Nanomaterials news

Oxygen in place of chlorine: Towards a more environmentally friendly propylene oxide synthesis

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Oct 01, 2009 | 4.8 / 5 (4) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Propylene oxide is an important bulk chemical that is used primarily in the production of polyurethane plastics. Currently, propylene oxide is usually made from propylene (propene) in a process that uses ...

Step forward for nanotechnology: Controlled movement of molecules

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 30, 2009 | 4.8 / 5 (6) | 0

Scientists in the United Kingdom are reporting an advance toward overcoming one of the key challenges in nanotechnology: Getting molecules to move quickly in a desired direction without help from outside forces. Their achievement ...

A step toward better brain implants using conducting polymer nanotubes

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 29, 2009 | 5 / 5 (9) | 1

ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Brain implants that can more clearly record signals from surrounding neurons in rats have been created at the University of Michigan. The findings could eventually lead to more effective ...

Stretching opens up possibilities for graphene

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 28, 2009 | 4.9 / 5 (13) | 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers say they have found a simple way to improve the semiconducting properties of the world’s thinnest material - by giving it a good tug.

New research may lead to revolutionary new devices

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 25, 2009 | 4.3 / 5 (7) | 1

Dr. Jiwoong Park of Cornell University, who receives funding for basic research from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), is investigating carbon nanostructures that may some day be used in ...

Engineers produce 'how-to' guide for controlling the structure of nanoparticles

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 24, 2009 | not rated yet | 0

Tiny objects known as nanoparticles are often heralded as holding great potential for future applications in electronics, medicine and other areas. The properties of nanoparticles depend on their size and structure. Now researchers ...

Harnessing nanopatterns: Tiny textures can produce big differences

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 24, 2009 | 5 / 5 (4) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Research at MIT has uncovered new information about how nanoscale patterns on the surface of a material can produce significant changes in the way it interacts with liquids. The discovery ...

Increasing Electric Car Battery Performance

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 23, 2009 | 4.5 / 5 (20) | 10

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have found that by replacing conventional graphite electrodes with silicon nanotube electrodes, lithium-ion batteries can store 10 times more charge.

Paper battery may power electronics in clothing and packaging material

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 23, 2009 | 5 / 5 (6) | 0

Imagine a gift wrapped in paper you really do treasure and want to carefully fold and save. That's because the wrapping paper lights up with words like "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Holidays," thanks to a built ...

A flash of light turns graphene into a biosensor

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 23, 2009 | 3 / 5 (1) | 3

(PhysOrg.com) -- Biomedical researchers suspect graphene, a novel nanomaterial made of sheets of single carbon atoms, would be useful in a variety of applications. But no one had studied the interaction between ...

Fabrics that fight germs, find explosives go to market

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 22, 2009 | 4.3 / 5 (3) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Two Cornell researchers have launched iFyber LLC, which markets fabrics with embedded nanoparticles to detect explosives and dangerous chemicals or to serve as antibacterials for hospitals.

Springs built from nanotubes could provide big power storage potential

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 21, 2009 | 4.4 / 5 (15) | 10

(PhysOrg.com) -- New research by MIT scientists suggests that carbon nanotubes -- tube-shaped molecules of pure carbon -- could be formed into tiny springs capable of storing as much energy, pound for pound, ...

Public attitudes to nanotechnology: Lessons for regulators

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 21, 2009 | 4 / 5 (1) | 0

New technologies may change our lives for the better, but sometimes they have risks. Communicating those benefits and risks to the public, and developing regulations to deal with them, can be difficult -- particularly if ...

A recipe for controlling carbon nanotubes

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 20, 2009 | 4.9 / 5 (7) | 0

Nanoscopic tubes made of a lattice of carbon just a single atom deep hold promise for delivering medicines directly to a tumor, sensors so keen they detect the arrival or departure of a single electron, a replacement for ...

Making Nanowires More Electrically Stable

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

Sep 17, 2009 | not rated yet | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- It's widely predicted that future electronics will largely depend on something really small -- nanomaterials used for building nanoelectronics. A key component of these tiny circuits is stable nanowires that ...