Nanomaterial

Scientists at the University of Missouri have created a nanocapsule capable of targeted substance delivery, with potential applications in medical and scientific fields. This advancement, which uses a structure similar to gecko feet, signifies a major step in supramolecular chemistry and could transform how drugs and nutrients are delivered in biological systems. (Artist’s concept)University of Missouri researchers’ conceptual design of a nanomaterial could potentially pave the way for new uses of nanotechnology in…

The new material could be used to act as a nano-scale switch or even a motor.Scientists at Rice University have discovered a new workable feature of a particular class of 2D materials.Rice University materials scientist Boris Yakobson and his team have uncovered a property of ferroelectric 2D materials that has the potential to be exploited as a feature in future devices.According to a study published in ACS Nano, single-layer ferroelectric materials, due to their ability to bend in response to an electrical stimulus, can…

A new study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology has found that the nanomaterial graphene oxide, which is used in a variety of applications including electronics and biomolecule sensors, can indirectly impact the immune system through the gut microbiome in zebrafish.The nanomaterial <span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt" data-cmtooltip="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>graphene</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a…

A reaction cell tests copper-iron plasmonic photocatalysts for hydrogen production from ammonia. Credit: Brandon Martin/Rice UniversityInexpensive catalyst uses energy from light to turn ammonia into hydrogen fuel.A key light-activated nanomaterial for the hydrogen economy has been engineered by researchers at Rice University. Using only inexpensive raw materials, scientists created a scalable catalyst that needs only the power of light to convert ammonia into clean-burning hydrogen fuel.“This discovery paves the way for…

The latest in nanoscale 3D scanning techniques have been used to reveal some of the finest secrets of a medieval material known as Zwischgold (part-gold): an ultra-thin metal foil consisting of a gold top layer and a silver base, used to gild sculptures.Up until now, only 2D cross-sections of the materials had been studied, but in a new study researchers have been able to create 3D representations of Zwischgold for the first time, revealing how it was put together and why historians might face challenges in restoring…

A synthesis procedure developed by NITech scientists can convert fish scales obtained from fish waste into a useful carbon-based nanomaterial. Their approach uses microwaves to break the scales down thermally via pyrolysis in less than 10 seconds, yielding carbon nano-onions with unprecedented quality compared with those obtained from conventional methods. Credit: Takashi Shirai from NITech, JapanResearchers create a simple, quick, and energy-efficient approach for synthesizing quality carbon nano-onions from fish…