P2i showcases liquid repellent nano-coating for hearing aids

Mar 19 | New To Market

At the AudiologyNOW! 2010 show in San Diego next month, UK-based coatings company P2i will display their relatively new Aridion liquid-repellant nano-coating. Designed for exposure to humidity or sweat, the polymer layer is applied by a pulsed ion gas process that lower’s the hearing aid’s surface energy, coaxing water away from delicate components.

Nano-based RFID tags could replace bar codes

Mar 19 | News

A carbon-nanotube-infused ink for ink-jet printers first developed in the Rice Univ. lab of James Tour has been used to make thin-film transistors in radio-frequency identification tags that can be printed on paper or plastic. The transmitter can be invisibly embedded in packaging, instantly sharing far more information than a bar code.

Photolithography conundrum finds an answer

10/23/2009 | News

A mystery for a decade, the puzzle of how nanoscale pillars can be grown on polymer films with high precision has been pieced together by Caltech scientists. Original thought to be caused by tiny vibrational energy fluctuations, or phonons, that made their presence known during the lithography process, the phenomenon is now known to be the result of simple thermocapillary flow, where temperature differences force liquids to flow in various directions.

Silk-based optical waveguides meet biomedical needs

9/1/2009 | News

There is a growing need for biocompatible photonic components for biomedical applications—from in vivo glucose monitoring to detecting harmful viruses or the telltale markers of Alzheimer's. Researchers at Tufts Univ. and the Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign demonstrated a new method for fabricating silk-based optical waveguides that are biocompatible, biodegradable, and can be readily functionalized with active molecules. The team demonstrated light guiding through this new class of waveguides created by direct ink writing using Bombyx mori silk fibroin inks.

Fast heating lifts zeolites to new heights

8/3/2009 | News

Thin-film zeolite membranes with tiny, molecule-sized pores are one step closer to replacing the energy-intensive processes now used in industrial separations.

HIV profiled in 3-D at unprecedented detail

6/24/2009 | News

Cryoelectron tomographic studies in Germany have produced a new 3-D reconstruction of the immature form of HIV.

The (no longer) delicate matter of nanoparticle films

6/10/2009 | News

Thin films of nanoparticles are extraordinarily difficult to manufacture without either adversely affecting its properties or creating a film that disintegrates easily. Physicists at Vanderbilt Univ, however,. have modified the electrophoretic deposition process, adding a sacrifical layer that allows them to free the thin film despite the lack of size difference between the nanoparticles and the solvent molecules.

Aluminum-oxide nanopore beats other materials for DNA analysis

6/3/2009 | News

A nanopore sensor, made by drilling a tiny hole through a thin film of aluminum oxide, could ultimately prove capable of performing DNA analysis with a single molecule, offering tremendous possibilities for personalized medicine and advanced diagnostics.

Blogs

more

Much ado about next to nothing

Mar 15

The recent review of the past 10 years of the National Nanotechnology Initiative--as presented by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology--suggested the rise of nanomanufacturing as the near future of nanotechnology. But the actual proposed funding reflects a cautious approach, even about nanotech in general.

Lunar tires, space MRSA, and resonating microfluidics

Mar 5

I typically attend the annual Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy each year in pursuit of specific coverage. This year, I sought out candidates for coverage in a vacuum technology article, and pulled together some instruments for a spectroscopy guide. But as busy as that kept me, it wasn’t all mass spectrometers and vacuum pumps on the show floor.  

Multimedia

more

NuGard Coating Ashburn Hill

Jan 7

NuGard First Response Protective Clothing are lightweight coveralls, jackets, and pants that provide protection from heat and flame while keeping the wearers body temperature constant.

Multi-Touch Music Maker

Jan 7

Professor David Wessel shows his multi-touch interface that uses computer technologies that allow him to experiment with fine controls to "caress" the instrument.