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Crystalline Ni3S2 nanorods tuned by low‑crystalline NiCoSx with built‑in electric field for efficient overall water splitting

Researchers develop high-performance, bifunctional electrocatalyst using crystalline Ni3S2 nanorods and low-crystalline NiCoSx, enabling efficient overall water splitting. The catalyst's built-in electric field promotes faster electron transfer and optimizes adsorption energies.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·DateMay 13, 2026

Shining light on new supercapacitor

Researchers designed a new supercapacitor that can store more energy through electrochemical phenomena, with increased capacitance when exposed to UV light. The device uses ZnO nanorods and liquid electrolyte, enabling fast-charging capabilities and opening doors for innovative applications in electronics.

SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·DateSep 5, 2024

Migrating holes help catalysts be productive

Researchers at Rice University have developed a theory showing how manipulating quasiparticles could help improve chemical reactions. By applying electric fields, holes can be made to migrate across the surface of catalyst particles, activating neighboring sites and increasing the efficiency of the reaction.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 10, 2022

Nanomaterial gives robots chameleon skin

Researchers at UC Riverside developed a new film made of gold nanoparticles that can respond to any type of movement, enabling robots to mimic chameleons. The material's complex patterns can be displayed through programming, opening up various applications such as underwater exploration and authentication features.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 17, 2020

Chemicals induce dipoles to damp plasmons

Researchers at Rice University discovered that molecules on the surface of gold nanorods induce dipoles, scattering enough energy to dampen plasmon signals. This finding enhances catalysis applications and challenges previous explanations for signal loss via plasmon damping.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 22, 2019

Dose of vitamin C helps gold nanowires grow

Rice University scientists have developed a method to produce valuable gold nanowires from short particles using vitamin C. The process, which is fully controllable and reversible, allows for the production of nanowires of any desired length, making them suitable for sensing, diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic applications.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 19, 2019

Ultrasensitive toxic gas detector

Scientists have created a novel gas sensor based on vertically aligned WO3-CuO core-shell nanorod arrays, achieving ultrasensitivity to ammonia (NH3) gas. The hybrid sensor exhibits high gas response and short recovery times, making it suitable for detecting toxic gases.

SourceWorld Scientific·JournalNANO·DateOct 31, 2018

A new Bose-Einstein condensate created at Aalto University

Aalto University researchers have successfully created a new Bose-Einstein condensate that doesn't require cooling to near absolute zero. The condensate is made up of light and electrons in motion in gold nanorods, allowing for faster information processing and potentially enabling the creation of extremely small and fast light sources.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 16, 2018

Researchers find simpler way to deposit magnetic iron oxide onto gold nanorods

Researchers from NC State University have found a simpler way to deposit magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles onto silica-coated gold nanorods, creating multifunctional nanoparticles with useful magnetic and optical properties. The new technique uses an approach called heteroaggregation, resulting in highly uniform nanoparticles that can ...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateDec 11, 2017

Tumors heat up

Scientists improve photothermal properties of bismuth sulfide nanorods by adding gold nanodots, increasing heat generation in tumor cells under near-infrared light irradiation. This leads to enhanced inhibition of tumor growth with no toxic side effects.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 11, 2017

A dash of gold improves microlasers

Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering have developed a new type of microlaser that uses gold nanoparticles to improve frequency comb technology. This innovation enables the creation of smaller, more efficient systems for applications such as portable chemical spectroscopy and cybersecurity.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalACS Photonics·DateOct 6, 2017

Nagoya-led team flips the switch on ferroelectrics

Researchers at Nagoya University have created a way to manipulate the domain structure of lead zirconate titanate films, a crucial step for future electronic and electro-mechanical devices. By controlling the switching of domains, they can potentially accelerate the development of next-generation technologies.

SourceNagoya University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 28, 2017

More solar power thanks to titanium

Researchers developed a titanium dioxide interlayer to boost the performance of photoanodes, increasing photocurrent by more than four times. The design combines nanostructure with chemical doping, promising improvements for green photocatalytic systems.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 24, 2017

Killing cancer in the heat of the moment

Researchers from Kyoto University developed a new method to transfer genes into cancer cells using gold nanorods coated with oleate and DOTAP. The nanorods are activated by near-infrared laser heat, inducing cell death in surrounding cancer cells.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 8, 2017

Thwarting metastasis by breaking cancer's legs with gold rods

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new treatment that prevents cancer cells from migrating and spreading, known as metastasis. The treatment uses locally administered gold nanorods heated by a low-energy laser to target and destroy cancer cells' leg-like protrusions, effectively halting their migration.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2017

An improved method for coating gold nanorods

Gold nanorods are being investigated for use in biomedical applications due to their surface plasmon resonance, allowing them to absorb and scatter light. The improved method enables large-scale production and controlled shell thicknesses, paving the way for stable gold nanorods with chemically functionalized surfaces.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateMar 18, 2015

'Squid skin' metamaterials project yields vivid color display

The Rice University lab has developed an RGB color display technology using aluminum nanorods, creating vivid red, blue and green hues comparable to high-definition LCD displays. The technology uses plasmonic aluminum nanorods in ordered arrays to produce dozens of colors, including rich tones.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 15, 2014

Rice lab clocks 'hot' electrons

Researchers at Rice University measured the speed and efficiency of excited 'hot' electrons drawn from gold nanoparticles into a sheet of graphene. They found that graphene accelerated damping of plasmons, shortening its lifetime, and calculated the electrons' transfer time.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateJan 30, 2014