A NASA-developed nanotech-based coating absorbs on average more than 99 percent of ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and far-infrared light, making it useful for suppressing stray light in space instruments. This material can help scientists gather hard-to-obtain measurements of distant objects without interference from background light.
Research shows that maintaining wildlands in and among vineyards significantly improves carbon storage. This approach can help balance global atmospheric carbon by increasing vegetation and biodiversity while reducing emissions.
Green algae exposed to carbon nanotubes exhibit reduced growth rates and photosynthetic activity, primarily caused by increased shadowing and agglomeration. However, the absence of absorption by the plants indicates that CNTs do not pose a direct toxic threat.
Carbon nanotubes have been used to increase the electrical conductivity of silicon nitride by 13 orders of magnitude, enabling the production of intricate micro-components without compromising production time or integrity. The resulting nanocomposite materials offer improved wear resistance and preservation of mechanical properties.
Researchers have developed a biosensor using carbon nanotubes that can detect salmonella bacteria, offering a potential solution to preventing food poisoning. The device's sensitivity and specificity make it a promising tool for controlling food safety outbreaks.
The new sensor uses a transparent film of single-walled carbon nanotubes that can stretch up to twice its original length in any direction without permanent deformation. It can detect pressure ranging from a firm pinch to elephant-like pressure, making it suitable for medical applications and prosthetic limbs.
Researchers have developed novel motors that twist like elephant trunks, providing a thousand times higher rotation per length than previous artificial muscles. The motors use carbon nanotube yarns and can accelerate a paddle up to 590 revolutions per minute, making them suitable for applications such as microfluidic pumps and mixers.
The Baltic Sea is a significant source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to a recent study by the University of Gothenburg. The sea's ability to absorb carbon dioxide without increasing acidity has decreased in some regions, while increased in others due to local variations.
Carbon nanotubes have exceptional thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties, but agglomerate formation hinders their full potential. Simulations using the Ohio Supercomputer Center unveil the effectiveness of tie molecules in improving CNTs' stability and performance.
Researchers discovered two previously overlooked stages of carbon nanotube growth, including a disorderly tangle of tube growth that yields to orderly rows. The discovery sheds light on the controlled growth phases and their purposes in producing aligned carbon nanotubes for various materials and biomedical research.
A new material made of carbon nanotubes provides a cost-efficient alternative to current technology, boosting the long-term viability of solar power. The material's mechanical flexibility enables integration into fabrics and clothing, paving the way for portable energy supplies.
The discovery of GNR@SWNTs opens up potential applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and energy storage. Researchers have found that the shape of encapsulated graphene nanoribbons can be modified by different polyaromatic hydrocarbon molecules, allowing for metallic or semiconductor properties.
Researchers at Brown University found that carbon nanotubes enter cells tip-first and at a 90-degree angle, often causing repeated inflammation. The team's study suggests that understanding how nanomaterials interact with cells is crucial for designing products that help cells rather than harm them.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully powered a fluorescent light bulb using a cable made of carbon nanotubes, which is six times lighter than copper and silver. The new material shows great promise for use in applications where weight is critical, such as airplanes and automobiles.
Rice University scientists have developed a solid-state, nanotube-based supercapacitor that combines the benefits of batteries and capacitors. The new device is stable, scalable, and suitable for extreme environments, with potential applications in electronics, sensors, and renewable energy systems.
Recent tests by NIST suggest device reliability is a major issue with carbon nanotubes. The material can sustain high current densities but slowly degrades under constant current, leading to circuit failures in about 40 hours.
Carbon nanotubes have been found to be reactive when a transition metal atom is present within the nanotube cavity, challenging previous scientific thinking. This discovery has significant implications for the development of new technologies, including gas storage devices and electronic components.
Researchers at Caltech used a novel method to calculate the dynamics of water molecules and found that entropy plays a crucial role in explaining why water spontaneously flows into carbon nanotubes. The team discovered three different reasons why water would flow freely into tubes, depending on diameter.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have pioneered a new method for producing graphene nanoribbons, which could revolutionize electronic devices. The breakthrough allows for the creation of nano-switches, nano-actuators, and nano-transistors with unprecedented physical properties.
A new study provides a detailed account of the natural carbon cycle in agriculture, revealing that regions dependent on others for food release more carbon than they take in. The researchers developed a national crop carbon budget, finding that the crops absorb and return about 37% of the US's total annual carbon dioxide emissions.
Researchers at NIST describe using tailored DNA strands to purify armchair carbon nanotubes, essential for 'quantum wires'. This breakthrough enables mass production of these nanotubes, promising 10x better conductivity and lower loss.
The Penn team successfully grafted olfactory receptors onto carbon nanotubes, enabling the conversion of chemical signals into electrical signals. This technology has potential applications in pharmaceutical research and could help develop new treatments for diseases by targeting specific GPCRs.
Researchers at the University of Vienna have developed a method called "passive sampling" to measure the affinity of contaminants to carbon nanotubes. This method provides reliable results for realistic applications and can remove pollutants from contaminated water, making it a promising technology for water filtration.
Researchers at NIST have created a dense array of extra-long carbon nanotubes called VANTA, which absorbs nearly all light of long wavelengths, making it a promising coating for prototype detectors. The coating is easy to handle and has desirable thermal properties.
Scientists report that the world's forests store approximately 2.4 gigatons of carbon per year, with boreal forests accounting for nearly 22% of total stored carbon. A warming climate may reduce the capacity of forests to sequester carbon, highlighting the importance of understanding their role in the global carbon cycle.
Rice University scientists have developed a cable made of metallic nanotubes that can carry electricity with minimal loss. The 'amplified' nanotubes are created by chemically attaching an iron/cobalt catalyst to the ends of nanotubes and fine-tuning the temperature and environment for amplification.
A recent study published in the journal Carbon Management suggests that using wood products can reduce carbon emissions by up to 10 tons per ton, making them a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Sustainably managed forests are found to be essentially carbon neutral, but older forests have limited capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.
MIT researchers have developed a novel method for storing solar energy by modifying carbon nanotubes with azobenzene, resulting in an efficient and cost-effective solution. The new material has a high volumetric energy density comparable to lithium-ion batteries, making it promising for applications such as heating and energy storage.
Researchers developed a supramolecular system combining single-walled carbon nanotubes with porous silicate materials, enabling the study of interactions between carbon nanotubes and a wide range of photoluminescent molecules. The platform holds promise for applications in catalysis, artificial photosynthesis, and hydrogen splitting.
A Japan-based research team studied the phase behavior of confined water in single-walled carbon nanotubes, discovering a wet-dry transition at low temperatures and tubule ice formation. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of nanoconfined water and its potential applications in nanoscience.
NJIT researchers Reginald C. Farrow and Zafer Iqbal developed a method to fabricate arrays of nanoscale electrical probes, which may lead to improved diagnostic tools for measuring biological cell activity. The patented technique allows for precise control over the location of individual nanotubes in an array.
A recent study by the University of Edinburgh found that certain types of carbon nanotubes could cause cancer in the lining of the lung. Researchers discovered that longer nanotubes were more likely to get stuck in the lung cavity and ultimately cause mesothelioma.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed an improved imaging method using fluorescent carbon nanotubes that allows them to see centimeters deep into a mouse with far more clarity than conventional dyes provide. This breakthrough enables the simultaneous drug delivery and imaging of internal organs in real-time.
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel method to enhance solar-cell efficiency by utilizing viruses to assemble carbon nanotubes on a surface. This technique has shown significant improvements in power-conversion efficiency, with enhancements up to 10.6 percent.
The USC Viterbi team built a carbon nanotube synapse circuit that reproduces neuron input behavior, a significant step towards developing brain prostheses. The fabricated synapse is simplified, but understanding the process of human intelligence could lead to breakthroughs in prosthetic technology and intelligent cars.
Scientists at Eindhoven University of Technology have developed a new transparent, conducting film made from commonly available materials, offering a rare metal-free alternative to indium tin oxide. The material, produced in water, has an important advantage over ITO: it is environment-friendly and suitable for flexible displays.
Catalysts made of carbon nanotubes dipped in a polymer solution have been shown to equal the energy output and outperform platinum catalysts in fuel cells. The new process is simpler and cheaper, reducing the cost of fuel cells by up to 75%.
Researchers found that graphene oxide's solubility is not as expected, with most oxygen content being loosely bound and easily removable by a wash with base. The study reveals that models for graphene oxide structure need revisiting, affecting synthesis and application of chemically modified graphene.
Researchers at TUM developed a new method to measure photocurrent in nanoscale photodetectors with picosecond precision, enabling faster detection of electrons. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of optoelectronic components such as nanoscale photodetectors and solar cells.
A new carbon material, engineered to be the lightest solid, shows promise in detecting pollutants, improving robotic surgery techniques, and storing energy more efficiently. The material's large surface area allows for great amounts of energy storage, increasing the capacity of lithium batteries.
A Rice University lab has created a technique to disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes in water using ruthenium complexes, keeping their unique properties intact. The new approach allows for the simultaneous addition of functionalities, advancing applications in imaging sensors, catalysis, and solar-activated hydrogen fuel cells.
Rice University researchers settle a long-standing controversy in polymer dynamics by proving that flexibility enhances the mobility of stiff filaments. The study shows that nanotubes and other fine filaments can navigate through crowded environments and fixed networks with ease, paving the way for new sensing technologies.
Researchers at Purdue University have created a new type of solar cell that can self-repair like natural photosynthetic systems. The technology uses carbon nanotubes and DNA to continuously replace damaged dye molecules, mimicking nature's self-repair mechanism.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a method to cut single-walled carbon nanotubes with precision, enabling the creation of higher-quality nanotubes for various applications. The technique involves sonicating the nanotubes in water, causing them to fracture due to compressive atom ejection.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) highlights NJIT's research in directed self-assembly of vertical nanotubes for practical applications. The projects demonstrate innovative approaches to creating functional devices at molecular scales.
Rice University physicists have created a formula to calculate the energies of graphene cut at any angle, which could lead to controlling the chirality of nanotubes. This breakthrough has profound implications for nanotube growth and offers rational ways to control their symmetry.
Researchers have found a way to improve the reliability of carbon nanotube-based nanoelectromechanical systems by using diamond-like carbon electrodes. This enables reliable switching and storage of binary states in devices, advancing the technology from laboratory-scale demonstrations to practical applications.
Rice University researchers found that adding tiny amounts of ozone to single-walled carbon nanotubes decorates them with oxygen atoms, enhancing their near-infrared fluorescence intensity and shifting the wavelength. The process is simple enough for a physical chemist to do, and lab tests showed stable fluorescent properties for months.
A recent study by Dr. Nan Yao and his team found that carbon nanotubes induced programmed cell death in plant cells, with the effect being dosage-dependent. The researchers discovered that only single-wall carbon nanotubes caused cell damage, while other types of particles did not.
Researchers have developed an advanced imaging technology to rapidly screen single-wall carbon nanotubes, which could be used in creating a new class of computers and electronics. The technique, called transient absorption, measures the metallicity of the tubes and may be combined with another laser to zap unwanted metallic nanotubes.
Scientists from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena developed a new process to grow carbon nanotubes on scanning probe tips, utilizing microwave radiation for rapid growth. The method improves the fabrication of sharp atomic force microscopy tips, reducing costs and enabling routine measurements.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have created intricate, curving 3-D nanostructures from carbon nanotubes using capillary action forces. These shapes can harness the exceptional mechanical, thermal, electrical, and chemical properties of carbon nanotubes in a scalable fashion.
Researchers at MIT have successfully stored energy in carbon nanotubes using a thermopower process, which converts chemical energy into electricity. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient power generation and storage systems.
Researchers used transmission electron microscopy to study the effects of increasing hydrogen concentrations on iron metal catalysts. They found that too much hydrogen causes fibers with thick walls, instead of nanotubes, or no growth at all.
New studies on carbon nanotubes indicate they are at least 117 times stronger than steel and 30 times stronger than Kevlar, expanding commercial and industrial applications.
Researchers at MIT have created a way to funnel solar energy using carbon nanotubes, allowing for smaller and more powerful solar arrays. The technology could increase the efficiency of photovoltaic cells by concentrating photons into tiny spots with antennas that capture and focus light energy.
Researchers have observed single ions marching through a tiny carbon nanotube channel, allowing for extremely sensitive detectors or new water-desalination systems. The channels can also study chemical reactions at the single-molecule level.
Researchers at NIST create a laser power detector coated with the world's darkest material, a forest of carbon nanotubes that reflects almost no light. The new detector will be used for precision measurements in advanced technologies like optical communications and solar energy conversion.
A study by Rice University geochemists found that human activities like damming have completely obscured the natural carbon dioxide cycle in the Brazos River. The researchers used radiocarbon dating to determine the age of carbon dioxide samples from seven sites along the river, revealing a unique geochemical story.
Donna Nelson, a University of Oklahoma professor, has been selected as a 2010 American Chemical Society Fellow for her contributions to the chemical sciences and outstanding service. She is recognized for her research on minorities in academe and functionalizing single-walled carbon nanotubes.