nanotechnology | TechieTonics

Interview: Wei Gao, Research Scientist at University of California, Berkeley and LBNL

February 16, 2015September 21, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

It gives me immense pleasure to introduce today Dr. Wei Gao, research scientist at University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His research areas include nanomaterials, flexible electronics, micro/nanomachines, nanorobotics, biosensors, electrochemistry, nanomedicine and MEMS. Dr. Gao has coauthored numerous scientific journals like: “Reversible Swarming and Separation of Self-propelled Chemically-Powered Nanomotors under Acoustic Fields” “Artificial Micromotors in the Mouse’s Stomach: A Step Towards In Vivo Use of Synthetic Motors” “Water-Driven Micromotors for Rapid Photocatalytic Degradation of Biological and Chemical Warfare Agents” “Self-propelled activated-carbon Janus micromotors for efficient water…

Electronics to morph into Bendable Devices: Future of Wearable Gizmos

February 12, 2015February 12, 2015 Pooja Kashyap

Scientists in South Korea are working towards creating spintronics based wearable devices. Spintronics also known as spin transport electronics is an emerging technology that exploits the basic intrinsic spin of the electron along with its associated magnetic moment and electronic charge. Based on this technology, the researchers have fabricated a thin film that has an ability of maintaining its electric as well as magnetic properties even when curled into a cylinder.

Nanoparticle Compound delivered directly into the Gut Tissue: Self-propelling Nanobots

January 22, 2015January 27, 2015 Neha Shukla

Experts believe that micromachines or nanobots use in the field of medicine can change the way some of the medical conditions are diagnosed and treated. Using these nanobots, medical payload would be sent directly to the specific injury site. Until now the researchers have achieved to test such micromachines in cell samples under laboratory conditions.

Nanobuds based Bendable and Flexible Touch Sensor: Touch Screens to New Applications

December 8, 2014December 11, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

A Finnish startup, Canatu, has come up with a touch sensor based on transparent films that are fabricated from carbon nanobuds (CNB). What’s interesting about the (CNB based) innovative sensors is that they can be adjusted and can be turned on any surface irrespective of its background shape. For instance, it could be applied on the touch controls of curved surface of automobile dashboard or any gaming consoles or play stations.

Affordable Artificial Leaf to produce Clean Hydrogen Fuel: Nanowire Mesh for Direct Solar Water Splitting

December 5, 2014December 4, 2014 Neha Shukla

Today nations across the world are trying to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative energy sources are being tried and tested to replace non-renewable fuel sources and in this race, hydrogen fuel also known as zero emission fuel, definitely seems to have a promising future. Many automobile companies are doing R & D to come up with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the auto market. Unfortunately, availability of naturally occurring pure hydrogen on Earth is very limited and therefore, production of hydrogen gas requires tremendous energy. To overcome this…

Nanoreactor developed for Discovering New Chemical Reactions: Virtual Chemistry Set

November 18, 2014November 18, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

In order to replicate ecosystem and chemical origin of life, Stanley Miller, under the supervision of Harold Urey, performed the breakthrough Urey-Miller experiment in 1952. The experiment initiated more than 20 major molecules that form the integral part of life. A team of researchers at Stanford believes that they can do one-step better.

Magnetic Nanoparticle Pill will detect Cancer: Searching Bloodstream with Google

November 1, 2014November 1, 2014 Neha Shukla

Giant web search engine, Google is expanding its business in different technological areas, investing in research program to develop driver-less cars, goggle glasses, contact lenses, delivery drones, robots, providing internet facilities via balloons to name a few. Now Google is expanding into the field of advance medicine. With an aim of developing nanoparticles that would be delivered in the form of a pill in aiding cancer detection and other ailments, the big G unveiled its latest project called the “Nanoparticle Platform.

Nanodiamonds to be used for Delivering Drugs and Cancer Therapeutics: New Imaging Modality

October 30, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Capturing ongoing processes within living cells in real time is usually done with fluorescent dyes made up of a fluorescent chemical compound, fluorophore. The compound’s unique property of re-emitting light upon excitation makes it the most deserving candidate for imaging cellular processes, however, with the passage of time, the compound becomes toxic thereby renders havoc to the cells in close proximity.

New Generation of Fast-Charging Batteries: Innovative Battery Technology

October 14, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) researchers have fabricated an innovative battery that can charge nearly 70% of its capacity in just 2 minutes. This does not affect its longevity; on the contrary, the scientists are claiming its survival age to over 20 years.

Lighting Sheets to replace Bulbs: OLED, the Next Generation Lights

October 13, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

How about customizing light source in our rooms, something that resembles the photo frames. Sounds interesting, ain’t it? Researchers have already been working in the field of light and they have come up with an approach that targets the efficiency in half amount of energy being consumed by regular bulbs by developing ‘glowing sheets’. Technology used in these light sheets would resemble the mega thin TVs and smartphones as the sheets are expected to include organic LEDs or OLEDs.

Photonic Circuits to replace Electronic Circuits: New Quantum Technology

August 30, 2014August 29, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Photonic circuits would soon be replacing electronic circuits in the near future of quantum circuits. Since a decade, researchers across the globe were working towards developing quantum circuits but circuits based on light had its limitations however, researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen have been successful in bringing about the probability.

Waste Tire Rubber to replace Graphite Anodes: Battery Technology

August 29, 2014August 29, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Shredded scrap car tires have already find their way by means of recycling into the field of construction, floor mats, shoe soles and rubberized asphalt road material. Now, they would be morphing into another innovative role by becoming an integral part of hybrid and electric cars. Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are trying to resurrect life from the discarded used tires in form of carbon material that would be used for lithium-ion battery anodes. Conventionally graphite, a natural carbon material, is the basic building block for lithium anodes.

Graphene Sheet morphs into Droplets: A Serendipitous Discovery

August 8, 2014August 8, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Graphene does not stop surprising researchers with its limitations when it comes to application in fields like electronics, energy storage and energy generation. The list does not end here, now the wonder material looks promising in domain of medical sciences as well. During routine tests, Monash University’s researchers discovered that sheets of graphene oxide morph into liquid crystal droplets on its own accord. With its new avatar, the graphene droplets have find a promising place in delivery of drugs and disease detection, claimed the researchers.

Carbon on the Cathode of Li-ion Batteries: The New Electrochemistry Technology

July 9, 2014July 9, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

The University of Alberta experts have fabricated next gen batteries from carbon nanomaterials. This novel product is standing tall in front of conventional lithium-ion batteries where the former is efficient enough to charge faster and happens to lasts longer relatively. The electrochemistry technology As per Xinwei Cui, one of the lead researchers, they have worked upon an innovative approach towards electrochemistry technology consequent upon which, they it was able to yield higher energy density and power. The team has worked along a mechanism called the induced fluorination, a new concept…

Skeletal Muscle Cell Powered Bio-Bots: Micro-Bots controlled by an Electric Field

July 2, 2014 Neha Shukla

Inspired from living organisms, researchers try to create robots that can simulate living creatures mechanically or chemically. This field of science is named as Biorobotics. A team of researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign has made a miniature walking bio-bots that derive its power from living muscle cells. And their movement can be regulated externally using electrical pulses.