Nanotechnology Spotlight – Latest Articles

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Showing Spotlights 313 - 320 of 2838 in category All (newest first):

 

Van der Waals infrared photodetectors based on 'optical' and 'electrical' combined manipulations

photodetectorBlackbody response is highly desired in two-dimensional (2D) infrared photodetectors, which determines their practical applications. However, limited by the thickness and complex defects of 2D materials, 2D photodetectors still suffer from problems such as low quantum efficiency and large dark current. Researchers now demonstrate fully depleted self-aligned van der Waals (vdW) photodetectors based on a heterosandwiched structure.

Sep 2nd, 2022

Scientists create a heterostructure of diversely behaving atomic layers within a single bulk material

crystal-structureResearchers have developed a new method to create interlayered bulk materials, comprising atomically-thin layers with highly diverse electronic properties - from insulating to superconducting. The atomistic quantum mechanical simulations and electron microscopy imaging illuminate the origin of this spectacularly diverse behavior between adjacent layers of a single material. Its alternating layered structure makes this material a true 2D superconductor in bulk form and opens a plethora of intriguing questions related to the effect of interlayer coupling on the superconducting behavior.

Aug 30th, 2022

Harvesting energy - drop by drop

dropletsRain can be considered as prolific a sustainable energy source like energy scavenging from solar or wind. Consequently, droplet-driven energy harvesting devices - which offer a simple structure with low-cost materials requirements - have received considerable attention from the global research community. A recent review comprehensively discusses various methods for harvesting water droplets with their future potential for different applications.

Aug 25th, 2022

How nanotechnologies are shaping the future of warfare

Throughout human history, technological progress has been inseparably intertwined with advances in military weaponry. Through the ages we can see how new inventions revolutionized both the living standards of society and the advancement of warfare technology. Today, the rapid emergence and confluence of nanotechnologies, biotechnologies and information technologies in the past two decades is having a huge impact on the development of military technologies.

Aug 23rd, 2022

In-memory mathematical operations with spin-orbit torque devices

photographerResearchers introduce spin orbit torque (SOT) devices to experimentally realize in-memory analogue mathematical operations such as summation, subtraction and four-quadrant multiplication, to implement general-purpose applications such as image or signal processing for edge computing. In addition to nonvolatility and scalability, the CMOS-compatible SOT technique further possesses low energy consumption, high speed and endurance. Therefore, SOT devices offer an avenue for dense in-memory analogue computing paradigms.

Aug 16th, 2022

Identifying favorable immunological profiles suitable for personalized treatments with RNA nanoparticles

nucleic-acid-nanoparticleTherapeutic nucleic acids (TNAs) and nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) are designed to enact specific intracellular responses beneficial for various biomedical applications. TNAs become especially attractive to researchers and clinicians since their functional versatility, programmability and modularity show great promise for treating disorders such as viral infections, cancers, and genetic disorders. Scientists explore how the immune responses to NANPs change with various factors such as dimensionality (3D vs. 2D), composition (DNA vs. RNA), and functionalization with TNAs.

Aug 15th, 2022

Nanobiomimetic strategies for medicine

tumor-cellThe defenses of the body's immune system tend to destroy synthetic nanoparticles and frequently they are captured and removed from the body within few minutes. This, of course, is a major barrier to the use of nanotechnology in medicine. In order to evade the host immune response, researchers are demonstrating that the combination of nanomaterials and biomimetic strategies can change diverse nanomaterials from 'distinguishable state' to 'camouflage state' and thereby improving technologies for nanomedicine applications.

Aug 9th, 2022

Plasmonic nano-dynamite as power source for nanomachines

nanodynamiteOne convenient way to manipulate nanoscale objects with remote controllability is actuation and propulsion by light, which is largely based on optical and photothermal-induced forces. Unfortunately, the output of optical and photothermal-induced forces is small and speed is slow. This changes with a novel and intriguing nanoactuation system: plasmonic nanodynamite. This system can be optically triggered to eject gold nanobullets with an initial speed of up to 300 m/s.

Aug 8th, 2022