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

MIT researchers have developed a new way of making large sheets of high-quality, atomically thin graphene, which could lead to ultra-lightweight, flexible solar cells and new classes of light-emitting devices. The new manufacturing process should be relatively easy to scale up for industrial production and involves an intermediate “buffer” layer of material that is key to the technique’s success. The buffer allows the ultrathin graphene sheet to be easily lifted off from its substrate, allowing for rapid roll-to-roll manufacturing.

MIT researchers have developed a new way of making large sheets of high-quality, atomically thin graphene, which could lead to ultra-lightweight, flexible solar cells and new classes of light-emitting devices. The new manufacturing process should be relatively easy to scale up for industrial production and involves an intermediate “buffer” layer of material that is key to the technique’s success. The buffer allows the ultrathin graphene sheet to be easily lifted off from its substrate, allowing for rapid roll-to-roll manufacturing.

Taking inspiration from nature's nanotechnology, a University of Central Florida researcher is creating technology to make extremely low-power, ultra-high-definition displays and screens. Similar to how butterflies, octopuses, parrots, and beetles display color when light is scattered and reflected by nanoscale structures on their bodies, this new technology creates digital displays that are lit by surrounding light – unlike current display technologies, which rely on lights hidden behind screens.

Taking inspiration from nature's nanotechnology, a University of Central Florida researcher is creating technology to make extremely low-power, ultra-high-definition displays and screens. Similar to how butterflies, octopuses, parrots, and beetles display color when light is scattered and reflected by nanoscale structures on their bodies, this new technology creates digital displays that are lit by surrounding light – unlike current display technologies, which rely on lights hidden behind screens.

Researchers from the University of Houston and Texas A&M University have reported a structural supercapacitor electrode made from reduced graphene oxide and aramid nanofiber that is stronger and more versatile than conventional carbon-based electrodes. Reduced graphene oxide and aramid nanofiber have strong electrochemical and mechanical properties. The aramid nanofiber, in particular, offers a mechanical strength that increases the electrode's versatility for a variety of applications, including for the military.

Researchers from the University of Houston and Texas A&M University have reported a structural supercapacitor electrode made from reduced graphene oxide and aramid nanofiber that is stronger and more versatile than conventional carbon-based electrodes. Reduced graphene oxide and aramid nanofiber have strong electrochemical and mechanical properties. The aramid nanofiber, in particular, offers a mechanical strength that increases the electrode's versatility for a variety of applications, including for the military.

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University at Buffalo have developed a technology called "Artificial Chemist," which incorporates artificial intelligence and an automated system for performing chemical reactions to accelerate research and development and manufacturing of commercially desirable materials. In proof-of-concept experiments, the researchers demonstrated that Artificial Chemist can identify and produce the best possible quantum dots for any color in 15 minutes or less. Quantum dots are colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals that are used in applications such as light-emitting diode (LED) displays.

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University at Buffalo have developed a technology called "Artificial Chemist," which incorporates artificial intelligence and an automated system for performing chemical reactions to accelerate research and development and manufacturing of commercially desirable materials. In proof-of-concept experiments, the researchers demonstrated that Artificial Chemist can identify and produce the best possible quantum dots for any color in 15 minutes or less. Quantum dots are colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals that are used in applications such as light-emitting diode (LED) displays.

A team of scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and the University of Chicago have explored how the structure and electronic properties of liquid water can be affected by the presence of ions and nanoconfinement (ions and water confined between material surfaces that are nanometers apart). The scientists performed simulations for water inside semiconducting nanotubes with diameters of 1.1 and 1.5 nanometers, respectively, and discovered that due to the nanoconfinement, there are competing effects of broken hydrogen bonds and water–carbon interactions on the molecular polarizability.

A team of scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and the University of Chicago have explored how the structure and electronic properties of liquid water can be affected by the presence of ions and nanoconfinement (ions and water confined between material surfaces that are nanometers apart). The scientists performed simulations for water inside semiconducting nanotubes with diameters of 1.1 and 1.5 nanometers, respectively, and discovered that due to the nanoconfinement, there are competing effects of broken hydrogen bonds and water–carbon interactions on the molecular polarizability.