Revealing crystal structures robotically

Dec 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan have automated a complex and labour-intensive process for analysing the results of X-ray diffraction studies, which are used to determine the structure of crystalline materials. The team described the development and application of their...

3D-Printed microrobot assembly line (w/video)

Dec 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Scientists from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Osaka University introduced a method for manufacturing complex microrobots driven by chemical energy using in situ integration. By 3D-printing and assembling the mechanical structures and actuators of microrobots inside a microfluidic chip, the resulting microrobots were able...

Smallest mobile lifeform created

Dec 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) The origin of all biological movements, including walking, swimming, or flying, can be traced back to cellular movements; however, little is known about how cell motility arose in evolution. A research team led by graduate student Hana Kiyama, from the Graduate School of Science at...

Ultrafast lightwave control of electrons in crystals

Dec 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) The quantum realm of atomic particles is embedded with randomness. Still, precise control of quantum systems, such as quantum computers, is of great importance for modern quantum science and prospective quantum technology. In the classical world, time is constantly moving forward. But in the quantum...

Cooling down solar cells, naturally

Dec 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) A bright, sunny, cloudless day might seem like the optimal setting for solar cells. But too much sun, and too much heat, can actually reduce the efficiency of photovoltaics. As operating temperature rises by 1 degree Celsius, traditional silicon-based solar cells will lose about 0.5%...

Making ‘transport’ robots smarter

Dec 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Imagine a team of humans and robots working together to process online orders — real-life workers strategically positioned among their automated coworkers who are moving intelligently back and forth in a warehouse space, picking items for shipping to the customer. This could become a reality...