Entries Tagged 'Nanotech' ↓

This kind of thing really fascinates me. Every time we turn around, we see amazingly efficient structures in nature. And more and more our technology is attempting to imitate them. A professor of chemical engineering, Peng Jiang, at the University of Florida has come up with a new coating for glass and solar cells.

His coating is based on the amazingly efficient light absorption properties of a Moth’s eyes and the water deflection properties of a cicadas wings. Both abilities rely on a complex pattern of nanoscale size bumps on the surface. Using nanotech, he has managed to create a coating that replicates the bump pattern. The new coating should allow for better more efficient and self cleaning solar panels.

It is really interesting how much research is going into replicating natural structures for everything from better glues and sticky tape to water walking robots.

Via Physorg: From moths and cicadas come improvements to solar cells

Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a type of plastic that is as strong as steel. They do this by building a brick like structure of nanotubes and nanosheets. With the strength of the material distributed across the entire structure. Much like the way a brick wall distributes the weight placed on a single brick across the entire wall.

The entire structure is even built the way a brick wall would be built. One nanoscale layer at a time. Each layer being placed over the previous layer in an overlapping manner. Since the resulting material is as strong as steel, but much lighter, it could see use in a variety of areas where strength is needed, but weight is a concern. Such as personal body armor or lighter more fuel efficient vehicles. The fact that it is transparent means that it could even be used in place of glass for buildings and windshields.

The whole thing reminds me of the old Star Trek tech, Transparent Aluminum. I’m remembering the movie with the whales where they go back in time and have to track down the 20th century equivalent of transparent aluminum.

Via PhysOrg: New plastic is strong as steel, transparent

 A bacteria, that is relatively common in hospitals, may have impacts on the design of new nanotechnology devices and coatings. The bacteria is called Clostridium, and it is one of a group of hard to kill bugs known as “Super bugs.” What makes it so hard to kill is the outer protective shell that it uses as a defense mechanism.As scientists have been studying the shell for ways to attack it, they have come a better understanding of how to design outer coatings for new nanotech particles.

This news highlights the trend among scientists these days of looking toward nature for advanced designs of new technology.

Via PhysOrg: Superbugs, shapes and nanotechnology

The same team of scientists that announced a theory that might one day lead to invisibility, has come up with a system that could lead to levitation. Physicists Ulf Leonhardt and Dr Thomas Philbin of the University of St Andrews in Scotland have come up with a way to reverse the casimir force on nanoscale objects. Casimir force was discovered in 1948 and is the reason why very small objects “stick” together. Scientists do not fully understand why the casimir force works, but it is what causes atoms and other subatomic particles to attract each other. It’s also the reason why a gecko lizard can walk up sheer walls and across ceilings. For the moment, the system that reverses the casimir force works only on the nano scale, but the theory behind it should scale up to larger objects. Such as people.

Check it out at PhysOrg: Scientist float levitation theory

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Akron have created a new form of tape based on nanotubes. The entire design is inspired by the way that the gecko’s feet stick to sheer surfaces. Allowing the gecko to climb up completely vertical walls. On a gecko, thousands of tiny cilia like hairs are located on the pads of its feet. Allowing it to grip with great force surfaces that would seem to be completely flat.

The researchers have mimicked this using thousands of carbon nanotubes. They claim that the tape they have developed, has four times the gripping power of a gecko’s foot pad.With technology like this, how long can it be before we can put on a pair of shoes and walk up walls. LOL

Via PhysOrg: Nanotube adhesive sticks better than a gecko’s foot

Samuel Stupp at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill has come up with a way to use nanotech to partially repair the spinal cords of mice who were completely paralyzed. He and his team used a specifically tailored molecule to convince stem cells to grow into new nerves. Normally in an injury of that magnitude, the bodies naturally occurring stem cells would become scar tissue rather than new nerves. By preventing the scar tissue from forming, the stem cells instead become new nerves. The entire procedure did not require any surgery or invasive procedures. It could all be accomplished by injecting the tailored molecules directly into the damaged area.
Stupp says he does not think the technique is mature enough to completely heal a severed spinal cord. But he does think that significant improvement in the quality of life for people with severe spinal cord injuries is a possibility using his technique. he hopes to start clinical trial using humans test subjects within two years.

LiveScience.com: Simple Injection Shows Promise for Treating Paralysis
ABC News: Paralyzed Mice Walk Again

The University of Leeds’ NanoManufacturing Institute is currently building a proof of concept house in the Greek mountains. The Greek mountains are prone to frequent minor earthquakes. The plan is to build a house that will automatically heal cracks in the walls. The walls will contain nano particles that will liquefy under pressure, flow into cracks and gaps in the walls, and then harden again. The scientists involved say that the nano particles are easy to produce, and only a small amount are needed in the walls to be effective. So if all goes well, we may be seeing self healing walls within a few years. Of course, if the ground underneath your house disappears, then having self healing walls won’t do you much good. But they are working on that as well.

Regenerative house to grace Greece mountainside
‘Self-healing’ house in Greece will dare to defy nature

Researchers at Saint Louis University in Missouri have come up with a fuel cell that can run on nearly any sugar source. It converts the sugar into electricity and potentially can create power sources that are much smaller than current lithium batteries. Converting sugar into power is not a new concept. Several years ago some scientists came up with a fuel cell idea for powering pacemakers. It was also powered by sugar. It converted the glucose in the patients blood into electric power. There have also been a few other fuel cell technologies that converted various sources of sugar into power.
The difference in this system, is that the researchers claim to be able to use any source of sugar. So you may soon be able to pour some cola into your Ipod when it runs low on power.
Check the article out here