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High-performance, NW-OPTs open the way for optoelectronic device miniaturization

Research team at UNIST developed high-performance NW-OPTs, showing enhanced charge-carrier mobility and higher external quantum efficiencies compared to thin-film OPTs. This breakthrough enables bottom-up fabrication of optoelectronic nanodevices with high operational stability and easy control of photoswitching voltages.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 13, 2013

Breakthrough for solar cell research

Researchers from Lund University have made a significant breakthrough in solar cell technology, demonstrating the potential for nanowires to produce 13.8% efficient energy. The nanowire solar cells can absorb sunlight more efficiently than traditional silicon cells, offering higher efficiency at a lower cost.

SourceLund University·JournalScience·DateJan 18, 2013

Photosynthesis re-wired

Researchers at Boston College have successfully harnessed the power of sunlight to synthesize basic compounds of pain-killing drugs using silicon nanowires. The process offers high selectivity required to produce complex organic intermediaries, differing from earlier attempts to harness carbon dioxide with sunlight.

SourceBoston College·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateJun 28, 2012

Researchers love triangles

A research team at Case Western Reserve University discovered that gold catalysts in the form of a triangle or higher order structures can produce longer, faster-growing nanowires. These wires could be used to build next-generation invisible computer chips and highly-sensitive sensors.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalNano Letters·DateJun 6, 2012

Pitt researchers coax gold into nanowires

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a self-assembly method to grow gold nanowires, which can be used to detect poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulfide in natural gas. The gold nanowires are highly conductive and can detect gas levels comparable to existing sensing techniques.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 21, 2012

3-dimensional view of 1-dimensional nanostructures

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered that individual gallium nitride nanowires exhibit strong piezoelectricity in three dimensions, with efficiency up to six times greater than bulk material. This finding has significant implications for the development of nanogenerators capable of powering self-powered devices.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNano Letters·DateJan 5, 2012

Why carbon nanotubes spell trouble for cells

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.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 18, 2011

Tiny wires change behavior at nanoscale

A new study from Rice University reveals that gold nanowires less than 20 nanometers wide can become brittle-like under stress, exhibiting unique properties on the nanoscale. Researchers found twins in nanowires to be a key factor in reducing ductility, leading to premature fracture.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateAug 29, 2011

Rice scientists build battery in a nanowire

Researchers at Rice University have developed a hybrid energy storage device packed into a single nanowire, which shows promise as a rechargeable power source for nanoelectronics. The devices have good capacity but require further optimization to improve performance.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateJul 29, 2011

Key ingredient: Change in material boosts prospects of ultrafast single-photon detector

Researchers at NIST have developed a tungsten-silicon alloy that significantly improves the efficiency of ultrafast single-photon detectors, enabling their use in quantum communications and computing systems. The new detection method can capture photons across longer wavelengths, including those used in telecommunications.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 30, 2011