Nanotechnology

Researchers at MIT have invented a printing process that could turn a lot of potential breakthroughs, such as electricity-generating clothing and smart sutures, into an inexpensive reality.

​​As any good metallurgist will tell you, you can't just take any two types of metal and weld them together. You may instead be able to just join them together with glue, however, thanks to an electro-chemical etching process being developed at Germany's Kiel University.

​A microscopic coating lets shampoo, soap, and other heavy liquids slide right out of the bottle – so you're no longer left battling to get the dregs out at the end. The coating has been successfully applied to both polypropylene and polycarbonate plastics.

A new material combines high transparency with high electrical conductivity for the first time, holding promise for more efficient solar panels, self-heating smart windows, high-performance cooling surfaces, and even flexible displays.

A flexible, paper-like ceramic material has been created that promises to provide an inexpensive, fireproof, non-conductive base for a whole range of new and innovative electronic devices.

If researchers at RMIT have their way, the amount of time we spend measuring capfuls of liquid, scraping out the lint filter and refolding our duds may soon be slashed thanks to a new coating that cleans fabrics whenever they're exposed to light.

Scientists have found that the charged particles in graphene behave like a relativistic fluid, meaning graphene-based chips could now be used to model black holes and supernovas or build highly efficient devices that turn heat into electricity.

A revolutionary new type of smart window could cut window-cleaning costs in tall buildings while reducing heating bills and boosting worker productivity. Partially inspired by the reflective properties of moth eyes, this smart window is said to be self-cleaning, energy-saving, and anti-glare.

Scientists have created a new multi-layered nanoparticle that effectively converts low-energy light into high-energy light, which may help drive more efficient energy harvesting, novel bio-imaging techniques and superior anti-counterfeit protection.

After completing a round of funding for a new electric vehicle business unit, StoreDot – which last year revealed a smartphone battery that charged in 30 seconds – might just be able to deliver on its vision of EVs that can receive a full charge in just five minutes.

Researchers from Berkeley Lab and Columbia University claim to have created the highest-performing, single-molecule diode ever. Said to be 50 times better in performance and efficiency than anything previously produced, this device may pave the way for a range of powerful new nanoscale electronics.

An engineer at Binghamton University in New York has developed a battery that creates power through the process of microbial respiration in a drop of dirty water on paper.