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Better viewing through fluorescent nanotubes when peering into innards of a mouse

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.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 27, 2011

Exotic behavior when mechanical devices reach the nanoscale

A groundbreaking study by Prof. Adrian Bachtold's team has discovered nonlinear damping behavior in nanoscale mechanical devices, which facilitates amplification of signals and dramatic improvements in sensitivity. The findings have profound consequences for the physics of nanoelectromechanical resonators and will enable significant ad...

Cheap catalyst made easy

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%.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 22, 2011

Bendy tubes get around

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.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateJan 7, 2011

How do you cut a nanotube? Lots of compression

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.

Pure nanotube-type growth edges toward the possible

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.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 6, 2010

Light touch brightens nanotubes

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.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateDec 2, 2010

Smaller is better in the viscous zone

Duke University researchers discovered that smaller catalyst particle size is crucial for improving efficiency in chemical reactions. The team found that the surface-to-volume ratio of the catalyst particle is more important than previously thought, leading to faster reactions.

SourceDuke University·JournalACS Nano·DateOct 21, 2010

Nanotube thermopower

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.

Outstanding in their field effect

Researchers at Rice University have discovered thin films of nanotubes created with ink-jet printers can be used to make field-effect transistors. The technique allows for the creation of digital electronics on flexible substrates, with potential applications in raincoats and other devices.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateMay 25, 2010

Nano parfait a treat for scientists

Scientists at Rice University have made a breakthrough in creating highly purified samples of carbon nanotube species using ultracentrifugation, a technique that can help enable the development of efficient nationwide electrical grids and critical applications in medicine and electronics.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMay 10, 2010

Breakthrough in industrial-scale nanotube processing

Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in industrial-scale nanotube processing, creating a method to produce pure carbon-nanotube fibers that could lead to advances in materials science and nanoelectronics. The process uses chlorosulfonic acid as a solvent, enabling the efficient production of high-quality nanotubes.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 2, 2009

A recipe for controlling carbon nanotubes

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a method to control the structure and function of single-walled carbon nanotubes. By varying the composition of a metal catalyst, they can produce semiconducting nanotubes with desired properties, opening up new possibilities for applications such as medicine delivery and en...

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalNature Materials·DateSep 20, 2009

Video shows nanotube spins as it grows

The study provides the first experimental evidence of how individual carbon atoms are added to growing nanotubes. The rotation proceeds in discrete steps, resembling the halting motion of a mechanical clock's second hand, with approximately 24 steps per rotation.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateJul 27, 2009

Rice researchers unzip the future

Scientists at Rice University have found a way to produce ultrathin, electrically conductive nanoribbons using a room-temperature chemical process. These ribbons are made from graphene, the single-layer form of graphite, and exhibit remarkable strength and conductivity.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2009

Batteries get a boost at Rice

Researchers at Rice University have created hybrid carbon nanotube metal oxide arrays as electrode material that may improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The new design could lead to longer-lasting electric cars and gadgets, as well as enhanced capabilities for electrochemical capacitors and fuel cells.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 9, 2009

Nanotube's 'tapestry' controls its growth

Carbon nanotubes grow through self-assembly forming a 'tapestry' of twisting threads, where each thread's length determines the tube's growth rate. The research reveals a direct relationship between a nanotube's chiral angle and its growth speed.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 5, 2009

UC San Diego engineers develop novel method for accelerated bone growth

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a novel method to accelerate bone growth using nanotubes and stem cells, which could lead to quicker recovery times for patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. The new method uses mesenchymal stem cells placed on top of titanium oxide nanotubes to control cell differentiation into osteoblasts.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 30, 2009

Tsunami invisibility cloak, dark energy v. the void, sorting nanotubes with light, and more

Physicists have made groundbreaking discoveries in various fields of research. Researchers created an 'invisibility cloak' for ocean-based structures to withstand tsunamis. Meanwhile, a team at Oxford University proposed that dark energy may be an illusion and instead, we live in a unique void in the universe. Additionally, scientists ...

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 26, 2008

True properties of carbon nanotubes measured

Carbon nanotubes' true mechanical properties have been measured by Northwestern University researchers using a novel nanoscale material testing system. The results match quantum mechanics predictions and reveal that irradiation can strengthen the structure by forming bonds between shells of the tube.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateAug 15, 2008

'Sticky nanotubes' hold key to future technologies

The discovery of the precise peeling force of nanotubes could lead to the creation of new composite materials, medical devices and industrial applications. Researchers used atomic force microscopy to measure the forces and found that the nanotubes lift off unevenly due to van der Waals forces.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNano Letters·DateApr 28, 2008

Nanotubes grown straight in large numbers

Researchers have successfully grown aligned and straight single-walled carbon nanotubes in large numbers using a quartz surface as a template. The achievement marks a significant step forward for the development of nano-scale electronics, which could enable the creation of ultra-tiny chips with improved performance.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 23, 2008

New kind of transistor radios shows capability of nanotube technology

Carbon nanotubes have shown significant advantages in high-speed analog electronics, and researchers built the world's first all-nanotube transistor radios to prove it. The radios demonstrate the growth technique's success and pave the way for practical implementation of carbon-nanotube materials.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 28, 2008