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

Smart windows come in many different configurations, but the most popular ones are called electrochromic devices, because they change color when a voltage is applied. Scientists at Purdue University assessed the mechanical properties at the nanoscale of the thin-film electrochromic material used in these electrochromic devices and discovered that this material can expand up to 30% in volume. This “mechanical breathing” can cause the material to wrinkle and push up against the other layers of the substrate, causing the electrochromic device to stop functioning.

Researchers at Penn State and Northeastern University have developed a highly sensitive, wearable gas sensor for environmental and human health monitoring. The sensor device is an improvement on existing wearable sensors because it uses a self-heating mechanism that enhances sensitivity. The researchers used a laser to pattern a highly porous single line of nanomaterial similar to graphene for sensors that detect gas, biomolecules, and in the future, chemicals. The nanomaterials used in this sensor are reduced graphene oxide and molybdenum disulfide, or a combination of the two; or a metal oxide composite consisting of a core of zinc oxide and a shell of copper oxide.

Researchers at Penn State and Northeastern University have developed a highly sensitive, wearable gas sensor for environmental and human health monitoring. The sensor device is an improvement on existing wearable sensors because it uses a self-heating mechanism that enhances sensitivity. The researchers used a laser to pattern a highly porous single line of nanomaterial similar to graphene for sensors that detect gas, biomolecules, and in the future, chemicals. The nanomaterials used in this sensor are reduced graphene oxide and molybdenum disulfide, or a combination of the two; or a metal oxide composite consisting of a core of zinc oxide and a shell of copper oxide.

Engineers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have shown how to create stacks of atomically thin crystal layers that are misaligned by 30 degrees from each other. That 30-degree rotation of each atomically thin layer relative to the one below it could lead to new electronic or optical properties, greater speed, and more functionality in less space.

Engineers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have shown how to create stacks of atomically thin crystal layers that are misaligned by 30 degrees from each other. That 30-degree rotation of each atomically thin layer relative to the one below it could lead to new electronic or optical properties, greater speed, and more functionality in less space.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have developed a new nanoparticle drug formulation that targets a specific receptor on cancer cells and appears to be more effective than a standard nanoparticle therapy currently on the market to treat metastatic breast cancer. The study found that the new nanoparticles bypass healthy cells and tissues and bind to tumor cells, dispersing evenly throughout the tumor while releasing the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel.

Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have incorporated meticulously engineered colloidal quantum dots into a new type of light emitting diodes containing an integrated optical resonator, which allows them to function as lasers. These novel, dual-function devices clear the path towards versatile, manufacturing-friendly laser diodes. The technology can potentially revolutionize numerous fields, from photonics and optoelectronics to chemical sensing and medical diagnostics.

Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have incorporated meticulously engineered colloidal quantum dots into a new type of light emitting diodes containing an integrated optical resonator, which allows them to function as lasers. These novel, dual-function devices clear the path towards versatile, manufacturing-friendly laser diodes. The technology can potentially revolutionize numerous fields, from photonics and optoelectronics to chemical sensing and medical diagnostics.

Researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara have been able to use a combination of gold nanorods and near-infrared light to destroy multidrug-resistant bacteria without antibiotics. These "phanorods" were applied to bacteria on in-vitro cultures of mammalian cells and then exposed to near-infrared light. The heat killed bacteria such as E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and V. cholerae.

Researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara have been able to use a combination of gold nanorods and near-infrared light to destroy multidrug-resistant bacteria without antibiotics. These "phanorods" were applied to bacteria on in-vitro cultures of mammalian cells and then exposed to near-infrared light. The heat killed bacteria such as E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and V. cholerae.