Recent Headlines:

Nanofabrication:

Scientists Just Developed the World’s Smallest Transistor – Science Alert

Scientists have succeeded in creating the world’s smallest transistor, producing a switch with a working 1-nanometre gate. If you want to know how incredibly tiny that is, a human hair is around 80,000 to 100,000 nanometres wide.

On the Thermodynamic Path Enabling a Room-temperature, Laser-assisted Graphite to Nanodiamond Transformation – Nature

Nanodiamonds are the subject of active research for their potential applications in nano-magnetometry, quantum optics, bioimaging and water cleaning processes.

Fujitsu Gambles to Replace DRAM with NRAM Using Carbon Nanotubes – Electronics 360

Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited and Mie Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited have signed an agreement to license NRAM non-volatile RAM using carbon nanotubes from Nantero Inc.

Highly Stable, Extremely High-temperature, Nonvolatile Memory Based on Resistance Switching in Polycrystalline Pt Nanogaps – Nature

Highly stable, nonvolatile, high-temperature memory based on resistance switching was realized using a polycrystalline platinum (Pt) nanogap.

A “Nano-golf Course” to Precisely Assemble Nanoparticles – AZO NANO

EPFL researchers have developed a method to place and position hundreds of thousands of nanoparticles very precisely on a one centimeter square surface.

5-Axis Machining at the Nanoscale – Engineering

A new tool at the University of Wisconsin – Madison College of Engineering could lead to very small changes in the manufacturing industry—small changes with a massive impact.

Photonics:

Nanotechnology for Energy Materials: Electrodes Like Leaf Veins – Science Daily

Scientists have recently demonstrated for these applications that networks of metallic mesh possessing fractal-like nano-features surpass other metallic networks in utility.

Nanomaterials for Optical Data Storage – Nature Reviews

The growing amount of data that is generated every year creates an urgent need for new and improved data storage methods.

Electrically Driven Light Source Used in Quantum Photonic Circuit for the First Time – Science News Journal

Optical quantum computers could potentially be used for quantum simulation of highly complex systems, safe data encryption and ultrafast calculation of huge data volumes.

Non-linear Excitation of Quantum Emitters in Hexagonal Boron Nitride Multiplayers – AIP Scitation

Two-photon absorption is an important non-linear process employed for high resolution bio-imaging and non-linear optics.

Quantum-Dot Solar Windows Evolve With ‘Doctor-Blade’ Spreading – Genesis Nano Tech

In a paper this week for the journal Nature Energy, a Los Alamos National Laboratory research team demonstrates an important step in taking quantum dot, solar-powered windows from the laboratory to the construction site by proving that the technology can be scaled up from palm-sized demonstration models to windows large enough to put in and power a building.

Broadband Full-color Monolithic InGaN Light-emitting Diodes by Self-assembled InGaN Quantum Dots – Nature

We have presented broadband full-color monolithic InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by self-assembled InGaN quantum dots (QDs) using metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).

Bio-Medical:

Combinatorial Nanocarrier Based Drug Delivery Approach for Amalgamation of Anti-tumor Agents in Bresat Cancer Cells: An Improved Nanomedicine Strategies – Nature

Combination therapy of multiple drugs through a single system is exhibiting high therapeutic effects.

New Nanosensors for Measuring Enzyme Levels, Help Choose Appropriate Cancer Treatments – AZO NANO

An MIT research team has built nanosensors capable of profiling tumors and may help to discover how they will react to certain therapies. The system is designed according to levels of enzymes known as proteases, which cancer cells use to remodel their surroundings.

New, Carbon-nanotube Tool for Ultra-sensitive-early Virus Detection and Identification (HIV/Aids – Ebola – Zika) – Genesis Nano Tech

A new tool that uses a forest-like array of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes that can be finely tuned to selectively trap viruses by their size can increase the detection threshold for viruses and speed the process of identifying newly-emerging viruses.

Atomic-scale MRI Holds Promise for New Drug Discovery – Phys.org

Researchers at the University of Melbourne have developed a way to radically miniaturise a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine using atomic-scale quantum computer technology.

Insights Into the Microwave Non-thermal Effect for Tumor Therapy – Nano Werk

Microwave hyperthermia is one of the most important clinical thermotherapy techniques due to the instinctive advantages of non-intrusive heating model, fair depth of penetration in tissues and ideal potential of killing tumor cells without surgical risks or toxicity of chemotherapy.

New Study Shows That Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Inhibit Tumour Growth – Nano Werk

The intravenous iron-replacement product ferumoxytol and other iron oxide nanoparticles are being used for treating iron deficiency, as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, and as drug carriers.

Materials:

Simulations Show how to Turn Graphene’s Defects Into Assets – Science Daily

Controlling defects in two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, may lead to improved membranes for water desalination, energy storage, sensing or advanced protective coatings.

2-D Boron may be Best for Flexible Electronics – Science Daily

Though they’re touted as ideal for electronics, two-dimensional materials like graphene may be too flat and hard to stretch to serve in flexible, wearable devices. “Wavy” borophene might be better, according to scientists.

Newly Developed Fabric Can Break Down Chemical Warfare Agents – Science News Journal

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) can currently not be degraded by materials designed for protecting soldiers against them. The carbon-based materials can only adsorb hazardous compounds.

Rice University Lab Uses Electron Beam to Convert Nanorods into Multistate Switches – AZO Nano

Rice University scientists have discovered how to subtly change the interior structure of semi-hollow nanorods in a way that alters how they interact with light, and because the changes are reversible, the method could form the basis of a nanoscale switch with enormous potential.

Silkworms That Eat Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Spin Tougher Silk – Chemical & Engineering News

Researchers now report a clever way to make the gossamer threads even stronger and tougher: by feeding silkworms graphene or single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Sensors:

‘Sensing Skin’ Detects Cracks, Harmful Chemicals in Structures – NC State University

Researchers have developed a multi-layered “sensing skin” to detect corrosive or otherwise harmful substances in structures. The skin can also detect cracks and other structural flaws that are invisible to the naked eye.

A Novel Bio-mimicking, Planar Nano-edge Microelectrode Enables Enhanced Long-term Neural Recording – Nature

Our inability to accurately monitor individual neurons and their synaptic activity precludes fundamental understanding of brain function under normal and various pathological conditions.

Imec and Holst Centre Present the World’s Most Energy-Efficient Biomedical Sensor Hub for Wearable Health Applications – AZO Nano

World-leading research and development center for nano-electronics and digital technology, imec, and Holst Centre (established by imec and TNO), today announced a new sensor hub integrated as a system-on-chip (SoC) intended for a broad range of wearable health devices and applications.

‘Poring over’ DNA: Advancing Nanopore Sensing Towards Lower Cost and More Accurate DNA Sequencing – PHYS.org

In a future of personalized medicine, doctors may quickly glean the changes in the DNA sequences of patients that predispose them to specific diseases or determine the most appropriate therapeutic approach simply by analyzing a saliva sample. At present, however, reading DNA sequences from genomes using current next generation sequencing methods is still a costly endeavor restricted to well-equipped laboratories.

New Sensor Material Could Enable More Sensitive Readings of Biological Signals – Nano Werk

Scientists have created a material that could make reading biological signals, from heartbeats to brainwaves, much more sensitive.