Nanocrystals

Researchers have developed an organic nanocrystal array that transforms light into mechanical force, here lifting a nylon ball 1,000 times its mass

Materials

Light-responsive nanocrystal array lifts 1,000 times its own mass

Researchers have developed a novel material using nanocrystals that converts light into a mechanical force able to lift 1,000 times its mass, opening the door for wireless, remote-controlled systems that operate without heat or electricity.

Researchers at KAUST have developed a nanocrystal that can boost the data transmit rates through visible white light to 2 Gbps

Telecommunications

Nanocrystals speed up Wi-Fi-emitting LEDs

Transmitting data on wavelengths we can see might turn out to be more efficient and secure than radio waves. Researchers have developed a nanocrystal that helps boost data speeds transmitted through visible light up to 2 Gbps – while pleasantly lighting the room.

Empa researchers have demonstrated the use of pyrite (fool’s gold) as a cathode material

Energy

"Fool's gold" nanocrystals present cheap, abundant alternative to lithium in batteries

Using "fools gold" nanocrystals to form part of a larger sodium-magnesium battery, scientists have created a storage cell that not only uses cheap and abundant materials but has the potential to be scaled up to store many terawatt-hours of energy.

Silicone glued to the center of a Teflon-coated frying pan (Image: Claudia Eulitz, Copyright CAU)

Good Thinking

Bringing Teflon and silicone together shows promise for medical applications

A new process for binding Teflon to other plastics offers considerable promise for medical applications.