Science

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Learning by eye: Silicon micro-funnels increase the efficiency of solar cells

The fovea centralis, or fovea for short, sits in the middle of the Macula lutea (or macula) of the retina, where the slender, funnel-like ocular cones are especially closely packed together. We see an image with greatest acuity in this small region because each cone there is connected to a nerve cell.

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The scanning electron microscopies (SEM) show how regularly the funnels etched in a silicon substrate are arranged (left: the line segment = 5 microns; right: 1 micron). The funnels measure about 800 nanometers in diameter above and run down to about a hundred nanometers at the tip.

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Purification of Industrial Wastewater Using Visible-Light Sensitive Photocatalysts

Researchers from Iran and South Korea used nanotechnology to synthesize photocatalysts which have applications in various industries, including textile and pharmaceutics.

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Ultra-thin nanowires can trap electron 'twisters' that disrupt superconductors

Superconductor materials are prized for their ability to carry an electric current without resistance, but this valuable trait can be crippled or lost when electrons swirl into tiny tornado-like formations called vortices. These disruptive mini-twisters often form in the presence of magnetic fields, such as those produced by electric motors.

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This illustration depicts a short row of vortices held in place between the edges of a nanowire developed by Johns Hopkins scientists.

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KIT Increases Commitment in Asia: DAAD Funds Two New Projects: Strategic Partnerships with Chinese Universities and Communi-cation Technologies Network

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has successfully acquired funding for two projects by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): Under "StratP_KIT - China", KIT plans to establish an interdisciplinary research and innovation platform with four Chinese universities in the Jiangsu Province and in the Shanghai Metropolitan Region. Under "CLICS", KIT will extend the existing research network with partner universities in Hong Kong, Japan, and the USA and develop new joint education programs in the area of communication technologies.

Both projects ideally fit into the internationalization concept of KIT. Among others, this concept focuses on the establishment of international innovation networks, the internationalization of higher education, and the setup of joint infrastructures abroad. Cooperation with institutions in Asia and in particular in China is of major interest to KIT due to the rapid development of science and research in that country and its high economic power. So far, KIT has pursued some 100 cooperative ventures with more than 40 institutions in China.

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Application of Biocompatible Polymers in Production of Nanodrugs

Iranian researchers succeeded in the production of a new drug delivery nano-system with applications in the treatment of cancer.

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Production of Biosensor in Iran to Detect Oxalic Acid

Iranian researchers from University of Mazandaran applied nanotechnology to produce a sensor to detect oxalic acid in natural samples.

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Researchers developed a cost-effective and efficient rival for platinum

Researchers succeeded in creating an electrocatalyst that is needed for storing electric energy made of carbon and iron.

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This image shows single shell carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles.

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Monitoring the real-time deformation of carbon nanocoils under axial loading

Carbon nanocoils (CNCs) composed of helical shaped carbon nanofibers have potential applications including mechanical springs and nano-solenoids. There are some reports which measure the spring constant of CNCs.

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This is a real-time observation of CNC tensile tests and SIM images of variations in the coil geometry over time.

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A giant increase in conductivity measured when a semiconductor is submitted to high pressure

ICN2 Oxide Nanoelectronics Group obtains conductivity values for stroncium iridate 250 times higher than in normal conditions, just pressing with nanometric needles. The results, published in Nanoscale, where obtained thanks to the use of the atomic force microscope (AFM) showing that the material could become a good candidate for future applications in sensors and electronics.

Researchers from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) have measured, at room temperature, the highest values of piezoresistivity ever detected in an electroceramic material, overcoming the registers for materials such as silicon nanowires or graphene. Moreover, it was measured with a simple technique that avoids using complex equipment to control pressure. The research has been conducted by Oxide Nanoelectronics Group, led by Prof ICREA Gustau Catalan. Dr Neus Domingo is the first signer of the article published in Nanoscale and her

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Global Gold Nanoparticles Market Hit To Reach USD 4.86 Billion By 2020

North America dominated the global gold nanoparticles market accounting for over 30% of global volume in 2013.

Global gold nanoparticles market is expected to reach USD 4.86 billion by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Medical & dentistry was the largest end-use segment for the gold nanoparticles and accounted for over 50% of total demand in 2013. Growing metal nanomaterials use in medical diagnostics & imaging especially for drug delivery systems in cancer & tumor cell detection is expected to drive gold nanoparticles demand over the forecast period.