Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Mechanism and Kinetics of Spontaneous Nanotube Growth Driven by Screw Dislocations -- Morin et al. 328 (5977): 476 -- Science

Mechanism and Kinetics of Spontaneous Nanotube Growth Driven by Screw Dislocations -- Morin et al. 328 (5977): 476 -- Science: "We show that nanotube growth can be driven by axial screw dislocations: Self-perpetuating growth spirals enable anisotropic growth, and the dislocation strain energy overcomes the surface energy required for creating a new inner surface forming hollow tubes spontaneously."

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Materials research advances reliability of faster 'smart sensors'

Materials research advances reliability of faster 'smart sensors' In military and security situations, a split second can make the difference between life and death, so North Carolina State University's development of new "smart sensors" that allow for faster response times from military applications is important. Equally important is new research from NC State that will help ensure those sensors will operate under extreme conditions – like those faced in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Fractals

Fractals

Wireless nano sensors could save bridges, buildings

Wireless nano sensors could save bridges, buildings ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2010) — Could inexpensive wireless sensors based on nanotechnology be used to alert engineers to problematic cracks and damage to buildings, bridges, and other structures before they become critical? A feasibility study published in the International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity would suggest so.

Scientists create 'molecular paper' -- largest two-dimensional polymer crystal self-assembled in water

Scientists create 'molecular paper' -- largest two-dimensional polymer crystal self-assembled in water ScienceDaily (Apr. 15, 2010) — Two-dimensional, "sheet-like" nanostructures are commonly employed in biological systems such as cell membranes, and their unique properties have inspired interest in materials such as graphene.

Friday, April 09, 2010

PeerPower : Next big thing is really small

PeerPower : Next big thing is really small: "On November 9, 1989, a new era dawned. The event that ushered in this era had nothing to do with the historic collapse of the Berlin Wall.

Instead, the momentous event took place in the quiet confines of IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California.

It was on that day that two IBM scientists, Don Eigler and Erhard Schweizer, purposely manipulated individual atoms to build a structure, a simple IBM logo. What made the logo so special was that it was created out of only 35 xenon atoms…"

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Two-Dimensional Phonon Transport in Supported Graphene -- Seol et al. 328 (5975): 213 -- Science

Two-Dimensional Phonon Transport in Supported Graphene -- Seol et al. 328 (5975): 213 -- Science: "The reported thermal conductivity ({kappa}) of suspended graphene, 3000 to 5000 watts per meter per kelvin, exceeds that of diamond and graphite. Thus, graphene can be useful in solving heat dissipation problems such as those in nanoelectronics."

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Discover Some Beauties From The Earth Bowels

Discover Some Beauties From The Earth Bowels

Frictional Characteristics of Atomically Thin Sheets -- Lee et al. 328 (5974): 76 -- Science

Frictional Characteristics of Atomically Thin Sheets -- Lee et al. 328 (5974): 76 -- Science: "Using friction force microscopy, we compared the nanoscale frictional characteristics of atomically thin sheets of graphene, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), niobium diselenide, and hexagonal boron nitride exfoliated onto a weakly adherent substrate (silicon oxide) to those of their bulk counterparts. Measurements down to single atomic sheets revealed that friction monotonically increased as the number of layers decreased for all four materials. Suspended graphene membranes showed the same trend, but binding the graphene strongly to a mica surface suppressed the trend"

Friday, April 02, 2010

Wakonda's Lost Wax Process for Solar : Greentech Media

Wakonda's Lost Wax Process for Solar : Greentech Media: "The key is the process. The company takes a sheet of copper and heats it to create a repeating grain pattern. The copper is then coated with another substance, which effectively becomes a mold of the pattern in the copper. The copper is then eliminated and active solar materials are added. Because of the shape of the second substrate, the solar materials take on the same pattern of the now-absent copper."