Jun 17, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Micro- and nanoplastics are a well-known menace, found practically everywhere in nature, including soil, oceans, drinking water, air, and even the human body. Studies show that soils in particular hold a significant portion of N/MPs. The problem with these N/MPs is their microscopic size, which...
Custom-made molecules designed to be invisible while absorbing near-infrared light
Jun 17, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Getting a molecule to do what you want it to do is not always easy. As an example, an organic molecule will absorb only certain wavelengths of light based on its arrangement of electrons, which can be difficult to fine tune. Even so, the ability...
Strengthener for graphene
Jun 15, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Grapene's unusually high conductivity and favorable mechanical properties could further the development of flexible electronics, new batteries, and innovative composite materials for aeronautics and space flight. However, the development of elastic and tough films remains a challenge. In the journal Angewandte Chemie ("A Stretchable and...
Bladeless wind turbine nanogenerator harvests gusts for structural monitoring
Jun 14, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) In the pursuit of sustainable and renewable energy sources, wind energy has emerged as a key player. Traditional wind turbines, with their iconic spinning blades, have become a symbol of this green energy revolution. However, these turbines face limitations when it comes to harvesting energy...
Self-assembling and disassembling swarm molecular robots via DNA molecular controller
Jun 14, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Researchers from Tohoku University and Kyoto University have successfully developed a DNA-based molecular controller that autonomously directs the assembly and disassembly of molecular robots. This pioneering technology marks a significant step towards advanced autonomous molecular systems with potential applications in medicine and nanotechnology. Details of...
Artificial photosynthesis to produce hydrogen peroxide
Jun 14, 2024 (Nanowerk News) National University of Singapore (NUS) chemists have developed hexavalent photocatalytic covalent organic frameworks (COFs) which mimic natural photosynthesis for the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an important industrial chemical. The conventional method of H2O2 production involves using anthraquinone as a catalyst to convert air and...
Self-powered lab-on-a-chip revolutionizes blood tests with AI and nanogenerator technology
Jun 13, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) The human body is an intricate network of electrical signals, with every cell, tissue, and organ relying on precise electrical communication to function properly. At the heart of this complex system is blood, the life-sustaining fluid that transports nutrients, oxygen, and crucial signaling molecules throughout...
Innovative graphene oxide sensor detects low concentrations of nitrate in water
Jun 13, 2024 (Nanowerk News) A new study published in Chemosensors ("All-Solid-State Potentiometric Sensor Based on Graphene Oxide as Ion-to-Electron Transducer for Nitrate Detection in Water Samples") introduces a novel approach to nitrate ion detection using all-solid-state ion-selective electrodes enabled by graphene oxide as an ion-to-electron transducer. Nitrate ions play...
New tool to detect protein-protein interactions promising for gene therapy and other treatments
Jun 13, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Southern Methodist University nanotechnology expert MinJun Kim and his team have developed a faster, more precise way to detect the properties and interactions of individual proteins crucial in rapid, accurate, and real-time monitoring of virus-cell interactions. This could pave the way for innovative medical therapies...
Researchers create nanocubes forming floating checkerboards via self-assembly
Jun 13, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Researchers have engineered nanosized cubes that spontaneously form a two-dimensional checkerboard pattern when dropped on the surface of water. The work, published in Nature Communications ("Self-assembly of nanocrystal checkerboard patterns via non-specific interactions"), presents a simple approach to create complex nanostructures through a technique called...