Apr 03, 2026 A heat-resistant titanium dioxide scaffold makes it possible to nanoimprint reconfigurable phase-change metasurfaces over large areas, achieving infrared modulation and switchable chirality. (Nanowerk Spotlight) A smartphone camera lens is several millimeters thick because conventional optics rely on curved glass to bend light. A metasurface can do the...
New platinum nanocatalyst design could accelerate hydrogen fuel cell commercialization
Apr 03, 2026 Researchers developed a ternary platinum-cobalt-manganese nanocatalyst with tenfold higher activity and 96% durability retention for hydrogen fuel cells. (Nanowerk News) A team of researchers in South Korea has developed a ternary platinum-based nanocatalyst that substantially outperforms conventional options in both activity and durability, addressing two persistent obstacles...
Biohybrid microrobot can execute continuous task sequences across unrelated fields
Apr 02, 2026 A single microrobot cleans pollutants from wastewater then repurposes them to kill cancer cells, executing both tasks in sequence without retrieval or reprocessing between jobs. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Most micro- and nanorobots can already do more than one thing. Some combine medical imaging with targeted heating to destroy...
Watching sunlight turn into fuel and oxygen, in real time
Apr 02, 2026 Solar photocatalysis could enable clean fuel production, and a new method reveals water splitting and charge flow in real time at the nanoscale. (Nanowerk News) Solar-power photocatalysis - turning sunlight into energy - holds promise for sustainable and cost-efficient energy and chemical production. Advancing the technology, though,...
Graphene ‘nano-aquariums’ let scientists film single atoms in liquid for the first time (w/video)
Apr 02, 2026 Scientists sealed tiny pockets of liquid between graphene sheets to capture atomic-resolution videos of gold atoms moving at solid-liquid interfaces. (Nanowerk News) A team led by scientists at the National Graphene Institute (NGI) at The University of Manchester developed the first technique capable of capturing atomic‑resolution videos...
Atomic distortions reveal new clues about superconductivity
Apr 02, 2026 A new study shows how tiny changes in atomic structure can strongly influence whether a material becomes superconducting. (Nanowerk News) A team of researchers has identified atomic distortions that may be linked with high-temperature superconductivity in a promising class of nickel-based materials, offering new insight into how...
Machine learning designs cheaper and rust-proof steel for 3D printing
Apr 02, 2026 A machine-learning strategy has generated a new class of ultra-high strength and ductility steel for 3D printing that costs less, resists rust, and requires only a fraction of the usual processing time. (Nanowerk News) In International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing ("Interpretable machine learning integrated with physicochemical feature...
A Bessel lens with a flat lens unveils technology that creates a nondiffracting bottle laser
Apr 02, 2026 A compact approach enables sharp light structures that propagate over long distances. (Nanowerk News) Most laser sources produce Gaussian beams that diverge as they propagate. This natural spreading limits their effectiveness in applications that require light to remain concentrated over long distances. To overcome this challenge, structured...
Baby stars release magnetic bursts forming vast 1000 AU gas rings
Apr 02, 2026 Astronomers observe protostars producing rings of gas and magnetic flux as they grow. (Nanowerk News) Researchers have uncovered new insights into the early development of baby stars. Publishing in The Astrophysical Journal Letters ("ALMA Band 9 CO(6--5) Reveals a Warm Ring Structure Associated with the Embedded Protostar...
Dual self-assembly hydrogel enables responsive 3D printing
Apr 02, 2026 Researchers have engineered a novel dynamic chitosan hydrogel that senses environmental changes and redefines the boundaries of 3D printing. (Nanowerk News) In the world of advanced materials, the ultimate goal is to create a substance that possesses the adaptability of biological tissue: it must be strong enough...