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University of Illinois researchers demonstrate novel, tunable nanoantennas

A team from the University of Illinois developed a novel, tunable nanoantenna that enables plasmonic field enhancement to actuate mechanical motion. The researchers demonstrated tunability down to 5nm and showed that an electron beam can be used to deform individual p-BNAs or groups with velocities as large as 60 nm/s.

Hot nanoparticles for cancer treatments

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed hot nanoparticles that can kill tumour tissue with heat by absorbing near-infrared light. The particles are coated with a silicon dioxide layer and aggregate in a way that allows them to absorb light and generate heat.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 24, 2014

Squeezing light into metals

University of Utah engineers create microscopic structures that use light in metals to carry information, controlling electrical conductivity with an inexpensive inkjet printer. The technique could lead to rapid fabrication of superfast components and faster wireless technology.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateMar 7, 2014

U. of Illinois researchers measure near-field behavior of semiconductor plasmonic microparticles

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new technique to measure nanometer-scale infrared absorption in semiconductor plasmonic microparticles. This allows for direct observation of plasmonic behavior within microparticle infrared antennas, enabling confirmation of theoretical models and design parameters.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 22, 2013

Light might prompt graphene devices on demand

Researchers at Rice University have made a breakthrough in doping graphene with light, allowing for the creation of simple, graphene-based diodes and transistors on demand. The discovery uses plasmonics to manipulate light and inject electrons into the material, enabling novel security and cryptography devices.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateOct 10, 2012

Newly demonstrated capabilities of low-powered nanotweezers may benefit cellular-level studies

Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a new technique for manipulating nanoparticles using low-power optical nanotweezers. The method, which operates at average power levels 100x lower than standard laser pointers, enables precise trapping and probing of fragile biological samples.

Plasmonic chains act like polymers

Researchers at Rice University have discovered that plasmonic chains exhibit properties similar to polymers, with the arrangement of nanoparticles influencing their optical behavior. The study found that the addition of nanoparticles along the chain can alter the energy of super-radiant modes and affect the interaction between particles.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateJul 12, 2012

Researchers discover a new path for light through metal

Researchers have found a promising candidate for plasmonic materials in titanium nitride, enabling the transportation of plasmons and directing optical signals on the nanoscale. This discovery could lead to faster and more efficient optoelectronic devices with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateMar 27, 2012

Scientists create first free-standing 3-D cloak

Researchers in the US have successfully cloaked a three-dimensional object standing in free space using a method known as plasmonic cloaking. The technique uses ordinary materials to bend light around objects, cancelling out scattering and rendering them invisible at all angles of observation.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateJan 25, 2012

Shooting light a curve

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have demonstrated a technique to control the curved trajectories of Airy beams in real-time, enabling fast-as-light communication systems and optoelectronic devices. This breakthrough uses plasmonic Airy beams to manipulate surface plasmon polaritons, opening doors to new technologies in nano-photonics, biol...

Sharpening the nanofocus

Researchers at Berkeley Lab demonstrated antenna-enhanced gas sensing at the single particle level using a palladium nanoparticle on a gold nanoantenna. The technique amplifies plasmonic sensing signals, eliminating statistical characteristics and offering noninvasive, biocompatible applications.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateMay 17, 2011

GRIN plasmonics

GRIN plasmonics combines transformation optics and plasmonics to control strongly confined light waves. The technique uses an isotropic dielectric material on a metal substrate to create efficient plasmonic devices, including Luneburg and Eaton lenses.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 24, 2011

'Gold' fish thrive, cancers die

Researchers at Rice University used gold nanoparticles with laser pulses to create tiny vapor bubbles that selectively destroyed cancer cells in zebra fish implanted with live human prostate cancer cells. This technique avoids damaging healthy tissue and demonstrates a new approach to cancer treatment.

SourceRice University·JournalBiomaterials·DateSep 27, 2010

The nano world of Shrinky Dinks

A Northwestern University team has developed a low-cost, high-throughput method for creating and mass-producing large-area nanoscale patterns using Shrinky Dinks. This solvent-assisted nanoscale embossing (SANE) method offers unprecedented opportunities to manipulate electronic, photonic, and magnetic properties of nanomaterials.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNano Letters·DateAug 13, 2010

Frontiers of plasmonics

Researchers have made significant progress in plasmonics, a field that overcomes diffraction limitations to fabricate nano-scale optical components. These advancements enable the development of integrated nanophotonic circuits with substantial improvements in bandwidth and speed for next-generation information technologies.

SourceScience China Press·JournalChinese Science Bulletin·DateAug 4, 2010

Nano imagining takes turn for the better

Rice University researchers have developed a new way to track nanoparticles using gold nanorods and polarization imaging techniques. The technique could provide valuable information about materials, including living systems, that incorporate nanoparticles.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 2010

Light and nano: quantum mechanics vs. classical optics

Researchers at Rice University have developed a quantum model to predict nanophotonic behavior, making it easier to design new optical materials and devices. The study shows that plasmons in nanoparticles hybridize with each other, allowing for the prediction of properties in complex metallic nanostructures.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateOct 16, 2003