Lasers Used to Levitate Diamond

Researchers have, for the first time, levitated individual nanodiamonds in vacuum. The research team is led by Nick Vamivakas at the University of Rochester who thinks their work will make extremely sensitive instruments for sensing tiny forces and torques possible, as well as a way to physically create larger-scale quantum systems known as macroscopic Schrödinger Cat states.

While other researchers have trapped other types of nanoparticles in vacuum, those were not optically active. The nanodiamonds, on the other hand, can contain nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers that emit light and also have a spin quantum number of one. In the paper, published in Nature Photonics, the researchers from Rochester's Institute of Optics explain this is the first step towards creating a "hybrid quantum system." Their system combines the mechanical motion of the nanodiamond with the internal spin of the vacancy and its optical properties to make it particularly promising for a number of applications.

In a previous paper, the researchers had shown that nanodiamonds could be levitated in air using a trapping laser. The new paper now shows this can be done in vacuum, which they say is "a critical advance over previous nanodiamond optical tweezer experiments performed in liquids or at atmospheric pressure."

Nanodiamonds trapped at atmospheric pressure are continuously agitated by collisions with the air molecules around them. Trapping the diamonds in vacuum removes the effect of all these air molecules. "This allows us to exert mechanical control over them," said Levi Neukirch, lead author of the paper and a Ph.D. student in Vamivakas' group at Rochester. "They turn into little harmonic oscillators."

Porous Material With Nanoholes Lead To Efficient Thermoelectric Devices

Scientists from the National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos in Athens, Greece have discovered that using materials filled with tiny holes can lead to the improvement of thermoelectrics as a viable alternative for harvesting wasted heat.

Porous materials (materials filled with holes) have a direct correlation to thermal conductivity. The more porous a material is, the lower the thermal conductivity. This results in a better thermoelectric material since there is lower heat dissipation/loss.

The also researchers found that the smaller the pores and the closer they're packed together, the lower the thermal conductivity. They also show that, in principle, micro-nano porous materials can be several times better at converting heat to electricity than if the material had no pores.

The image above, This is a schematic illustration of the multilayer configuration with layers of different porosity (graded porous material). Each layer contains a concentration of periodically distributed pores of the same size (only one set of such particles is shown). Image Credit: APL Materials

Atomic Force Microscope Manipulate Atoms to Form Smallest Swiss Cross

Researchers from Finland and Japan have formed the smallest Swiss cross using bromide atoms on a sodium chloride surface. The academic journal Nature Communications has published the team's results.

The team used bromine atoms, 20 of them, and positioned these on a sodium chloride surface to form the cross. Using an atomic force microscope, the structure was found to be stable at room temperature. The bromine atoms were exchanged with the chlorine atoms to make the structure; by moving and positioning the single atoms.

It is the first time that systematic atomic manipulation on an insulating surface have been achieved at room temperature. The resulting Swiss cross measures 5.6 nanometers square.

This discovery can lead to the development of next generation electromechanical systems, advanced atomic-scale data storage devices and logic circuits.

Bio-Nanotechnology and Nanoscopic Energy : One Step Closer to Biodegradable Medical Implants

Credit: John Rogers

Scientists are close to developing biodegradable electronic devices which can lead to green consumer electronics and bio-resorbable medical devices that are rendered completely harmless after performing its job. These class of electronics which dissolve completely in water combined with advances in nanoscopic energy opens up practical application specially in the medical field. This innovation was presented at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.

Researchers are studying various materials to construct these biodegradable devices from magnesium and silicon to silk and even rice paper. Combined with research into nanoscopic energy (using power sources such as thermodynamic energy or chemical energy to power nanomaterials), medical applications such as studying the brain after head injuries, and other body sensors that vanish once its work is done are slowly becoming a strong possibility.

These future application have a lot of positive factors going for it such as a very low risk of infection, non-invasive removal procedures (it dissolves in water), and with studies into renewable energy source; does not require batteries that may contain toxic materials.

Tiny Nanomotors Successfully Placed Inside Live Human Cells For The First Time

Scientists have successfully placed tiny synthetic motors in live human cells through nanotechnology. Using ultrasonic waves as the power source and magnets to steer, the nanomotors can zip around the cell and perform tasks.

The main obstacle for placing nanomotors in cells is the power source. Previous nanomotors needed toxic fuels to propel them. It wouldn't move in a biological environment.

The researchers at Penn State University and at Weinberg Medical Physics found that ultrasonic waves can be used to power these motors and that magnetic fields can be used to steer them.

The image above is that of a HeLa cell with some gold-ruthenium nanomotors inside it. The arrows indicate the trajectories of the nanomotors, and the solid white line shows its propulsion. There are several nanomotors is spinning at the center. HeLa cells are a line of human cervical cancer cells that are used in research studies. Image credit: Mallouk lab, Penn State University.

Bionanotechnology is fast becoming popular in medical and scientific research. Implants and devices hundreds of times smaller than the width of a human hair, can be integrated into cells. This technology can open up various medical applications such as surgery, deliver medication, and even eradicate cancer cells. Because of its microscopic size, bionanotech devices are non-invasive and results in fewer complications normal open surgery would have.

Low Cost, High Definition Transparent Display Developed Through Nanotechnology

Researchers from MIT and Harvard departments of Physics, and the US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center have teamed up to develop a low cost, scalable, and high resolution display system using nanoparticles that can be displayed on transparent glass.

The system works by applying silver nanoparticles on a transparent glass screen. Like a filter, this allows other colors to pass through leaving the color used by the laser projector to show up on the display. The nanoparticles interact with a single color and lets others go through just like regular glass.

As an example, the transparent display in the picture above shows the blue MIT logo on the glass screen but not on the three cups behind it. (Image credit: Chia Wei Hsu and Bo Zhen)

Applications for this technology are varied from flexible and scrollable displays, 3D transparent screens, and even peel-and-stick projection foils. Windows of buildings can be used for advertising as it only entails applying the nanoparticle layer on it.

The transparent display is scalable allowing high definition images to come up even on large displays. It is even inexpensive. The demo unit only cost less than ten dollars to develop.

Scientists Observe Spatial Coherence in Light Absorbed by Organic Nanostructures

This is the experimental setup used to generate femtosecond laser pulses which serve as an ultrafast "flash" for the camera so that very rapid phenomenon can be filmed.
Credit: Simon Gelinas

Physicists observed that artificial organic nanostructures absorb light the same way expensive inorganic materials absorbs light. The absorbed light quickly separates into formed charges over long distances. This can then be used to generate electricity or for chemical reactions like photosynthesis and solar cell technology.

This phenomenon is called spatial coherence. Spatial coherence allows a charge to travel very quickly over several nanometres and escape from its oppositely charged partner.

Using an ultrafast flash camera, scientist filmed femtosecond (10⁻¹⁵ second) laser pulses that formed charges that spread over multiple molecules rather than limiting the charge to a single molecule. By engineering the arrangement of molecules, they managed to adjust the amplification of the charge separation.

This discovery can lead to inexpensive and energy efficient solar cells.

Long Term Implantable Bio-Sensors Developed Using Carbon Nanotubes

Using carbon nanotubes, scientists have developed a biosensor that can be implanted under the skin that will last more than a year. They have also developed a short term biosensor that can travel through the blood stream flowing through the different organs of the body without causing damage.

In order to get a reading and collect data from the sensors, a laser that produces near-infrared light is used to detect the fluorescent signal off of the nanotube based devices.

The long term biosensor was made to detect nitric oxide (NO) levels in the body for monitoring cancerous cells. This is the first time that implantable nanosensors could be used within the body for this extended period of time.

For the biosensor to last under the skin, it is embedded in a gel made from a polymer called alginate for protection.

This application is not limited to NO detection, it can also be used to detect glucose (blood sugar) levels in the body for monitoring diabetes.

Ocean Proof Mobile Phones Through Atomic Layer Deposition and Barrier Films

Scientists have developed a barrier film through through a molecular process called atomic layer deposition (ALD) that can protect objects such as mobile phones from harsh environments such as salt water.

Barrier films are used to protect electronics from water vapor, oxygen degradation, and other harmful elements. Current barrier films although offer protection, the way they are made still result in small impurities and imperfections that can still allow water or oxygen to penetrate.

Using atomic layer deposition, the barrier film is controlled at the molecular level. The process results in an even coating without any holes or impurities that may be penetrated by harmful elements. The finished product is about 10 nanometers thick which is hundreds of times thinner than current available high end barrier films.

By using this process, electronic devices using organic materials such as OLED displays can be developed that last longer. ALso, existing electronic devices such as mobile phones, implantable biomedical devices, and solar power cells can be produced which can operate in extreme conditions.

Nanotechnology and Lasers Provide Tool for Antibiotic Research - The Cantilever Sensory Array

This is a visualization of cantilever sensory array technology. Bacteria are shown in red and white, and antibiotics are shown in blue. The laser deflection illustrates how cantilever bending is measured.
Credit: JoVE

The London Center for Nanotechnology has developed a tool to measure antibiotic drug resistance using nanotechnology and lasers. The Cantilever Sensory Array uses lasers to measure the cellular stress levels of a bacteria's cell wall when antibiotics are exposed to it. This will provide researchers insight on how effective the antibiotic works on the bacteria in real time.

Antibiotic resistance is a type of drug resistance where bacteria (or some other micro-organism) are able to survive and counteract the effect of an antibiotic.

This tool can help in dealing with microorganisms that have a high resistance for antibiotics such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which is known for being resistant to antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of skin infections, respiratory disease, and food poisoning. S. aureus is a surface bacteria and can survive for months depending on the strain.

By using the Cantilever Sensory Array, hospitals can track in real time how drug candidates interact with a target microorganism. This will help in diagnosing and treating infections and diseases faster and more effectively.

Ultrafast Laser Accelerator Built on a Nanosized Glass Chip Developed by US Dept of Energy and Stanford

SLAC and Stanford scientists used nanofabricated chips of fused silica just three millimeters long to accelerate electrons at a rate 10 times higher than conventional particle accelerator technology.
Credit: Matt Beardsley, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have developed an electron accelerator the size of a grain of rice using nanotechnology and ultrafast lasers.

A particle accelerator accelerates and propels subatomic particles at very high speeds. Electric fields are used to increase their speed while magnetic fields contain and control their direction.

There are two kinds of accelerators; linear accelerators and circular accelerators. A Linear accelerator directs particles from one end to another. They are usually used to hit surfaces of objects with the particles. A cathode ray tube (like the ones in a television screen) can be an example of a linear accelerator. Electrons are sped up and hit the tv screen to form an image.

The circular accelerators allow particles to travel around a loop continously. They are used to collide two particles, each going in opposite directions. The Large Hadron Collider is an example of a circular particle accelerator.

Practical applications for particle accelerators aside from cathode ray tubes, x-ray generators and ion implanters (machines used to manufacture integrated circuits). A new medical technology called proton therapy or particle therapy use particle accelerators in the treatment of cancer.

Nanotechnology Based Vaccine Developed Provides Efficient, Targeted, and Needle-Free Protection

The immune response generated by delivering lipid nanocapsules loaded with anti-cancer antigens (left) is compared to the same response generated by traditional soluble vaccines (right). Blue stain marks nuclei of cells in the tissue. Lung tissue sections immunized with the lipid nanocapsule vaccine show sustained retention of nanocapsule-loaded antigens (red) in the tissue near antigen-presenting cells (green). This retention is not discernible in the lung tissue immunized with the soluble vaccine. Scale bars 50 µm.
[Credit: Adrienne V. Li, James J. Moon, Darrell J. Irvine]

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a nanoparticle that can be used as an efficient and targeted drug delivery system for vaccines. The development of the nanoparticle addresses the challenge of dispensing a vaccine through the lungs via an aerosol spray without activating an immune response that neutralizes it.

Vaccines that are dispensed through mucosal points of entry like the nasal cavities have certain advantages such as not requiring a needle, specially during outbreaks where dispensing medication through an aerosol spray is faster, safer, and more econmical.

Mucosal vaccines are a bit challenging since the vaccine has to go through the body's mucosal barrier. This barrier of mucus prevents foreign particals from getting into the body. This recently developed nanocapsule can go through this barrier and go directly to the lungs.

The vaccine can survive in the lungs long enough for it to be delivered to T-cells. T-cells (T lymphocites) are part of the immune system and assist the body in fighting diseases or getting rid of harmful substances. Once in the T-cells, the vaccine gets activated to form a memory of the vaccine particles so it will be primed to respond again during an infection.

They found that immune cells, including memory CD8+ T cells, increased not only in the lungs, but also at distant sites like the intestine, and blood and spleen. This widespread immune response was only detected in mice given the vaccine via the lung route, but not the skin route, indicating that the administration site is an important factor for non-live vaccines.

Understanding Nanomedicine: An Infographic

Nanomedicine is a field of medical science that involves the use of objects and substances at the molecular level. Basically, it is the application of nanotechnology to medicine.

Currently, nanomedicine is used for nanoparticle drug delivery where medicine is delivered to a specific area of the body through a nanosized container or vessel. Molecular nanotechnology (MNT) and nanovaccinology are also some of the potential future application for this field of science.

Nanoscale technology in medical applications results in the use of smaller non-invasive devices that can be implanted or inserted inside the body which results in shorter biochemical reaction times. These devices are faster and more sensitive than typical devices or procedures done today.

Nanoplasmonic Bubble Lens Controls Focus and Direction of Light

Credit: Tony Jun Huang, Penn State

Scientists have developed a reconfigurable plasmofluidic lens using nanoplasmonics that can control light waves at the nanoscale. The nanoscale light beam is modulated by surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) which are short electromagnetic waves. The light wave is controlled by the bubble lens which can control the focus and direction of light.

Nanoplasmonics is a new field of science that deals with the behavior of metal particles at the nanoscale and its optical properties. At the nanoscale, light or electromagnetic waves approaches half the size of its wavelength. At this level, the electrical field of light displaces the metal's electrons producing an oscillating field or what is called a surface plasmon. By using certain metal nanoparticles such as gold or silver and manipulating its size and shape, the surface plasmons can be modulated.

Ancient stained glass windows (which contains gold and silver particles) use nanoplasmonic properties to attain its deep vibrant colors when light passes through it.

Currently, manipulating and reconfiguring the focus and direction of these light waves have been difficult. But with the development of reconfigurable plasmofluidic lens, which are essentially tiny bubbles, scientists have found a way to control, switch, and modulate light.

Applications for nanoplasmonics can be found in photovoltaics and optical plasmonic systems. In photovoltaic systems, plasmons can be used to modify the opto-electronic properties for fast photo-detectors and effective photocells. With optical plasmonic systems, devices can be developed that manipulate the optical properties which may lead to the development of inexpensive, fast and small active optical elements.

Heat Dissipation at the Atomic Level Studied Through Nanotechnology

Researchers at the University of Michigan are studying the effects of heat at the nanoscale; between atoms. This study will help in understanding how heat behaves in nanoscale systems.

Moore's Law states that the number of transistors on integrated circuits doubles approximately every two years. This equates to computing processing power doubling every two years. For the last 50 years, the trend in computers and electronics adheres to Moore's law but technological evolution is fast approaching to the limit of transistors that can fit into a single silicon chip.

At last count, the current record for most number of transistors put on a chip is 2 billion.

With circuit boards getting smaller and smaller, one factor that scientists and engineers look at is heat. As devices get smaller and smaller, the laws of thermodynamics particularly in heat transfer and heat dissipation gets complicated.

The UM researchers are looking at measuring this process at the nanoscale which is the behavior of heat between individual atoms. This study can help develop devices that are smaller, energy efficient, and faster than those currently available. This is a major hurdle for Moore's Law since technology is now going towards atomic scale nano-electronics.

Because of this, the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors in 2010 adjusted the law and changed the period from every two years to every three years.

Imaging Individual Molecules Possible Through Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Carbon Nanotubes

Scientists are looking into imaging of individual molecules by using carbon nanotubes and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is an imaging technology that uses magnets and radiowaves to construct an internal 3D image of the target.

Graphene is a one atom thick layer of carbon atoms and is considered a 2 dimensional object. The structure of graphene resembles that of chicken wire. When it is rolled up to form a cylinder, it is called a carbon nanotube.

Graphene is one of the strongest material around and is also the thinnest. It also conducts electricity efficiently and is a very good conductor of heat. Graphene is almost completely transparent, yet so dense that even the smallest atom helium cannot pass through it.

Carbon nanotubes also retain these properties and are used in different technologies such as nanotechnology, material science, electronics, and even in bionanotechnology.

The RoboBee - Tiny Flying Robot Developed and Inspired By Biology and Insects

Engineers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a tiny robot insect, the size of a penny, that has the ability of controlled flight. The RoboBee, as it is called, weighs around 80 milligrams and has a wingspan of 3 centimeters.

The RoboBees project as it is called aims to develop technologies that can open up advances in robotics, nanoscience and micromanufacturing. One of the goals of the project is to see how to build smaller power sources or batteries as well as designing efficient control systems.

The RoboBee has the ability of controlled flight and can even hover around an area and move laterally in any direction. It is inspired by the biological structure of a fly with submillimeter-scale anatomy and two wafer-thin wings. The wings beat at 120 times a second making the wings invisible to the eye when flapping. Another aspect of the RoboBee is the materials it is made up of; plastic, lightweight carbon fiber and ceramic.

The project is still in its early stages but engineers are now looking into further evolving the technology enabling the tiny robot insects to move autonomously, be self-powered, and have tiny computer brains.

With the combination of biology, design engineering, materials engineering, and computer technology, the RoboBee can be used in the future for various applications such as search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and even be used in crop pollination. It can also lead into the development of other tiny robots that can be used in other fields such as in medicine and exploration.

Research and Advances in Bio-Engineered Algae Nanocellulose at 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society

Scientists from all over the world will be reporting on the advances and research on nanocellulose, a material that has many applications from material technology to biofuel production.

Nanocellulose is a material made up of nanosized cellulose fibrils. It is about 5 to 20 nanometers wide and has variable length.

Nanocellulose is derived from wood fibers and shows exceptional strength characteristics. It is lightweight, durable and biodegradable. It has characteristics similar to plastic and is viscous under normal conditions, but flow (become thin, less viscous) over time when shaken, agitated, or otherwise stressed. When the shearing forces are removed the gel regains much of its original state. The fibrils are isolated from any cellulose containing source including wood-based fibers (pulp fibers) through high-pressure, high temperature and high velocity impact homogenization

As part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, several studies and advances on nanocellulose research are presented during the event.

Nanodiamond-derived carbon nano-onions (N-CNOs) As Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

University of Kentucky during the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, presented its research on nanodiamond-derived carbon nano-onions (N-CNOs) as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high capacity and stable cycling performance. The abstract is as follows:

Nanodiamond-derived carbon nano-onions as negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Mahendra K Sreeramoju, University of Kentucky
Phone: 859-257-5393
Email: mksree2@uky.edu

UC-Riverside Abstract On Using LiFePO4 Nanorods As A Cathode Lithium Ion Batteries

University of California-Riverside presented its research on its use of water-triethylene glycol (TEG) as a solvent to synthesize LiFePO4 (LFP) nanorods with uniform size during a meeting of the American Chemical Society as part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. The following is the abstract of that presentation.

Solvothermal synthesis, growth mechanism, and performance of LiFePO4 nanorods used as a cathode material in lithium ion batteries

David Kisailus, University of California-Riverside
Phone: 951-827-2260
Email: david@engr.ucr.edu