https://phys.org/nanotech-news/nano-materials en-us The latest science news on nanomaterials, nanotechnology, nanoparticles and nanoscience. The global transition towards sustainability has sparked significant interest in bio-based materials and energy-efficient technologies. Among these, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), derived from renewable resources, have shown great potential for use in composites, biomedical materials, and packaging. However, a major challenge in CNC production is the energy-intensive drying process, which often requires removing large amounts of water from low-concentration suspensions. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ultrasound-technology-drying-renewable-cellulose.html Nanomaterials Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:09:31 EDT news646585769 Tiny nanoparticles are at the forefront of materials science—with special properties that make them great at absorbing light in solar panels, cleaning wastewater, and delivering drugs precisely. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-greener-nanomaterials-everyday.html Nanomaterials Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:35:07 EDT news646580104 A toothpaste-based transistor is the latest innovation from the research team at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) in Milan, which pushes the boundaries of edible electronics. This innovative nano-device is expected to become a key component of future smart pills, designed to monitor health conditions from within the body and then safely dissolve after completing their function. The research findings have been published in the journal Advanced Science. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-edible-toothpaste-based-transistor.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:36:46 EDT news646565801 Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are growing in adoption, used in devices like smartphones and laptops, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. But supplies of nickel and cobalt commonly used in the cathodes of these batteries are limited. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-manganese-cathodes-boost-lithium-ion.html Nanomaterials Wed, 25 Sep 2024 12:57:07 EDT news646487820 Everyone knows it from their childhood days in the sandpit: sand is filtered using a sieve. Larger stones get stuck, while fine sand can fall through the sieve. The same principle is used when making coffee: water and aromatic substances can pass through unhindered, while the fine-grained coffee powder sticks to the coffee filter. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-filtering-mussel-power-nanomembrane-efficient.html Nanomaterials Wed, 25 Sep 2024 12:13:27 EDT news646485198 In the process of oil extraction, hard mineral buildup inside the pipes and equipment can cause serious operational damage, safety issues such as pipe explosion and significant economic losses. The current methods for descaling mineral buildup, however, can adversely impact the environment. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-nanoparticle-mineral-buildup-equipment-oil.html Nanomaterials Wed, 25 Sep 2024 10:25:04 EDT news646478702 A new technology to continuously place individual atoms exactly where they are needed could lead to new materials for devices that address critical needs for the field of quantum computing and communication that cannot be produced by conventional means, say scientists who developed it. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-atoms-materials-fabrication-quantum-devices.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:24:04 EDT news646417441 Researchers from Qingdao University have synthesized VO2@VS2 hollow nanospheres using a one-step hydrothermal process, creating a highly efficient cathode material for zinc-ion batteries. This powerful heterostructure significantly enhances battery performance, delivering a reversible capacity of 468 mAh g−1 and maintaining 85% retention after 1,000 cycles. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-team-vovs-hydrothermal-synthesis-stable.html Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:09:30 EDT news646412966 With strong bactericidal properties, graphene has the potential to become a game changer in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. So far there have been no efficient ways to control these properties—and thus no way to make use of graphene's potential in health care. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-graphene-spike-mat-ordinary-fridge.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:50:12 EDT news646401006 Battery performance is heavily influenced by the non-uniformity and failure of individual electrode particles. Understanding the reaction mechanisms and failure modes at nanoscale level is key to advancing battery technologies and extending their lifespan. However, capturing real-time electrochemical evolution at this scale remains challenging due to the limitations of existing sensing methods, which lack the necessary spatial resolution and sensitivity. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-quantum-approach-captures-nanoscale-electrochemical.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:33:27 EDT news646400005 A research team from Skoltech and other scientific organizations conducted a study to determine which conditions are the most suitable for storing graphene oxide—a promising material that can be used for manufacturing composite materials, gas sensors, and in many other fields. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-reveals-conditions-graphene-oxide.html Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 11:17:03 EDT news646395421 Topological insulators raise the exciting hope of realizing lossless energy transport, which is true at ultralow temperatures. However, topological insulators fail to maintain this lossless 'magic' at room temperature. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-reveal-reality-lossless-energy-topological.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:57:53 EDT news646394267 Twenty years ago this October, two physicists at the University of Manchester, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, published a groundbreaking paper on the "electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films." Their work described the extraordinary electronic properties of graphene, a crystalline form of carbon equivalent to a single layer of graphite, just one atom thick. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-graphene-space-elevator-material-quietly.html Nanomaterials Mon, 23 Sep 2024 13:15:05 EDT news646316102 The future of technology has an age-old problem: rust. When iron-containing metal reacts with oxygen and moisture, the resulting corrosion greatly impedes the longevity and use of parts in the automotive industry. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-free-approach-advance-2d-electronics.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Mon, 23 Sep 2024 12:00:46 EDT news646311641 UC Irvine-led research reveals that the optical properties of materials can be dramatically enhanced—not by changing the materials themselves, but by giving the light new properties. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-momentum-pure-silicon-indirect-bandgap.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:10:02 EDT news646059727 In a study published in Advanced Functional Materials, a research team from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed an oral molecular targeted drug delivery system based on an inulin derivative, which combines gut microbiota modulation with precise drug delivery, enhancing colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-scientists-prebiotic-carrier-regorafenib-colorectal.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:04:54 EDT news646056284 Spintronics uses the spins of electrons to perform logic operations or store information. Ideally, spintronic devices could operate faster and more energy-efficiently than conventional semiconductor devices. However, it is still difficult to create and manipulate spin textures in materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-analysis-heterostructures-spintronics-desired-quantum.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:37:03 EDT news646054621 A research team has unveiled an innovative technology for ultraprecision surface polishing and cleaning using simultaneously operating magnetic micro spinbots. These tiny robots, capable of nanometer-scale contaminant removal and polishing, offer a lightweight, scalable, and cost-effective alternative for advanced industries like semiconductors and optics. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-magnetic-micro-spinbots-ultraprecise-surface.html Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:19:04 EDT news646049941 In a study published in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers discovered that cuproptosis may serve as a new target for radiosensitization in re-irradiation. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-copper-based-nanocapsules-shown-radiotherapy.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:17:22 EDT news646049838 Groundwater is an essential source of drinking water across the country. However, heavy metal contamination in groundwater presents a significant health hazard. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a nanomaterial-based solution that can effectively reduce the presence of heavy metals like chromium in groundwater. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-nanoparticle-based-remediation-chromium-contaminated.html Nanomaterials Thu, 19 Sep 2024 14:19:30 EDT news645974368 Like moths to a flame, microbes can also be moved by light. Using this knowledge, researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University's Research Institute for Light-induced Acceleration System (RILACS) have demonstrated a method to detect the presence of viruses quickly and using only a small sample. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-immunoassay-coronavirus-spike-proteins-minutes.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:02:02 EDT news645958921 As global demand for electrochemical electrodes continues to rise, a new trend has emerged, emphasizing the need to maintain ion diffusion efficiency while accommodating ultra-high loadings of active materials to enhance capacity and energy density. In three-dimensional space, structured electrodes with high porosity and low tortuosity have proven effective in improving the performance of various electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs). https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ion-diffusion-kinetics-interpenetrated-electrochemical.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:22:03 EDT news645895321 As the use of electronic devices continues to rise, the management of electronic waste (e-waste) has become a critical issue. Printed circuit board (PCB) recycling methods are generally classified into physical and chemical approaches. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-upcycling-heterogeneous-cuo-nano-skeletons.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:45:03 EDT news645889501 After thousands of years as a highly valuable commodity, silk continues to surprise. Now it may help usher in a whole new direction for microelectronics and computing. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-2d-silk-protein-layers-graphene.html Nanomaterials Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:40:10 EDT news645889201 A research team has published a work showcasing another practical and scalable application of single-walled carbon nanotubes. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-lifecycle-fast-easy-walled-carbon.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:33:00 EDT news645881576 Thanks to nanoscale devices as small as human cells, researchers can create groundbreaking material properties, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics. However, to fully unlock the potential of nanotechnology, addressing noise is crucial. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-noise-power-nanoscale.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:34:04 EDT news645795241 Researchers at the University of Toronto and its hospital partners have developed a method for co-delivering therapeutic RNA and potent drugs directly into cells, potentially leading to a more effective treatment of diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-method-rna-drugs-cells.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:24:04 EDT news645722642 Water filters on the market today can remove some contaminants, but they're not designed to capture microplastics. In fact, some of them may actually add small plastics into drinking water during the filtration process. What's worse is these microplastics can cause inflammation, increase the risk of cancer and act as carriers for harmful chemicals that trigger other health problems. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-filter-fabric-tiny-plastics.html Nanomaterials Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:38:05 EDT news645709077 Physicists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have achieved controlled conformational arrangements in nanostructures using a flexible precursor and selenium doping, enhancing material properties and structural homogeneity. Their method advances on-surface synthesis for the design and development of engineered nanomaterials. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-physicists-high-nanostructures-selenium-doping.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:27:04 EDT news645697622 A new study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is providing new insights into how next-generation electronics, including memory components in computers, break down or degrade over time. Understanding the reasons for degradation could help improve efficiency of data storage solutions. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-device-malfunctions-current-discovery-microelectronic.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Fri, 13 Sep 2024 12:40:01 EDT news645449793