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Highly sensitive SWCNT-based pyroelectric phototransistors enable broadband room-temperature infrared detection

Researchers have developed a detector that delivers high sensitivity while operating at ordinary room temperature, using carbon nanotubes and a pyroelectric lithium niobate crystal. The device surpasses earlier graphene-based detectors by several orders of magnitude and offers a broad spectral range without cryogenic cooling.

SourceEditorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals Group·JournalOpto-Electronic Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2026

Paint it black(er): A new way to make cars darker than ever

Scientists have created a practical way to make ultra-black coatings that meet automotive standards, using a composite of carbon black pigment and carbon nanotubes. The resulting color is a deep jet black with excellent long-term stability, opening the door for high-end car models in darker hues.

SourceCell Press·JournalMatter & Light·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 18, 2026

Nanometer nanotubes for future electronics

Scientists from the University of Tokyo have successfully synthesized 1-nanometer-wide, single-walled MoS2 nanotubes with well-defined atomic structures. These ultrafine materials could provide a new route toward miniaturized electronic devices and expand nanotube science beyond carbon.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 4, 2026

Tunnel-building virus: How Zika transmits from mother to fetus

Researchers at Penn State discovered that Zika virus builds tiny tunnels called tunneling nanotubes to transport material needed to infect nearby cells, including in placental cells. This allows the virus to cross the placental barrier without raising alarm in the immune system.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateMar 17, 2025

Carbon nanotube yarns generate electricity from waste heat

Researchers at Okayama University have developed a novel method to produce carbon nanotube yarns with excess electrons that can harvest waste heat. The yarns achieved high thermoelectric power factors within temperatures ranging from 30 to 200 °C, making them suitable for practical applications such as fabric-based modules.

SourceOkayama University·JournalSmall Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 25, 2024

Unveiling Oxidation-induced Super-elasticity in Metallic Glass Nanotubes

A research team led by Professor Yang Yong found that severely oxidized metallic glass nanotubes can attain an ultrahigh recoverable elastic strain of up to 14% at room temperature. The discovery implies that oxidation in low-dimension metallic glass can result in unique properties for applications in sensors, medical devices, and othe...

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 2, 2024

New recipes for better solar fuel production

A team of researchers from China and the UK has developed new ways to optimise the production of solar fuels by creating novel photocatalysts. These photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide with boron nitride, can absorb more wavelengths of light and produce more hydrogen compared to traditional methods.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalApplied Surface Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2023

Confinement effects of carbon nanotubes on polyoxometalate clusters enhance electrochemical energy storage

Researchers have developed a method to encapsulate polyoxometalate molecules within carbon nanotubes, enhancing the electrochemical energy storage of materials. The study found that these hybrids exhibit improved electrochemical properties due to reduced aggregation and increased electron transfer.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateJun 8, 2023

The secrets of polydopamine coatings revealed

Researchers at the University of Groningen have discovered the exact structure of polydopamine coatings, which could lead to new applications in surface adhesion and neurodegenerative disease treatment. The study found that these coatings form through auto-oxidation, crosslinking and isomerization processes.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2023

Growing pure nanotubes is a stretch, but possible

Materials theorists Boris Yakobson and Ksenia Bets propose a method to control the growth of carbon nanotubes by constraining the carbon feedstock in a furnace. This approach allows for the production of batches with single desired chirality, which is essential for highly conductive applications. The researchers suggest etching away lo...

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

Acidic layer in single-walled carbon nanotubes facilitates confinement of anion impurities

Researchers at Okayama University found that an acidic adsorption layer in carbon nanotubes facilitates efficient adsorption of negatively charged nitrate anions, making the aqueous solution alkaline. This study provides a novel model for designing carbon nanotubes suitable for ion adsorption and purification.

SourceOkayama University·JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

Pipes two million times smaller than an ant

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have engineered microscopic pipes made of nanotubes that can transport molecules over long distances without leaking. The team successfully directed the flow of fluorescent molecules through the nanotubes, which could potentially be used to study diseases and understand how neurons interact with ...

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 7, 2022

Recycling greenhouse gases

The TU Wien team has created a catalyst that can convert CO2 and methane into synthesis gas without the formation of carbon nanotubes. This approach, called dry reforming, has the potential to convert climate-damaging greenhouse gases into valuable products.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalApplied Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 1, 2022

Actuator discovery outperforms existing technology

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed an electrochemical actuator that utilizes organic semiconductor nanotubes, exhibiting high performance and tunable dynamics in liquid and gel-polymer electrolytes. The device demonstrates excellent stability, low power consumption, and fast response time.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateSep 3, 2021

Optically active defects improve carbon nanotubes

Researchers at Heidelberg University have created a new reaction pathway to enable the controlled creation of specific optically active defects in carbon nanotubes. These defects emit light in the near-infrared and show single-photon emission, paving the way for applications in quantum cryptography and biological imaging.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 9, 2021

Sheets of carbon nanotubes come in a rainbow of colours

Researchers at Aalto University have created a colour atlas for 466 unique varieties of single-walled carbon nanotubes, revealing their potential applications in electronics and solar panels. The study developed a quantitative model to predict the specific colors of thin films made by combining any of the 466 varieties.

SourceAalto University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateDec 14, 2020

Sheets of carbon nanotubes come in a rainbow of colors

Scientists have developed a method to predict the specific colors of thin films made from combining any of the 466 varieties of single-walled carbon nanotubes. The research shows that the thinnest and most colorful tubes affect visible light more than those with larger diameters and faded colors.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateDec 14, 2020

Chemists get peek at novel fluorescence

Rice University scientists have discovered a novel phenomenon in carbon nanotubes, where a delayed secondary fluorescence is emitted when triggered by a multistep process involving dye molecules and dissolved oxygen. The delay, only microseconds long, can be detected with specialized instrumentation.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 3, 2020