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A team of researchers at the University of Michigan has built catalysts that guide chemical reactions toward the right version of chiral molecules. This discovery could lead to more efficient production of some medicines. The catalysts, which are assemblies of mineral nanoparticles made chiefly from zinc oxide, are at least 10 times better at selecting a particular version of a chiral molecule than earlier catalysts of this type.
Much like some snakes use infrared to "see" at night, University of Central Florida researchers are working to create similar viper vision to improve the sensitivity of night-vision cameras. The ability to enhance night vision capabilities could have implications in improving what can be seen in space, in chemical and biological disaster areas, and on the battlefield. The trick in developing the new highly sensitive, but uncooled, infrared detector was engineering the two-dimensional nanomaterial graphene into a material that can carry an electric current.
Much like some snakes use infrared to "see" at night, University of Central Florida researchers are working to create similar viper vision to improve the sensitivity of night-vision cameras. The ability to enhance night vision capabilities could have implications in improving what can be seen in space, in chemical and biological disaster areas, and on the battlefield. The trick in developing the new highly sensitive, but uncooled, infrared detector was engineering the two-dimensional nanomaterial graphene into a material that can carry an electric current.
Researchers have developed a new method for upcycling abundant, seemingly low-value plastics into high-quality liquid products, such as motor oils, lubricants, detergents, and even cosmetics. The catalyst used to convert plastics into value-added commercial products consists of platinum nanoparticles — just two nanometers in size — deposited onto perovskite nanocubes, which are about 50-60 nanometers in size. Northwestern University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Ames Laboratory led the multi-institutional team.
Researchers have developed a new method for upcycling abundant, seemingly low-value plastics into high-quality liquid products, such as motor oils, lubricants, detergents, and even cosmetics. The catalyst used to convert plastics into value-added commercial products consists of platinum nanoparticles — just two nanometers in size — deposited onto perovskite nanocubes, which are about 50-60 nanometers in size. Northwestern University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Ames Laboratory led the multi-institutional team.
An engineer at the University of California Santa Barbara has proposed a way to overcome the relatively low efficiency and performance of existing quantum computing prototypes that use light to encode and process information. To develop an all-electrical, all-on-chip quantum photonic platform, he proposes to integrate three technologies that have been developed for different platforms and applications: electrically driven quantum dot single-photon sources, silicon-based photonics for optical operations, and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors.
An engineer at the University of California Santa Barbara has proposed a way to overcome the relatively low efficiency and performance of existing quantum computing prototypes that use light to encode and process information. To develop an all-electrical, all-on-chip quantum photonic platform, he proposes to integrate three technologies that have been developed for different platforms and applications: electrically driven quantum dot single-photon sources, silicon-based photonics for optical operations, and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors.
Most particles that disperse in liquids aggregate rapidly and eventually precipitate, thereby separating from the liquid phase. But there has been no easy-to-use method to quantitatively determine the hydrophobicity of these micro- and nanoparticles. Now, a scientist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering has invented a groundbreaking method that allows for easy determination of the surface free energy of carbon nanotubes, graphene, and polystyrene particles as a quantitative measure of their hydrophobicity.
Most particles that disperse in liquids aggregate rapidly and eventually precipitate, thereby separating from the liquid phase. But there has been no easy-to-use method to quantitatively determine the hydrophobicity of these micro- and nanoparticles. Now, a scientist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering has invented a groundbreaking method that allows for easy determination of the surface free energy of carbon nanotubes, graphene, and polystyrene particles as a quantitative measure of their hydrophobicity.
A team of scientists at Argonne National Laboratory has developed a powerful technique for probing in three dimensions the crystalline structure of cathode materials at the nanoscale inside a battery. In particular, the technique probes what happens during the process of "intercalation" — the insertion of ions between the layers of a cathode when a battery generates electricity.
