Oct 23, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Nanoplastics, emerging as persistent environmental pollutants, pose significant threats due to their durability and wide distribution in water bodies. Their interactions with natural organic matter are critical, influencing pollutant retention, microbial processes, and the carbon cycle. However, the structural complexity of both aged nanoplastics and...
Taking the ‘vibrational fingerprints’ of molecules got 100 times faster
Oct 23, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Researchers Takuma Nakamura, Kazuki Hashimoto, and Takuro Ideguchi of the Institute for Photon Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo have increased by a 100-fold the measurement rate of Raman spectroscopy, a common technique for measuring the “vibrational fingerprint” of molecules in order to...
New technique can ‘hear’ defects in promising nanomaterial
Oct 23, 2024 (Nanowerk News) An international research team led by NYU Tandon School of Engineering and KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) has pioneered a new technique to identify and characterize atomic-scale defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a two-dimensional (2D) material often dubbed "white graphene" for...
Single-transistor neuron redefines efficiency in neuromorphic computing
Oct 22, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Computing systems have made impressive progress, but they still fall short when compared to the human brain’s energy efficiency and adaptability. Biological neurons handle complex tasks like decision-making and pattern recognition with minimal energy, while conventional computers require significantly more power and complex circuitry even...
Researchers succeed in taking 3D x-ray images of a skyrmion
Oct 22, 2024 (Nanowerk News) A difficult-to-describe nanoscale object called the magnetic skyrmion might one day yield new microelectronic devices that can do much more — for example, massive data storage — all while consuming much less power. But researchers need a more detailed understanding of skyrmions if they are...
Detector system integrated with 2D material enables spectral detection of polaritons
Oct 22, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Polaritons are coupled excitations of electromagnetic waves with either charged particles or vibrations in the atomic lattice of a given material. They are widely used in nanophotonics because of their ability to confine light at extremely small volumes, on the order of nanometers, which is...
Femtosecond-fieldoscopy accesses molecules fingerprints at near-infrared spectral range
Oct 22, 2024 (Nanowerk News) In a breakthrough that could revolutionise biomarker detection, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light have developed a novel technique called ‘femtosecond-fieldoscopy’. This method enables the precise measurement of minute liquid quantities, down to the micromolar level, with unmatched sensitivity in...
Breakthrough in synthesizing carbon nanotubes with precise chirality
Oct 22, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by developing a novel catalyst that allows for precise control over their atomic arrangement, known as chirality. This advancement paves the way for the creation of innovative semiconductor devices, addressing a challenge...
Graphene-based e-nose sniffs out damaged fruit and spoiled meat
Oct 21, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Although smell has historically played an important role in the fight against diseases such as the plague and tuberculosis, the human nose is generally not sensitive enough to be used as a reliable diagnostic tool. However, a new artificial ‘nose’ inspired by our sense of...
The science behind using plasmonic nanogaps to control light
Oct 21, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Plasmonic nanogaps – spaces between closely arranged metal nanostructures – are making waves in the field of nanotechnology for their ability to confine and enhance light at a scale previously thought impossible. These ultra-tiny gaps, often just a few nanometers wide, amplify the interactions between...