Nanomaterials

Unlocking thermogravimetric analysis in the fight against ‘fake’ graphene

By Lisa McDonald / August 10, 2021

Developing new ways to characterize graphene is essential to developing more rigorous quality standards. Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia explored using thermogravimetric analysis to evaluate graphene quality.

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Improving production of GaN-based LEDs: Metalens takes ‘exceptional clear’ images of patterned sapphire substrate

By Lisa McDonald / July 23, 2021

Gallium nitride-based blue LEDs are typically grown on patterned sapphire substrates that are imaged using SEM and optical microscope systems to ensure the substrate has the correct structure. Researchers in Taiwan developed a new gallium nitride-based metalens that improves the clarity of substrate images.

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A new frontier for 2D materials—researchers create high-entropy MXenes

By Lisa McDonald / July 6, 2021

Despite the extensive number of studies on high-entropy 3D crystalline solids, very little has been reported on high-entropy 2D materials. Researchers led by Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis demonstrated the opportunities for creating high-entropy 2D materials using MXenes.

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Improving safety of implants: A review on nanotechnology as an anti-infection strategy in periprosthetic joint infections

By Lisa McDonald / June 22, 2021

Periprosthetic joint infection is a serious complication that can occur in joint replacement surgery. Researchers in Italy and the United States review the research on using nanotechnology to prevent and treat PJI.

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A decade of discovery: A review of MXenes, the family of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides

By Lisa McDonald / June 15, 2021

MXenes, the family of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, was first discovered in 2011. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of this discovery, researchers led by Drexel University professor and ACerS Fellow Yury Gogotsi published a forward-looking review article in Science that explores the impact and promise of this material family.

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Mantis shrimp inspire tough composites and sophisticated optical sensors

By April Gocha / April 2, 2021

Artists and scientists alike find inspiration in nature. But two recent scientific studies found inspiration in the same creature: the mantis shrimp. The creature’s incredibly tough materials and complex eyes inspired innovations that could lead to fracture-resistant biocomposites and highly advanced optical sensors.

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From 2D flake to stable 3D crystal: Researchers demonstrate potential of MXenes as additives in ultrahigh-temperature ceramics

By Lisa McDonald / March 30, 2021

MXenes hold potential as additives in ultrahigh-temperature ceramics to improve mechanical properties—but a gap in understanding the phase stability and transformation of MXenes at high temperatures limits this application. Researchers at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis investigated these properties in titanium carbide MXenes.

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Suppressing ambient oxidation of 2D materials—hydrogenation stabilizes borophene for practical use

By Lisa McDonald / March 19, 2021

The 2D material borophene holds a lot of potential due to its flexibility, strength, and diverse atomic structure—but rapid oxidation of borophene in air makes application difficult. Researchers led by Northwestern University experimentally investigated the hydrogenation of borophene to see how well it stabilizes the material for practical use.

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Rose-tinted contact lenses offer color vision management

By Lisa McDonald / March 5, 2021

People who have color vision deficiency see colors differently from others. Tinted glasses and contact lenses offer a way to manage the condition, but to date only the former option is reliably effective. Researchers developed a new type of tinted contact lens using gold nanoparticles that shows potential for commercial scale-up.

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High-quality graphene from ultrafast, low-cost plasma spray

By Lisa McDonald / February 26, 2021

Current methods of graphene production face tradeoffs among speed, cost, and material quality. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Patna propose a new method based on plasma spraying that may offer the best outcome for all of these factors.

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