SEPARATING THE HYPE AND THE BUZZ - Monday, April 05, 2010

NEWSWORTHY

World’s smallest superconductor
Researchers at Ohio University created the world’s smallest superconductor comprised of only four molecules with a length of 3.5 nm and width of 0.87 nm. They placed molecules of an organic salt of (BETS)2GaCl4 (bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene) on a silicon surface and observed that superconductivity was existent among molecular chains as small as four molecules. This finding could aid the use of organic molecules in nanoelectronics. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Nature Nano.

New way to produce nanomaterials
Researchers from the University of Maryland developed a new non-epitaxial method that uses thermodynamic processes to create nanomaterials. Some of the benefits of this method include overcoming limitations of epitaxy such as high constraints on deposition thickness, requirement of “lattice matching,” no need of clean room facilities, and no need to make materials in a vacuum. This method will help create efficient nanostructures for computer chips, photovoltaic cells, and biomarkers. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Science.

Nanocrystals that heal themselves
Scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory created a mechanism, the “loading-unloading” effect, which will allow nanocrystalline materials that were affected during radiation to heal themselves. The loading process captures interstitials (atoms that detach themselves from the crystalline structure when radiated) and traps them in the grain boundaries of the nanocrystalline material. Then the unloading procedure delivers the trapped interstitial back into the vacancies (spaces left due to displaced atoms). These effects could lead to developing materials that are radiation-tolerant that could be used in nuclear energy applications. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Science.

Power for nanosensors
Researchers from Georgia Tech University combined two piezoelectric nanogenerators with two types of nanowires that can be used to generate power for nanosensing devices. Both ends of the nanowires were inserted into a polymer substrate and compressed in a nanogenerator enclosure. The wires generated current due to compression and as more strain was produced more current was gained. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Nature Nano.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

New nanocomposite
Researchers from the Aalto University created a light weight, strong, nacreous shell-like nanocomposite for potential use in telecommunications and aerospace applications. This material consists of alternating inorganic nanoscale platelets attached by polymers that self-assemble in a one-step process. See AtoZ Nano and Nanotech Wire.

Wrinkled nanotube coating
Researchers from the North Dakota State University revealed pictures showing wrinkles in a single walled carbon nanotube coating. When nanotubes are bent their conductivity levels vary sometimes irreversibly. When extreme strain or stretching is applied to the coating, it has been observed to bend in ways that result in them losing their networks responsible for conductivity. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Physical Review Letters.

The nano pill
Engineers from the University of Florida have made a pill with a microchip and an antenna, such that doctors, friends, and family could be notified about when the patient intakes medicine. The white capsule has thin lines of antenna printed through an ink of non-toxic silver nanoparticles. When the pill is taken an external device registers it. This device then sends a notification to cell phones or laptops that have been linked to it. See AtoZ Nano and Nanowerk.

Flexible Nano for chips
Researchers from De Montfort University are working on using gold nanoparticles and small molecules for flexible memory chips that could be embedded into paper or clothing. Nanoparticles charge when exposed to an electric field and have an ability to retain that charge even after removal from the field. They plan on storing information in the charged and uncharged particles. See AtoZ Nano.