(Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy)
Researchers who discovered a versatile type of two-dimensional conductive nanomaterial, called a MXene, nearly a decade and a half ago, have now reported on a process for producing its one-dimensional cousin: the MXene nanoscroll. The group posits that these materials, which are 100 times thinner than human hair yet more conductive than their two-dimensional counterparts, could be used to improve the performance of energy storage devices, biosensors and wearable technology.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Researchers developed a new drying technique for cellulose nanofibers that uses counter-rotating vortices (“mini tornadoes”) of heated compressed air to rapidly dehydrate a wet cellulose slurry. The innovation of producing these mini tornadoes to dry cellulose nanofibers is more energy efficient, effective and scalable than the current freeze and spray drying methods.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Researchers established a theoretical analysis to define two regions, one where nanoscale interfacial dynamics are critical and another where the flow is accurately modeled by standard continuum theory. By demonstrating the important role of chemistry and molecular-scale interactions on confined fluid flows, the results can help guide future studies on when to apply different modeling approaches. These findings can help enhance the effectiveness of molecular-based simulations for investigating complex confined systems in nanofluidics, biology, and colloidal science, offering a complementary molecular-scale perspective to traditional continuum approaches.

(Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy)
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the delivery vehicles of modern medicine, carrying cancer drugs, gene therapies and vaccines into cells. Until recently, many scientists assumed that all LNPs followed more or less the same blueprint, like a fleet of trucks built from the same design. Researchers have characterized the shape and structure of LNPs in unprecedented detail, revealing that the particles come in a surprising variety of configurations. That variety isn’t just cosmetic: As the researchers found, a particle’s internal shape and structure correlates with how well it delivers therapeutic cargo to a particular destination.

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy)
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a new type of electrically controlled, near-infrared smart window that can cut near-infrared light transmission by almost 50%. In these smart windows, carbon nanotubes are grown so they stand upright on the glass, like a microscopic forest. Depending on the voltage applied, the nanotubes can either absorb infrared light and block heat from the sun or let the infrared light through. Once the carbon nanotubes are put into either a blocking or transparent state, they retain charge well, and so, a continuous voltage is not needed to maintain that state. This property offers very low-power operation, a necessity to drive energy savings for the end user.