Ever since its discovery in 2004 graphene has been considered a wonder material, and researchers have great expectations for it. The material is 300 times stronger than steel, and a million times thinner than a human hair. It is also the world’s best conductor of electricity and heat. These features can positively impact many applications, such as making more powerful batteries, more efficient solar panels, and faster computers. Although, it is tough to manipulate graphene beyond it's two-dimensional form.
Nature contains a unique Lego brick, known as biological molecules or peptides. These peptides are built together to develop a variety of complex structures. In comparison to the commonly used toy bricks, the molecular building blocks are different as they are flexible, and are capable of bonding together using a wide range of mechanisms under appropriate conditions.
Talia Alvarez, doctorate student at the University of Manchester, UK has recently designed nano-structured ceramics, which are thermoelectric materials capable of converting the heat emanating from industrial processes to create electrical energy.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a chief component of smokestack emissions, and is considered to be the most vital greenhouse gas involved in climate change. Recently ACS Central Science featured a report highlighting how the pollutant can be converted into a useful material, increasingly used in high-tech batteries that store "green" energy like solar power, while simultaneously controlling the environmental impact of existing power plants.
Organic photovoltaics bear great potential for large-scale, cost-effective solar power generation. One challenge to be surmounted is the poor ordering of the thin layers on top of the electrodes.
Nuclear reactors tend to have a limited working life span. One reason for this is that metals subjected to the powerful radiation environment close to the core of the reactor become brittle and porous, resulting in cracking and failure. A team of researchers from MIT and other organizations has discovered that in a few reactors the introduction of a small quantity of carbon nanotubes to the metal can drastically slow down this breakdown process.
A research team from the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences have synthesized the material that is perfect for protection of respiratory organs, analytical research and other practical purposes. An almost weightless fabric made of nylon nanofibers with a diameter less than 15 nm beats any other similar materials in terms of filtering and optical properties.
Among the first experiments at the National Synchrotron Light Source II—NSLS-II, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility located at DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory—were studies of irradiated steels similar to those used in nuclear reactor pressure vessels (RPVs). The purpose of these experiments was to determine the structural properties of nanoscale features that lead to embrittlement in RPVs, and the findings will help regulatory agencies determine safe operating lifetimes for the nation’s existing fleet of nuclear reactors.
Could a cheap molecule used to disinfect swimming pools provide the key to creating a new form of DNA nanomaterials?
According to statistics, the majority of accidents occur at dusk or at night – poor visibility is often the trigger. Intelligent headlights adapt to the current traffic situation, and can be a remedy. In collaboration with industry partners, Fraunhofer researchers have developed a high-resolution illumination system with more than 1,000 LED pixels: It offers considerably more options for precise light distribution than previous solutions have and is also energy efficient.
Terms
While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena
answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses.
Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or
authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for
medical information you must always consult a medical
professional before acting on any information provided.
Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with
OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their
privacy principles.
Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential
information.
Read the full Terms & Conditions.