Nanotechblog

Nano-electrodes can make investigations of microscale environments’ composition and behavior not just easier, but more precise as well. It will make even the investigations of those within living cells easier. Thanks to the University of Illinois scientists for developing these nano-electrodes.

Min-Feng Yu, a U. of I. professor of mechanical science and engineering, and a researcher at the Beckman Institute of the University said,

The individual nanotube-based probes can be used for electrochemical and biochemical sensing. The position of the nanoelectrodes can be controlled very accurately.

The scientists have designed nanoelectrodes having a diameter of 100 nanometers and a length of up to 30 microns. The nanotube is attached to a much larger probe to allow the researchers manipulate the nanotube like a needle.

It helps scientists control precisely where the nanotube penetrates a cell. It can also pinpoint smaller cell structures — such as the nucleus or mitochondrion.

Yu said,

Nanoelectrodes offer new opportunities for electrochemical sensing in intracellular environments. By functionalizing the active area of the nanoelectrode with an appropriate chemical, we can target the detection of specific chemical species.

SmartSilver is being adopted by a number of companies due to the smarter anti odor and antimicrobial properties and recently it has been adopted by NanoHorizons. Engineered at the nanoscale, SmartSilver imparts permanent anti odor properties to both natural and synthetic fabrics. NanaoHorizons has adopted SmartSilver to ECO-FIL which is the only filament yarn created from cent percent post consumer bottles.

SmartSilver offers the highly antimicrobial power of pure silver and these additives are engineered for implementing them in existing textile manufacturing equipment for evenly dispersing anti odor SmartSilver forming permanent bonds with fiber structures ranging from natural cotton to nylon and polyester. The ingredients of SmartSilver are created using lower grade ores from silver mining which is otherwise sold off as waste.

Via nanovip

Carbon nanotubes were discovered in early 90’s and since then have been deployed in a number of applications and have become an important part of nanotechnology. One of the problems which is being faced is that their production on industrial scale is still an expensive proposition therefore up till now it has been unquestionable to use them in commercial areas such as catalysis.

Now researchers at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society are making an effort for using igneous rock from Mount Etna for producing carbon nanotubes and fibers directly from the gas phase.

Dr. Dang Sheng Su stated:

The naturally occurring iron oxide particles in lava make it an effective natural catalyst, possibly smoothing the way to a more efficient production method. This could lead to a sustainable use of natural resources for carbon nanomaterial production.

If this gets developed then it would certainly bring down the cost of producing nanotubes.

Via nanowerk

Have you heard about nanotechnology barcodes? If no then let me tell you that these are not the normal barcodes which are used for tracking assets but is the latest biosensing platform which uses engineered nanowires as an alternate substrate for immunoassays. These nanowires have been built from sub-micrometer layers of different metals with nickel, gold and silver and hence act as barcode for detection of a variety of pathogens. It can also help in simultaneous identification of multiple pathogens through unique fluorescent characteristics.

As per Jeffrey B.-H. Tok, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory:

The ability to miniaturize and adapt traditional bench-top immunoassay protocols to a fully automated micro-or nano-fluidic chip holds tremendous promise to enable multiplex, efficient, cost-effective and accurate pathogen sensing systems for both biodefense and medical applications.

For developing this researchers used multi striped metallic nanowires in a suspended format for quick identification of sensitive, single and multiplex immunoassays which simulated biowarfare agents ranging from anthrax to botulinum.

Via nanowerk

Are you ready for nanotechnology in the arena of processing, packaging and food formulation? It is expected to contribute in a big way to the food industry. Foods are being customized with nanotechnology for solving the nutritional problems in the developing countries. Nanotech encapsulation technique is being used for binding nutrients in fortified salt for feeding children in Morocco.

One of the biggest challenges being encountered is as to how nanotechnology could be implemented so that it could counter the fear of the people and at the same time meets their nutritional requirements. It is being feared that nanotechnology might face the same backlash which GM foods have faced up till now and something needs to be done in order to encounter it.

One of the best ways would be to educate the food industry and at the same time the public so that a positive image of nanotechnology is created which helps its easy adoption.

Via foodproductiondaily

Industrialization can result in a devastating effect on the environment and nanotechnology can help in bringing down the carbon dioxide levels produced as a result of cement production. Since cement is one of the commonly used material in the construction arena Lafarge along with MIT is examining the concrete nanostructures for bringing down the output of carbon dioxide.

Cement is created by crushing clay and limestone together and then heating them at 1500°C in a kiln and it is during the heating process that carbon dioxide is produced. The researchers are trying to produce a replacement material which has the same packing density but does not require high production temperatures for producing standard temperature. They are looking forward to replacing calcium with magnesium in cement.

Professor Franz-Josef Ulm, Civil and environmental engineering, MIT stated:

If everything depends on the organizational structure of the nanoparticles that make up concrete, rather than on the material itself, we can conceivably replace it with a material that has concrete’s other characteristics–strength, durability, mass availability and low cost–but does not release so much CO2 into the atmosphere during manufacture.

Via azano

Your wait for a hydrogen powered vehicle may end soon as Argonne National Laboratory researchers have come up with an advanced concept in nanoscale catalyst engineering which is expected to bring polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells for hydrogen powered vehicles and make the commercialization of hydrogen powered vehicles a reality. The findings are expected to contribute to other areas of science beyond electrocatalysis.

The researchers were able to figure out that nanosegregated platinum-nickel alloy surface had some unique catalytic properties which could open up various directions for development of active and stable practical cathode catalysts in fuel cells.

These findings could turn out to be instrumental in offering a solid base for the development of hydrogen powered vehicles and making it a reality quite soon. I am just waiting for the time when we will be driving hydrogen powered vehicles without having to suffer from the high costs and pollution caused by natural fuels such as petrol. It seems it would happen soon.

Via nanowerk

Developing nations can surely gain from Nanotechnology. This emerging technology can help the developing countries in diagnosing and treating diseases and even make available cleaner water.

As per Peter Singer, Senior scientist, McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health:

Nanotechnology has the potential to generate enormous health benefits for the more than 5 billion people living in the developing world.

An effort on the part of the respective governments of the developing nations is required if they would like to see their respective countries progress in the health arena too. It is being said that countries like China, Brazil, India and South Africa have a number of nanotechnology research initiative which could help in meeting the needs of the poor in their countries. Now it needs to be seen how far these countries go forward in implementing nanotechnology in a responsible manner for the welfare of their people.

Via allafrica

Now get more efficient and brighter solar cells and LEDs with this new class of nanotechnology material. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers have developed world’s first material which reflects no light. In this case an optical coating was used which can control basic properties of light. This could certainly throw some light on efficient solar cells, brighter LEDs and on a new class of smart light sources which could be adjusted to different environments.

This can serve as an ideal building block for anti reflection coatings since it has the same refractive index as that of air. The researchers were able to create a material with a refractive index of 1.05 which is almost equivalent to the refractive index of air and hence this help in achieving

This can certainly come handy in conservation of energy and it can be used efficiently for meeting the energy requirements of planet earth.

Via nanowerk

University of Manchester physicists have been successful in creation of a new type of membrane which is just one atom thick. It is being suggested that this small structure could be used for sieving gases and hence aid in construction of ultra fast electronic switches and image individual molecules with accuracy.

These atom thick materials resemble chicken wire and are catching a lot of attention in the world of physics, although there have been doubts whether such material could exist in free state without being placed on top of materials. An international team of researchers led by Dr. Jannik Meyer have become successful in making free hanging grapheme. This is expected to revolutionalize the world of computing and medical research. All thanks to nanotechnology!!

Via foresight