News from the NNI Community - Research Advances Funded by Agencies Participating in the NNI

Researchers from Harvard University’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Harvard’s Department of Physics have designed a computational system to screen twisted multi-layer graphene stacks for twist angles associated with potentially interesting electronic properties. The approach can identify nanostructures with tailored properties that could help accelerate the development and commercialization of quantum and other technologies. 

Researchers have developed a way to use diamonds to see the elusive details of electrical currents. The team demonstrated the potential of the technique by revealing the unusual electrical currents that flow in graphene, a layer of carbon just one atom thick. Their results revealed, for the first time, details about how room-temperature graphene can produce electrical currents that flow more like water through pipes than electricity through ordinary wires.

Researchers have developed a way to use diamonds to see the elusive details of electrical currents. The team demonstrated the potential of the technique by revealing the unusual electrical currents that flow in graphene, a layer of carbon just one atom thick. Their results revealed, for the first time, details about how room-temperature graphene can produce electrical currents that flow more like water through pipes than electricity through ordinary wires.

Researchers have developed a way to use diamonds to see the elusive details of electrical currents. The team demonstrated the potential of the technique by revealing the unusual electrical currents that flow in graphene, a layer of carbon just one atom thick. Their results revealed, for the first time, details about how room-temperature graphene can produce electrical currents that flow more like water through pipes than electricity through ordinary wires.

A team of researchers from the University at Albany, State University of New York has developed DNA nanoswitches that can detect the presence of ribonucleases, which are enzymes that degrade RNA. The team used structure-changing DNA nanoswitches that turn from "signal on" to "signal off" in the presence of ribonucleases, giving a direct readout using the common lab method of gel electrophoresis. In the study, the researchers were able to detect low levels of ribonuclease H and used the detection to screen enzyme inhibitors that are considered drug candidates for HIV.

A team of researchers from the University at Albany, State University of New York has developed DNA nanoswitches that can detect the presence of ribonucleases, which are enzymes that degrade RNA. The team used structure-changing DNA nanoswitches that turn from "signal on" to "signal off" in the presence of ribonucleases, giving a direct readout using the common lab method of gel electrophoresis. In the study, the researchers were able to detect low levels of ribonuclease H and used the detection to screen enzyme inhibitors that are considered drug candidates for HIV.

Fluorescent markers for imaging biomolecules have transformed science, but they have a major limitation. Light doesn’t penetrate well through tissue, so biomolecules deeper in the body have remained invisible. Now, a research team at Caltech has developed a way to “hear” molecular processes: tunable acoustic biosensors that can be used to track biological processes pretty much anywhere within the body using ultrasound. The biosensors are balloon-like nanoparticles that vibrate in response to ultrasound waves.

Fluorescent markers for imaging biomolecules have transformed science, but they have a major limitation. Light doesn’t penetrate well through tissue, so biomolecules deeper in the body have remained invisible. Now, a research team at Caltech has developed a way to “hear” molecular processes: tunable acoustic biosensors that can be used to track biological processes pretty much anywhere within the body using ultrasound. The biosensors are balloon-like nanoparticles that vibrate in response to ultrasound waves.

A research team from Purdue University has developed self-powered wearable triboelectric nanogenerators with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based contact layers for monitoring cardiovascular health. PVA offers a valuable material in future wearable self-powered devices. The PVA-based triboelectric devices can function as self-powered sensors to detect and monitor mechanical activities from the human body in applications such as health monitoring, human-machine interface, teleoperated robotics, consumer electronics, and virtual and augmented technologies.

A research team from Purdue University has developed self-powered wearable triboelectric nanogenerators with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based contact layers for monitoring cardiovascular health. PVA offers a valuable material in future wearable self-powered devices. The PVA-based triboelectric devices can function as self-powered sensors to detect and monitor mechanical activities from the human body in applications such as health monitoring, human-machine interface, teleoperated robotics, consumer electronics, and virtual and augmented technologies.