Aug 12, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Voids or pores were usually viewed as fatal flaws that can severely degrade material's mechanical performance and were required to be eliminated in manufacturing. However, a research team led by Prof. JIN Haijun from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of...
Self-propelled microrobots enhance industrial chemical reactions
Aug 12, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Chemical manufacturing has long relied on catalysts - substances that accelerate reactions without being consumed themselves. These catalysts typically exist as static entities, either fixed in place or passively dispersed throughout reaction mixtures. While effective, this approach limits the degree of control chemists have over...
3D laser printing with bioinks from microalgae
Aug 09, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Microalgae such as the diatom Odontella aurita and the green alga Tetraselmis striata are especially suitable as “biofactories” for the production of sustainable materials for 3D laser printing due to their high content in lipids and photoactive pigments. An international research team led by Prof....
Ultrasound-activated nanopatch simplifies nerve repair post-surgery
Aug 09, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Peripheral nerve injuries pose significant challenges in medical treatment, often leading to long-term disabilities and reduced quality of life. These injuries can result from various causes, including trauma, surgery, and diseases. One particularly common and debilitating form is erectile dysfunction caused by damage to the...
Atoms in advanced alloys find preferred neighbors when solidifying
Aug 09, 2024 (Nanowerk News) A discovery that uncovered the surprising way atoms arrange themselves and find their preferred neighbors in multi-principal element alloys (MPEA) could enable engineers to “tune” these unique and useful materials for enhanced performance in specific applications ranging from advanced power plants to aerospace technologies, according...
Ability to track nanoscale flow in soft matter could prove pivotal discovery
Aug 09, 2024 (Nanowerk News) For roughly 70 years, Play-Doh has been entertaining children with its moldable, squishy form. This familiar substance belongs to a broader category known as soft matter, which includes some foods (such as mayonnaise), 3D printer gels, battery electrolytes and latex paint. Scientists from the U.S....
2D layer of phosphorus pentamers shows semiconductor properties on silver surface
Aug 08, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Phosphorus is an exciting element: It is essential for the survival of organisms and promises numerous electronic applications. With this in mind, researchers at the University of Basel have synthesized two-dimensional layers containing rings of five phosphorus atoms (phosphorus pentamers (cyclo-P5)) on a silver surface....
Precise stirring conditions key to optimizing nanostructure synthesis
Aug 08, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Stirring allows for homogenization and efficient gas exchange – this fact has been known for decades. Controlling the stirring rate during the nanocluster synthesis is pivotal in achieving nanostructures with well-defined sizes, structures, optical properties, and stability. This insight was highlighted in a recent study...
Biodegradable nanocubosomes promise greener crop protection
Aug 08, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Polymer science has long been at the forefront of developing materials for agricultural applications, but a persistent challenge has been creating effective delivery systems for agrochemicals that don't contribute to environmental pollution. Traditional polymer-based carriers for pesticides and fertilizers often break down into microplastics, posing...
New 2D quantum sensing chip detects temperature and magnetic fields
Aug 08, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Researchers at TMOS, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems, and their collaborators at RMIT University have developed a new 2D quantum sensing chip using hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) that can simultaneously detect temperature anomalies and magnetic field in any direction in a...