Aug 02, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) The field of two-dimensional materials has seen remarkable progress since the isolation of graphene in 2004. This atomically thin form of carbon sparked intense research into other potential 2D materials with unique and useful properties. While graphene's exceptional electrical conductivity and strength garnered significant attention,...
Sizing up microplastics: nanofiltration uncovers environmental bioactivity
Aug 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Microplastics are a significant pollutant present in ecosystems worldwide, including oceans, lakes, and rivers. These particles pose potential health risks due to their persistence and complex composition, which includes various toxic chemicals. Prior research has highlighted the widespread presence of microplastics and their potential impact...
Concept for efficiency-enhanced noble-metal nanocatalysts
Aug 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) The production of more than 90 percent of all chemical products we use in our everyday lives relies on catalysts. Catalysts speed up chemical reactions, can reduce the energy required for these processes, and in some cases, reactions would not be possible at all without...
Enhancing performance in organic semiconductors
Aug 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Cavendish physicists have discovered two new ways to improve organic semiconductors. They found a way to remove more electrons from the material than previously possible and used unexpected properties in an environment known as the non-equilibrium state, boosting its performance for use in electronic devices....
The new power for soft actuation
Aug 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Electrically powered artificial muscle fibers (EAMFs) are emerging as a revolutionary power source for advanced robotics and wearable devices. Renowned for their exceptional mechanical properties, integration flexibility, and functional versatility, EAMFs are at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation. A recent review article on this topic...
Synergistic aerogel materials with high temperature resistance, mechanical strength and thermal insulation performance
Aug 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) A research group led by Prof. WANG Zhenyang and ZHANG Shudong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed synergistic aerogel materials with high temperature resistance, mechanical strength and thermal insulation performance. These research results were published in Journal...
Synthesis of ceramic nanospheres with tunable electromagnetic wave absorption performance
Aug 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Microwave technology has dramatically progressed, marked by the arrival of the 5G era, owing to the advantages of electromagnetic waves in long-distance, wireless, and high-speed transmissions. However, electromagnetic wave pollution problems such as electromagnetic wave interference and electromagnetic wave radiation are becoming increasingly serious. Electromagnetic...
Scientists identify new class of semiconductor nanocrystals
Aug 01, 2024 (Nanowerk News) U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) scientists confirm the identification of a new class of semiconductor nanocrystals with bright ground-state excitons, a significant advancement in the field of optoelectronics, in an article recently published in the American Chemical Society (ACS) journal ACS Nano ("Identification of Semiconductor...
The regime between the nano- and microscale could pave the way for a host of nanoscale technologies
Aug 01, 2024 (Nanowerk News) In electronic technologies, key material properties change in response to stimuli like voltage or current. Scientists aim to understand these changes in terms of the material’s structure at the nanoscale (a few atoms) and microscale (the thickness of a piece of paper). Often neglected is...
Sustainable and reversible 3D printing method uses minimal ingredients and steps
Aug 01, 2024 (Nanowerk News) A new 3D printing method developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego is so simple that it uses a polymer ink and salt water solution to create solid structures. The work, published in Nature Communications ("Sustainable 3D printing by reversible salting-out effects...