(Funded by the National Science Foundation)
Researchers from North Carolina State University and Iowa State University have demonstrated a new technique for self-assembling electronic devices. The proof-of-concept work was used to create nanoscale and microscale diodes and transistors, and paves the way for self-assembling more complex electronic devices without relying on existing computer chip manufacturing techniques. The self-assembling technique follows a multistep process that makes use of liquid metal particles and a solution that contains molecules called ligands that are made up of carbon and oxygen. At some point during this process, the metal ions interact with the oxygen to form semiconductor metal oxides, while the carbon atoms form graphene sheets. These ingredients assemble themselves into a well-ordered structure consisting of semiconductor metal oxide molecules wrapped in graphene sheets.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation)
Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley; the University of California, Santa Cruz; Harvard University; the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom; and the National Institute for Materials Science in Tsukuba, Japan, have conducted an experiment that confirms a theory first put forth 40 years ago stating that electrons confined in quantum space would move along common paths rather than producing a chaotic jumble of trajectories. To conduct this experiment, the scientists combined advanced imaging techniques and precise control over electron behavior within graphene, a two-dimensional material made of carbon atoms. The scientists used the finely tipped probe of a scanning tunneling microscope to first create a trap for electrons and then hover close to a graphene surface to detect electron movements without physically disturbing them.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation)
Researchers from the University of North Carolina Charlotte and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed an innovative computational framework for modeling multifunctional RNA nucleic acid nanoparticles. By integrating small and wide-angle x-ray scattering data with data-driven molecular dynamics simulations, the researchers developed a methodology for studying multistranded RNA nucleic acid nanoparticles in their solution-state environments. Small-angle x-ray scattering–Molecular Dynamics (SAXS–MD) guides simulations toward biologically meaningful conformations, addressing the limitations of traditional unconstrained molecular dynamics simulations.

(Funded by the National Institutes of Health)
Researchers at Rice University have developed an innovative imaging platform that promises to improve our understanding of cellular structures at the nanoscale. This platform offers significant advancements in super-resolution microscopy, enabling fast and precise three-dimensional (3D) imaging of multiple cellular structures. By integrating an angled light sheet, a nanoprinted microfluidic system, and advanced computational tools, the platform significantly improves imaging precision and speed, allowing for clearer visualization of how different cellular structures interact at the nanoscale.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Scientists from Clark Atlanta University and the Molecular Foundry at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a faster, more sustainable method for making metal-encapsulated covalent organic frameworks – materials that have the potential to play a crucial role in catalysis, energy storage, and chemical sensing. The new one-step, room-temperature process eliminates the need for toxic solvents and significantly reduces the production time from several days to just one hour. The covalent organic frameworks were evaluated to see how porous and crystalline they are and how much metal was added to the structure. Also, powerful transmission electron microscopes were used to visualize the covalent organic framework structure and the distribution of metal throughout.