corbetta. He joins customers during initial requirement gathering, defines verifiable specifications, and later conducts Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT)...
Low-Cost Nanocoating Helps Solar Ponds Produce More Fresh Water
A recent Scientific Reports study shows nano‑ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃) coating on the base of a 1 m² solar desalination pond boosts temperature and water output. In outdoor trials across seasons, the coated pond reached 74 °C (≈8 °C higher) and produced 6.5 L m⁻² day⁻¹, a...
Nanozyme Aptasensor: A Breakthrough in S. Aureus Diagnostics
Researchers have unveiled a nanozyme‑aptamer colorimetric array that classifies Staphylococcus aureus strains with 100% accuracy, including methicillin‑resistant variants. The platform couples gold‑nanoparticle nanozymes with four strain‑specific aptamers, producing distinct color fingerprints that are decoded by hierarchical clustering and linear discriminant...
Researchers Call for Help with Reproducibility Crisis
Researchers from the Netherlands and France have launched a collaborative effort to replicate a 2012 study that claimed fluorescent quantum dots could detect copper ions inside living cells. Backed by an €8 million European Research Council grant, the NanoBubbles project is...
Could Graphene Memristors Tackle AI's Energy Use?
A new review in Nanoenergy Advances argues that graphene‑family memristors and photomemristors can dramatically lower AI’s energy footprint by merging sensing, memory, and computation in a single nanoscale device. The paper shows sub‑volt switching, power consumption as low as 200 nW,...
Nanostructured Plasma Engineering Extends the Life of Industrial Steel
A plasma‑based low‑energy nitrogen ion implantation (PBLEII) treatment dramatically improves the corrosion resistance of 17‑4PH martensitic stainless steel, with peak performance at 450 °C. Electrochemical tests show the corrosion potential shifting to –169.4 mV (SCE), passive current density dropping to 0.5 µA cm⁻², and...
Nanotoxicology Moves Beyond Short Term to Integrated Safety Frameworks
Recent editorial in *Nanomaterials* highlights a paradigm shift in nanotoxicology toward predictive, mechanism‑based safety frameworks. Researchers are moving beyond short‑term cytotoxicity to assess chronic, low‑dose, system‑level effects of engineered nanoparticles across diverse biological models. Integration of computational tools such as...
Curcuma Longa Starch for Effective Green Synthesis of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles
Researchers have introduced a green synthesis route for cerium oxide nanodots using debranched Curcuma longa starch, achieving uniform 2–4 nm particles. The starch acts as both reducing and stabilizing agent, eliminating the need for toxic solvents and high‑temperature steps. In vitro...
Turning Methane Into Carbon Nanotubes and Hydrogen
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and Stanford have engineered a continuous‑flow floating‑catalyst chemical vapor deposition reactor that simultaneously converts methane into low‑CO₂ hydrogen and high‑performance carbon nanotubes (CNTs). By recycling process gases in a multi‑pass configuration, the system dramatically...
Nanomaterials Transformed by Engineering Shape, Not Chemistry
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...
Scientists Marry DNA Origami and 2D Materials to Make Nanoelectronics
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...
Researchers Pioneer Greener Route to High-Performance Graphene
Monash University researchers have unveiled a solvent‑free, mechanochemical process that produces nitrogen‑doped graphene nanoplatelets from a bio‑derived nitrogen source. By grinding materials instead of using liquid chemicals, the method slashes energy consumption and eliminates toxic by‑products. The resulting graphene exhibits...
Identifying Interface-Specific Transformation in Nanoglass
Researchers in China have discovered an interface‑specific structural‑compositional transformation in a bulk Pd₄₀Ni₄₀P₂₀ nanoglass that occurs well below its glass transition temperature. Using a two‑step process of inert‑gas‑condensed nanoparticles and 8 GPa consolidation, they produced a dense granular nanostructured glass whose...
New SLAC Method Guides Better Cell Slice Preparation for Cryo-ET Imaging
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory researchers have introduced a tri‑coincident system that synchronizes a scanning electron microscope, an ion‑beam mill, and an optical microscope to guide cryogenic electron tomography (cryo‑ET) sample preparation. By exploiting interference patterns in fluorescent light emitted from...
Vertical Translation Stages with Magnetic Counterbalance Combine Dynamics with Nanometer Precision
Physik Instrumente (PI) has launched the V‑571.Z vertical translation stage, featuring a user‑adjustable magnetic counterbalance and direct‑drive linear motor for friction‑free, high‑dynamic motion. The compact 95 mm wide design supports up to 4 kg loads with 25 mm or 50 mm travel and offers...
Antimicrobial Polymer Nanocomposites Made with Beetroot
A study in *Materials* shows that copper nanoparticles produced via a beetroot‑based green synthesis exhibit markedly stronger antimicrobial activity when embedded in polypropylene than both silver‑based composites and chemically reduced copper. The green‑synthesized copper particles are smaller, less prone to...
See the Latest Advancements in Precision Motion Control and Nanopositioning Automation
Physik Instrumente (PI) unveiled a suite of next‑generation precision motion‑control and nanopositioning solutions aimed at high‑tech manufacturing. The offerings target fast‑focusing, photonics array alignment, laser processing, semiconductor testing, and high‑resolution microscopy. PI emphasizes scalability for silicon photonics chip production, AI‑driven...
Review: Nanofibers Still Struggle to Reach Industry, Despite Decades of Research
After 25 years of research, nanofibers remain scientifically promising but face industrial barriers, according to a Frontiers in Nanotechnology review. Scaling production methods such as electrospinning and centrifugal spinning proves difficult, while solvent use drives high costs and waste. The...
DNA Templates for 3D Nanomaterial Design
Scientists at Columbia University and Brookhaven National Laboratory have created a bottom‑up nanofabrication platform that uses self‑assembled 3D DNA scaffolds as templates to produce inorganic nanostructured frameworks. By employing both vapor‑phase and liquid‑phase precursor infiltration, the method converts DNA lattices...
Nanoparticles Show Unexpected Ability to Activate Immune System Against Melanoma
Cornell researchers have shown that ultrasmall core‑shell silica nanoparticles, dubbed "prime dots," can reprogram the tumor microenvironment of melanoma, activating innate immunity and converting immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones. The study published in Nature Nanotechnology documents multiple mechanisms—including pattern‑recognition...
High-Purity Palladium Recovery Using Nanosheet Technology
Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) unveiled a titanium‑based maxene nanosheet system that recovers palladium with 99.9% purity in just 30 minutes. The TiOₓ/Ti₃C₂Tₓ nanosheets work at room temperature, require no toxic chemicals or electricity, and enable simple filtration...