Georgia Tech Nanotechnology and Nanoscience News

Nanostructures on Optical Fiber Produce "Hidden" Photovoltaic Cells

John Toon — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Converting sunlight to electricity might no longer mean large panels of photovoltaic cells atop flat surfaces like roofs.

Improved Electric Propulsion Could Boost Satellite Lifetimes

John Toon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have won a $6.5 million grant to develop improved components that will boost the efficiency of electric propulsion systems used to control the positions of satellites and planetary probes.

Dr. Robert Guldberg Named New IBB Director

Don Fernandez — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

After the completion of a nationwide search, Dr. Robert Guldberg has been named the new director of The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Radiation-Hardened Microelectronics Could Reduce Spacecraft Weight

John Toon — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers are developing new ways to harden microelectronics for space applications using silicon-germanium, an alloy that is intrinsically resistant to space-particle bombardment.

Friction Differences Offer New Means for Manipulating Nanotubes

John Toon — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Publishing in the journal Nature Materials, researchers report measuring different friction forces when a carbon nanotube slides along its axis compared to when it slides perpendicular to its axis. The observation could provide a new tool for assembling and sorting nanotubes.

Nano Research Has Strong Multidisciplinary Roots, Study Shows

John Toon — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Research reported in the journal Nature Nanotechnology found that nanoscience and nanotechnology are highly multidisciplinary -- but not much more so than other modern disciplines that also draw on multiple areas of science and technology.

Bio-enabled Technique Produces Nanoparticle Composites

John Toon — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Using thin films of silk as templates, researchers have incorporated inorganic nanoparticles that join with the silk to form strong and flexible composite structures that have unusual optical and mechanical properties.

Graphene Shows High Current Capacity & Thermal Conductivity

John Toon — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Recent research into the properties of graphene nanoribbons provides two new reasons for using the material as interconnects in future computer chips.

Statistical Technique Improves Precision of Nanotechnology Data

John Toon — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A new statistical analysis technique that identifies and removes systematic bias, noise and equipment-based artifacts from experimental data could lead to more precise and reliable measurement of nanomaterials and nanostructures likely to have future industrial applications.

Graphene May Have Advantages Over Copper for Future IC Interconnects

John Toon — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech researchers have experimentally demonstrated the potential for another application of graphene: replacing copper for interconnects in future generations of integrated circuits.

New Center Aims to Improve Recovery of Soldiers with Severe Injuries

Abby Vogel — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The new Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Bioengineering for Soldier Survivability is working to quickly move tools that are clinically valuable, safe and effective from laboratories to use in military trauma centers.

New Center Will Support Growth Of Medical Device, Technology Industry

Don Fernandez — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Four of Georgia’s leading research and health care organizations have joined together to create a new innovation center that will accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation medical devices and medical technology. The first of its kind in the Southeast, the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) will include a comprehensive medical device prototyping center.

Graphene Yields Secrets to its Extraordinary Properties

John Toon — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Applying innovative measurement techniques, researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have directly measured the unusual energy spectrum of graphene, a technologically promising, two-dimensional form of carbon.

Marcus Nanotechnology Building Formally Dedicated

Don Fernandez — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Three years after breaking ground, Georgia Tech is set to dedicate the Marcus Nanotechnology Building, one of the most ambitious and expensive projects in the Institute’s history. The ceremony will be held on Friday, April 24, at 3 p.m. The 190,000-square-foot complex poises Georgia Tech to be a global hub for nanotechnology research and development while igniting an environment that could potentially transform both local and state economies.

Researchers Develop New Way to See Single RNA Molecules in Live Cells

Abby Vogel — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Biomedical engineers have developed a new type of probe that allows them to visualize single RNA molecules within live cells more easily than existing methods. The tool will help scientists learn more about how RNA operates within living cells.

Self-Cleaning, Low-Reflectivity Surface Could Improve PV Cells

John Toon — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Using two different types of chemical etching to create features at both the micron and nanometer size scales, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Tecnology have developed a surface treatment that could boost the light absorption of silicon photovoltaic cells in two complementary ways.

Nanogenerators Produce Electricity from Running Rodents

John Toon — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Could hamsters help solve the world

New Technique Predicts Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Effectiveness

Abby Vogel — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Researchers have developed a technique for determining the “leakiness” of tumor blood vessels using a simple digital mammography unit. The quantification of “leakiness” is closely correlated to the ability of a chemotherapy agent to enter the tumor, allowing the researchers to predict the agent’s therapeutic efficacy.

New Generator Produces AC Current by Stretching Zinc Oxide Wires

John Toon — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Researchers have developed a new type of small-scale electric power generator able to produce alternating current through the cyclical stretching and releasing of zinc oxide wires encapsulated in a flexible plastic substrate with two ends bonded.

Georgia Tech Launches Center for Music Technology

Matthew Nagel — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech today launches the new Center for Music Technology with more than 20 researchers from the arts, sciences and engineering. Several interdisciplinary projects already in progress will be demonstrated today at an exclusive launch event for potential collaborators

Georgia Tech Awarded New Center to Study Potential Silicon Successor

Don Fernandez — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded funding to the Georgia Institute of Technology to create a new Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)- The Georgia Tech Laboratory for New Electronic Materials.

Researchers Improve Dry Adhesive Based on Carbon Nanotubes

John Toon — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The race for the best

Mostafa El-Sayed Wins 2007 Medal of Science

David Terraso — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Mostafa El-Sayed, Regents Professor in Georgia Tech

Biodegradable Polymers May Improve Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases

Abby Vogel — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Biodegradable polymers called polyketals and their derivatives may improve treatment for such inflammatory illnesses as acute liver failure and inflammatory bowel disease by delivering drugs, proteins and enzymes to disease locations in the body.

Bioscience and Engineering Converge

Abby Vogel — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University continues to build its interdisciplinary programs to tackle the challenges of the 21st century, including cardiovascular disease, nerve injuries, neurological disorders and cancer.

Using Magnetic Nanoparticles to Combat Cancer

David Terraso — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists at Georgia Tech have developed a potential new treatment against cancer that attaches magnetic nanoparticles to cancer cells, allowing them to be captured and carried out of the body. The treatment, which has been tested in the laboratory and will now be looked at in survival studies, is detailed online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Study Reveals Principles Behind Gold Nanocluster Stability

Abby Vogel — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A report published in the July 8 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is the first to describe the principles behind the stability and electronic properties of tiny nanoclusters of metallic gold.

Research Reveals Factors That Affect Organic-based Device Efficiency

Abby Vogel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Organic-based devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes, require a transparent conductive layer with a high work function, meaning it promotes injection of electron holes into an organic layer to produce more light. New research provides insight into factors that influence the injection efficiency.

Avalanche Photodiodes Target Bioterrorism Agents

Abby Vogel — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have shown that a new class of ultraviolet photodiode could help meet the U.S. military

New Technique Measures Ultrashort Laser Pulses at Focus

Abby Vogel — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have developed a system that measures aberrations caused by ultrashort laser pulses passing through lenses or other instrumentation. Knowing how the light is distorted allows researchers to correct for the aberrations.

Environmental Fate of Nanoparticles Depends on Water Carrying Them

John Toon — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The fate of carbon-based nanoparticles spilled into groundwater

AFM Shows Liquids Adjust Viscosity When Confined, Shaken

Abby Vogel — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A new study

OLED Sealing Process Reduces Water Intrusion and Increases Lifetime

Abby Vogel — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have developed an improved organic light emitting diode (OLED) sealing process to reduce moisture intrusion and improve device lifetime. They are using advanced ion assisted deposition to deposit a high-density, pinhole-free thin silicon oxynitride film on the OLED surface. The process can be completed at room temperature, which keeps the organic material intact.

Fast AFM Probes Measure Many Biomolecule or Material Properties

Abby Vogel — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have developed novel atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes that can quickly and simultaneously measure biomolecule or material properties including adhesion, stiffness, elasticity and viscosity, in addition to the standard AFM topography scan.

Physicists Discover Gold Can Be Magnetic on the Nanoscale

David Terraso — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Physicists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have made two important findings regarding gold on the nanoscale.

Astronomy Technology Brings Nanoparticle Probes into Sharper Focus

Megan McRainey — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech and Emory University researchers have created a technology based on astronomy software that provides more precise images of single molecules tagged with nanoprobes. The clearer images allow researchers to collect more detailed information about a single molecule, such as how the molecule is binding in a gene sequence, taking scientists a few steps closer to truly personalized and predictive medicine as well as more complex biomolecular structural mapping.

Fiber-based Nanotechnology Could Power Electronic Devices

John Toon — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Nanotechnology researchers are developing the perfect complement to the power tie: a

Gold Nanoprobes May Allow Earlier Cancer Detection

Megan McRainey — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

Using tiny gold particles embedded with dyes, Georgia Tech and Emory researchers have shown that they can identify tumors under the skin of a living animal. These tools may allow doctors to detect and diagnose cancer earlier and less invasively.

Equipment Purchased in 1957 Still Going Strong

John Toon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

A 1957 classic sits in the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) clean room. It

Taming Tiny, Unruly Waves for Nano Optics

Megan McRainey — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech researchers have discovered a method of predicting the behavior of light on the nanoscale during radiation heat transfer, opening the door to the design of a spectrum of new nanodevices and nanotechnologies, including solar thermal energy technologies.

Drawing Nanoscale Features the Fast and Easy Way

David Terraso — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Scientists at Georgia Tech have developed a new technique for nanolithography that is extremely fast and can be used in liquids and outside of a vacuum. The technique could help make the manufacturing of nanocircuits commercially viable.

Researchers Learn to Control Nanotube Dimensions

John Toon — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Moving beyond carbon nanotubes, researchers are developing insights into a remarkable class of tubular metal-oxide nanomaterials that can be produced in water with a high degree of control over their diameter and length.

Nanoparticle Could Help Detect Many Diseases Early

Megan McRainey — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech and Emory University researchers are the first to create a nanoparticle capable of detecting and imaging trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide (thought to be an early indicator of many diseases) in animals. The nanoparticles could some day be used as a simple, all-purpose diagnostic tool to detect the earliest stages of any disease that involves chronic inflammation

New Grant Boosts Work on Small-scale Systems

John Toon — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech researchers have received a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) award to participate in a multi-university center that will develop a computer-aided design environment for micro-electromechanical systems and nano-electromechanical systems.

Scientists Discover New Way to Study Nanostructures

David Terraso — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Physicists at Georgia Tech have discovered a phenomenon which allows measurement of the mechanical motion of nanostructures by using the AC Josephson effect. The findings may be used to identify and characterize structural and mechanical properties of nanoparticles, including materials of biological interest.

Robots from 37 Countries Clash at RoboCup 2007

David Terraso — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Nearly 300 teams from 33 countries are gearing up to compete at RoboCup 2007 Atlanta, the world

Quantum Dots Reach Clinical Lab

Megan McRainey — Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers at Georgia Tech and Emory University have developed new clinical protocols detailing how to prepare, process and quantify quantum dots. The new protocols will arm laboratory physicians with the information they need to track biomarkers in cells and tissues.

Platinum Nanocrystals Boost Catalytic Activity

John Toon — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 EDT

A research team composed of electrochemists and materials scientists has produced a new form of the industrially-important metal platinum: 24-facet nanocrystals whose catalytic activity per unit area can be as much as four times higher than existing commercial platinum catalysts.

Water Flows Like Molasses on the Nanoscale

David Terraso — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

A Georgia Tech research team has discovered that water exhibits very different properties when it is confined to channels less than two nanometers wide

Nanogenerator Provides Continuous Electrical Power

John Toon — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers have demonstrated a prototype nanometer-scale generator that produces continuous direct-current electricity by harvesting mechanical energy from such environmental sources as ultrasonic waves, mechanical vibration or blood flow.

Researchers Win $3.5 Million to Improve Wireless

John Toon — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:00:00 EDT

A Georgia Institute of Technology research team has received a $3.5 million grant to use tiny, power-saving analog chips to develop portable communications technology capable of scanning a broad range of radio-frequency (RF) bands for open channels.

Absorbing Molecules Produce65-Nanometer Patterns

John Toon — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Producing three-dimensional polymer line structures as small as 65 nanometers wide just became easier with new two-photon absorbing molecules that are sensitive to laser light at short wavelengths, allowing researchers to create them without highly sophisticated fabrication methods.

Ocean Creatures Provide Foundation for Electronics

John Toon — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST

The three-dimensional shells of tiny ocean creatures could provide the foundation for novel electronic devices, including gas sensors able to detect pollution faster and more efficiently than conventional devices.

New Electronic Devices Created from Bent Nanowires

John Toon — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

Researchers have taken advantage of the unique coupled semiconducting and piezoelectric properties of zinc oxide nanowires to create a new class of electronic components and devices that could provide the foundation for a broad range of new applications.

Bellamkonda Named Georgia Cancer Coalition Scholar

Megan McRainey — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

Dr. Ravi Bellamkonda, a professor in The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, is one of 13 scientists named as a Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar for 2007. One of only two professor level awardees, he will receive $150,000 in funding annually for five years to support his research efforts.

Fluid Dynamics Works on Nanoscale in Real World

David Terraso — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

In 2000, Georgia Tech researchers showed that fluid dynamics theory could be modified to work on the nanoscale, albeit in a vacuum. Now, seven years later they've shown that it can be modified to work in the real world, too

Researchers Create Dual-modality Microbeads

John Toon — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University have developed an easier and faster method to detect disease biomarkers in liquid samples using highly porous, micron-sized, silica beads that contain optical and magnetic nanoparticles.

Georgia Tech Physicist Pens Nanocatalysis Book

David Terraso — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech physicist Uzi Landman, along with a colleague from Technical University of Munich, has written the first book in the field of nanocatalysis.

Scientists Find Why Conductance of Nanowires Vary

David Terraso — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST

A Georgia Tech physics group has discovered how and why the electrical conductance of metal nanowires changes as their length varies. Determining the structural properties of nanowires is a big challenge facing the future of nanotechnology.

Physicists Discover Structures of Gold Nanoclusters

David Terraso — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST

Using different experimental techniques, two separate and independent research groups have verified the predictions of a Georgia Tech physics group regarding structure of gold nanoclusters from 11 to 24 atoms in size.

Study Ranks Georgia Tech Highly in Nanotechnology

John Toon — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST

The Georgia Institute of Technology ranks third in the nation for the number of nanotechnology researchers that are

Nanomaterials Could Disperse in Natural Environment

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

Laboratory experiments with a type of nanomaterial that has great promise for industrial use show significant potential for dispersal in aquatic environments -- especially when natural organic materials are present.

Butterfly Wing is Template for Photonic Structures

John Toon — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

By replicating the complex micron- and nanometer-scale photonic structures that help give butterfly wings their color, researchers have demonstrated a new technique that uses biotemplates for fabricating nanoscale optical structures.

Nanomaterials Based on Micro-Algae Patterns

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

Georgia Tech researchers have developed a technique to study how unicellular micro-algae, known as diatoms, create their complex cell walls. They hope to learn how diatoms assemble intricate micro-architectures to find better ways to create nanomaterials.

Tech/Emory/MCG Partner on $10M Nanomedicine Center

Megan McRainey — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EDT

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Georgia Tech, Emory and Medical College of Georgia a grant to partner on a Nanomedicine Development Center that will focus on DNA damage repair. The $10 million center is Tech/Emory's third in less than two years.

Mimicking Nature Creates Self-Cleaning Coatings

John Toon — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers are mimicking one of Nature

Ga. Tech Announces Two Honorary Degree Recipients

Elizabeth Campell — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EDT

The Georgia Institute of Technology announced today that Dr. Catherine Br

Study Reveals Nanoscale Properties of Explosives

John Toon — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Using nanometer scale analysis techniques and quantities too small to explode, researchers have mapped the temperature and length-sale factors that make energetic materials

Researchers Find Controls to Gold Nanocatalysis

David Terraso — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have made a discovery that could allow scientists to exercise more control over the catalytic activity of gold nanoclusters, an important development in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology.

Marcus Nanotechnology Building Groundbreaking

Matthew Nagel — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech broke ground on the new Marcus Nanotechnology Building, which has many people on campus and throughout the state filled with high hopes.

Optical Breakthrough Makes Lab-on-a-Chip Possible

Megan McRainey — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech researchers have found a way to shrink all the sensing power of sophisticated biosensors

Nano Probe May Open New Window Into Cell Behavior

Megan McRainey — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech researchers have created a nanoscale probe that can capture both the biochemical makeup and topography of complex biological objects in their normal environment

Nature Meets Technology at Georgia Tech Conference

David Terraso — Thu, 11 May 2006 00:00:00 EDT

For two days, May 11-12, researchers from 20 institutions will gather at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the first International Symposium for Biologically-inspired Design and Engineering.

Tech Forms Research Unit with Frances CNRS

Megan McRainey — Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech and France