News from the NNI Community - Research Advances Funded by Agencies Participating in the NNI

In a step toward making more accurate and uniform 3-D-printed parts, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated a method of measuring the rate at which microscopic regions of a liquid raw material harden into a solid plastic when exposed to light. NIST's custom atomic force microscope, with a nanometer-scale, cylinder-shaped tip, revealed that the complex process of curing resins, as they react under light to form polymers, requires controlling how much of the light's energy goes into forming the polymer and how much the polymer spreads out, or diffuses, during 3-D printing.

In a step toward making more accurate and uniform 3-D-printed parts, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated a method of measuring the rate at which microscopic regions of a liquid raw material harden into a solid plastic when exposed to light. NIST's custom atomic force microscope, with a nanometer-scale, cylinder-shaped tip, revealed that the complex process of curing resins, as they react under light to form polymers, requires controlling how much of the light's energy goes into forming the polymer and how much the polymer spreads out, or diffuses, during 3-D printing.

Researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered a new, two-dimensional transistor that is made of graphene and the compound molybdenum disulfide and could help usher in a new era of computing. The transistor requires half the voltage of current semiconductors and has a current density greater than similar transistors under development.

Researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered a new, two-dimensional transistor that is made of graphene and the compound molybdenum disulfide and could help usher in a new era of computing. The transistor requires half the voltage of current semiconductors and has a current density greater than similar transistors under development.

Scientists at Columbia University and the University of Glasgow have discovered a new chemical design principle for exploiting destructive quantum interference. The scientists used their approach to create a six-nanometer single-molecule switch in which the on-state current is more than 10,000 times greater than the off-state current. They demonstrated that this approach can be used to produce stable and reproducible single-molecule switches at room temperature that can carry currents exceeding 0.1 microamp in the on state. 

Scientists at Columbia University and the University of Glasgow have discovered a new chemical design principle for exploiting destructive quantum interference. The scientists used their approach to create a six-nanometer single-molecule switch in which the on-state current is more than 10,000 times greater than the off-state current. They demonstrated that this approach can be used to produce stable and reproducible single-molecule switches at room temperature that can carry currents exceeding 0.1 microamp in the on state. 

An international team of researchers, led by scientists at Penn State, found that arranging micro-supercapacitor cells in a serpentine, island-bridge layout allows the configuration to stretch and bend at the bridges, while reducing deformation of the micro-supercapacitors. The researchers used non-layered, ultrathin zinc-phosphorus nanosheets and 3D laser-induced graphene foam – a highly porous, self-heating nanomaterial – to construct the island-bridge design of the cells and noticed that these micro-supercapacitor arrays can charge and discharge efficiently and store the energy needed to power a wearable device.

An international team of researchers, led by scientists at Penn State, found that arranging micro-supercapacitor cells in a serpentine, island-bridge layout allows the configuration to stretch and bend at the bridges, while reducing deformation of the micro-supercapacitors. The researchers used non-layered, ultrathin zinc-phosphorus nanosheets and 3D laser-induced graphene foam – a highly porous, self-heating nanomaterial – to construct the island-bridge design of the cells and noticed that these micro-supercapacitor arrays can charge and discharge efficiently and store the energy needed to power a wearable device.

Researchers at Rice University have identified a novel, second level of fluorescence by carbon nanotubes. The Rice University team discovered that single-walled nanotubes emit a delayed secondary fluorescence when triggered by a multistep process in a solution with dye molecules and dissolved oxygen. Potential applications for the findings include optoelectronics and solar energy developments.

Researchers at Rice University have identified a novel, second level of fluorescence by carbon nanotubes. The Rice University team discovered that single-walled nanotubes emit a delayed secondary fluorescence when triggered by a multistep process in a solution with dye molecules and dissolved oxygen. Potential applications for the findings include optoelectronics and solar energy developments.