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The art of making tiny holes

Researchers have created a method to selectively process surfaces on an atomic scale, leaving one layer intact while perforating another. By utilizing highly charged ions, they can anchor metals on ultra-thin layers, enabling the creation of new materials with promising properties.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalACS Nano·DateAug 3, 2020

How to stack graphene up to four layers

A novel method to grow multi-layered, single-crystalline graphene with a selected stacking order in a wafer scale has been developed. The researchers used Cu-Si alloy formation to control the number of graphene layers, allowing for uniform large-area single-crystalline layer-tunable multilayer graphene growth.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJul 27, 2020

New research finds graphene can act as surfactant

New research finds that graphene flakes can attract water at their edges but repel it on their surface, making them a new generation of surfactant. This property allows graphene to stabilise oil and water mixtures, opening up possibilities for environmentally friendly extraction of minerals and crude oil.

SourceCranfield University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJul 22, 2020

Science study: Chemists achieve breakthrough in the synthesis of graphene nanoribbons

Researchers at MLU, UT, and ORNL have successfully produced graphene nanoribbons directly on semiconductor surfaces, overcoming previous limitations. This breakthrough enables customization of the material's properties, paving the way for potential applications in storage technology, semiconductor industry, and quantum computing.

Discovery of graphene switch

Researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have successfully measured the current-voltage curve of graphene nanoribbons suspended between two electrodes. The study reveals that a critical bias voltage triggers an abrupt change in electrical conductance for zigzag GNRs, opening new possibilities for switching devi...

Applying 'magic angle' twistronics to manipulate the flow of light

Monash researchers have successfully applied 'magic angle' twistronics to control the flow of light in extreme ways. By stacking two thin sheets of molybdenum-trioxide and rotating one layer, they observed controllable light waves over a wide range of wavelengths, enabling robust light propagation in tightly focused beams.

A remote control for neurons

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University develop a novel material called NT-3DFG, which enables remote optical stimulation of neurons without genetic modification or cellular stress. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding cell interactions and developing new therapies that harness the human body's own cells.

SourceCollege of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 1, 2020

Ultrasonic technique discloses the identity of graphite

Graphite exhibits stronger interplanar bond strength than previously believed, with an elastic constant of nearly 50 GPa, due to a short-range correlation effect selectively strengthening the potential energy surface. This discovery was made using a new ultrasonic measurement technique on defect-free monocrystalline graphite.

SourceOsaka University·JournalPhysical Review Materials·DateMay 21, 2020

Graphene sets sail in microgravity

Researchers demonstrate laser-propulsion of graphene sails in microgravity, accelerating prototypes up to 1 m/s². The scalable design minimizes sail mass, paving the way for human lifespans to reach other star systems.

SourceSCALE Nanotech·JournalActa Astronautica·DateMay 6, 2020

Graphene heterostructures with black phosphorus, arsenic enable new infrared detectors

Researchers developed photodetectors using graphene layers with varying proportions of black phosphorus and arsenic, achieving lower dark currents and high photosensitivity. These sensors can enhance the performance of infrared telescopes and replace existing detectors, benefiting various scientific and technological applications.

Crumpled graphene makes ultra-sensitive cancer DNA detector

Researchers at the University of Illinois created a crumpled graphene sensor that detects ultra-low concentrations of disease markers in blood or serum, improving sensitivity ten thousand times over current designs. This breakthrough enables rapid diagnosis and could lead to portable, handheld devices for monitoring various biomarkers.

Silicon-graphene hybrid plasmonic waveguide photodetectors beyond 1.55 μm

Scientists from Zhejiang University and Southeast University in China proposed a novel silicon-graphene hybrid plasmonic waveguide, achieving high-performance photodetectors beyond 1.55 μm. The graphene absorption efficiencies are as high as 54.3% and 68.6%, with measured responsivities of 30-70 mA/W at 2 μm and 0.4 A/W at 1.55 μm.