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Category: nanotechnology

A team from Fudan University, the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and Shaoxin Laboratory, all in China, has developed a retinal prosthesis woven from metal nanowires that partially restored vision in blind mice.

In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes how they created tellurium nanowires and interlaced them to create a . Eduardo Fernández, with University Miguel Hernández, in Spain, has published a Perspective piece in the same journal issue outlining the work done by the team on this new effort.

Finding a way to cure blindness has been a major goal for scientists for many years, and such efforts have paid off for some types of blindness, such as those caused by cataracts. Other types of blindness associated with damage to the retina, however, have proven too difficult to overcome in most cases. For this research, the team in China tried a new approach to treating such types of blindness by building a mesh out of a semiconductor and affixing it to the back of the eye, where it could send signals to the .

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Adatoms are single atoms that get adsorbed onto the surface of a solid material and are known to hop randomly from one spot to another. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, a group of scientists from Germany demonstrated that single atoms can be steered in a chosen direction at near absolute zero temperatures (4 Kelvin), provided the surface being used is magnetic in nature—a discovery that can open up new possibilities for precise control of atomic motion, a sought-after ability in the field of nanotechnology, data storage and functional materials.

The researchers placed individual cobalt, rhodium, and iridium atoms on a 1-atom-thick manganese surface to create a magnetically well-defined surface and studied the migration behavior of adatoms using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) at a temperature of 4 K.

According to established findings from nonmagnetic surfaces, atomic movement is usually governed by surface symmetry. In a hexagonal manganese monolayer like the one used in the study, atoms would be expected to migrate randomly in any of six directions. Yet in a surprising twist, researchers found that when a short, localized voltage pulse from the STM was applied, the atoms consistently moved in just one direction.

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A groundbreaking advancement in the field of vision restoration has recently emerged from the intersection of nanotechnology and biomedical engineering. Researchers have developed a novel retinal prosthesis constructed from tellurium nanowires, which has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in restoring vision to blind animal models. This innovative approach not only aims to restore basic visual function but also enhances the eye’s capability to detect near-infrared light, a development that holds promising implications for future ocular therapies.

The retina, a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye, plays a crucial role in converting light into the electrical signals sent to the brain. In degenerative conditions affecting the retina, such as retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration, this process is severely disrupted, ultimately leading to blindness. Traditional treatments have struggled with limitations such as electrical interference and insufficient long-term impacts. However, the introduction of a retinal prosthesis made from tellurium offers a fresh perspective on restoring vision.

Tellurium is a unique element known for its semiconductor properties, making it an excellent choice for developing nanostructured devices. The researchers carefully engineered tellurium nanowires and then integrated them into a three-dimensional lattice framework. This novel architecture facilitates easy implantation into the retina while enabling efficient conversion of both visible and near-infrared light into electrical impulses. By adopting this approach, the researchers ensured that the prosthesis would function effectively in various lighting conditions, a significant consideration for practical application in real-world scenarios.

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Boise State University researchers have unveiled a cutting-edge approach to manufacturing flexible hybrid circuits—reducing costs, waste, and environmental impact. Their work leverages the properties of laser-induced graphene and was recently featured on the cover of Advanced Materials Technologies.

Laser-induced graphene uses a single-step laser manufacturing process that converts carbon-rich materials into a 3-dimensional conductive and porous structure with some regions of atomically thin graphene. This technique is scalable, cost-effective, and patternable, making it ideal for applications in electronics, sensing, and energy storage.

In this work, the researchers used palladium (Pd) nanoparticles embedded in a polymer matrix to form Pd functionalized laser-induced graphene. These Pd nanoparticles act as seed crystals for the electroless deposition of copper on the LIG scaffold, thus forming copper interconnects for flexible printed circuit boards (f-PCBs) through a laser-enabled additive manufacturing process.

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Scientists in Germany have achieved a world first by moving individual atoms from one position to a precisely defined final one using magnetism, unlocking the potential for controlled atomic motion in nanotechnology and data storage.

The research team from the University of Kiel (CAU) and the University of Hamburg used a highly sensitive scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to manipulate atoms on a specially engineered magnetic surface.

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In the coming years, batteries so tiny yet powerful could revolutionize everything from smartphones to supercomputers.

Energy storage is about to take a massive leap forward, with the new concept of “topological quantum battery” at the forefront.

A theoretical study by researchers at the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Huazhong University of Science and Technology has shown how to efficiently design a quantum battery.

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Researchers from the University of Waterloo have achieved a feat previously thought to be impossible—getting a sphere to roll down a totally vertical surface without applying any external force.

The spontaneous rolling motion, captured by high-speed cameras, was an unexpected observation after months of trial, error, and theoretical calculations by two Waterloo research teams.

“When we first saw it happening, we were frankly in disbelief,” said Dr. Sushanta Mitra, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering and executive director of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology.

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Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Huazhong University of Science and Technology have conducted a theoretical analysis demonstrating how a “topological quantum battery”—an innovative device that leverages the topological properties of photonic waveguides and quantum effects of two-level atoms—could be efficiently designed. The work, published in Physical Review Letters, holds promise for applications in nanoscale energy storage, optical quantum communication, and distributed quantum computing.

With increasing global awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability, developing next-generation storage devices has become a critical priority. Quantum batteries—hypothetical miniature devices that, unlike classical batteries that store energy via chemical reactions, rely on quantum properties such as superposition, entanglement, and coherence—have the potential to enhance the storage and transfer of energy.

From a mechanistic perspective, they offer potential performance advantages over classical batteries, including improved charging power, increased capacity, and superior work extraction efficiency.

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This review explores the transformative potential of nanotechnology in the treatment and diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor neuron degeneration, muscle weakness, and eventual paralysis. Nanotechnology offers innovative solutions across various domains, including targeted drug delivery, neuroprotection, gene therapy and editing, biomarker detection, advanced imaging techniques, and tissue engineering. By enhancing the precision and efficacy of therapeutic interventions, nanotechnology facilitates key advancements such as crossing the blood-brain barrier, targeting specific cell types, achieving sustained therapeutic release, and enabling combination therapies tailored to the complex pathophysiology of ALS.

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