Aug 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Researchers at Duke University have implemented a quantum-based method to observe a quantum effect in the way light-absorbing molecules interact with incoming photons. Known as a conical intersection, the effect puts limitations on the paths molecules can take to change between different configurations. The observation...
Using a quantum device to slow down simulated chemical reaction 100 billion times
Aug 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Scientists at the University of Sydney have, for the first time, used a quantum computer to engineer and directly observe a process critical in chemical reactions by slowing it down by a factor of 100 billion times. Joint lead researcher and PhD student, Vanessa Olaya...
New method makes mid-infrared light detectable at room temperature
Aug 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Scientists from the University of Birmingham and the University of Cambridge have developed a new method for detecting mid-infrared (MIR) light at room temperature using quantum systems. The research, published in Nature Photonics ("Single-molecule mid-infrared spectroscopy and detection through vibrationally assisted luminescence"), was conducted at...
Researcher finds inspiration from spider webs and beetles to harvest fresh water from thin air
Aug 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) A team of researchers is designing novel systems to capture water vapour in the air and turn it into liquid. University of Waterloo professor Michael Tam and his PhD students Yi Wang and Weinan Zhao have developed sponges or membranes with a large surface area...
Plant-based hydrogels use sunlight for sustainable carbon capture
Aug 28, 2023 (Nanowerk Spotlight) The escalating climate crisis has intensified the global search for sustainable solutions to counteract the adverse effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS), a method that involves selectively capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, has emerged as a promising strategy. However,...
Multiwavelength high speed quantum well nanowire array micro-LED for next-generation on-chip optical communication
Aug 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) As the number of cores in a processor continues to grow, so too does the challenge of connecting them all together. Traditional electrical networks fall short due to latency, limited bandwidth, and high-power consumption. Researchers have long sought for a better alternative, and on-chip nanophotonic...