Latest Nanomaterials Stories
Size matters… but apparently so does shape – when it comes to conducting heat in very small spaces. Researchers looking at the thermal conductivity of boron nanoribbons have found that they have unusual heat-transfer properties when compared to other wire/tube-like nanomaterials. While past experiments have shown that bundles of non-metallic nanostructures are less effective in conducting heat energy than single nanostructures, a new study shows that bundling boron nanoribbons can have...
Together with international colleagues, scientists from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have added another important component towards understanding the material graphene; a material that is currently receiving a lot of attention: They have determined the lifetime of electrons in graphene in lower energy ranges. This is of great relevance for the future development of fast electronic and optoelectronic components. The results were published just recently in the online edition...
Carnegie Mellon University's Roberto R. Gil and Rongchao Jin have successfully used NMR to analyze the structure of infinitesimal gold nanoparticles, which could advance the development and use of the tiny particles in drug development. Their approach offers a significant advantage over routine methods for analyzing gold nanoparticles because it can determine whether the nanoparticles exist in a both right-handed and left-handed configuration, a phenomenon called chirality. Determining a...
Paper-thin cell phones, e-readers, and batteries are just over the horizon for consumers, thanks to a revolutionary, disruptive technology known as printed electronics. A combination of novel materials and cutting edge fabrication processes, printed electronics are revolutionizing the look, feel and use of computerized devices and are emerging as an estimated $300 billion market. Hoboken, NJ (PRWEB) December 08, 2011 Paper-thin cell phones, e-readers, and batteries are just over the...
IBM researchers unveiled a new technology on Monday that could lead to major advancements in computer technology. Scientists working with IBM have successfully performed the first real-world test of a new memory chip technology that promises faster data access speeds than current forms of electronic storage. "These breakthroughs could potentially provide a new technological basis for the convergence of computing, communication, and consumer electronics," IBM said in a press release...
Surpassing the physical limits of silicon After having revealed the electronic advantages of molybdenite, EPFL researchers have now taken the next definitive step. The Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES) has made a chip, or integrated circuit, confirming that molybdenite can surpass the physical limits of silicon in terms of miniaturization, electricity consumption, and mechanical flexibility. "We have built an initial prototype, putting from two to six serial...
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting, IBM (NYSE: IBM) scientists unveiled several exploratory research breakthroughs that could lead to major advancements in delivering dramatically smaller, faster and more powerful computer chips. <font size="2" face="Arial">(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )</font> For more than 50 years, computer processors have increased in power and...
Novel nanocarbon platform shows potential for future bioelectronic implants Researchers have demonstrated, for the first time, a graphene-based transistor array that is compatible with living biological cells and capable of recording the electrical signals they generate. This proof-of-concept platform opens the way for further investigation of a promising new material. Graphene's distinctive combination of characteristics makes it a leading contender for future biomedical applications...
Ultra-tiny zinc oxide (ZnO) particles with dimensions less than one-ten-millionth of a meter are among the ingredients list of some commercially available sunscreen products, raising concerns about whether the particles may be absorbed beneath the outer layer of skin. To help answer these safety questions, an international team of scientists from Australia and Switzerland have developed a way to optically test the concentration of ZnO nanoparticles at different skin depths. They found that...
Rice researchers' two-step technique makes graphene suitable for organic chemistry The future brightened for organic chemistry when researchers at Rice University found a highly controllable way to attach organic molecules to pristine graphene, making the miracle material suitable for a range of new applications. The Rice lab of chemist James Tour, building upon a set of previous finds in the manipulation of graphene, discovered a two-step method that turned what was a single-atom-thick...
