Debating Nanotechnology's Responsible Development
2 February 2010, 17:14
Categories: responsible-nanotechnology
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Deepening Ethical Engagement and Participation in Emerging Nanotechnologies (DEEPEN) is a three-year research project funded by the European Commission. The project is coordinated by Durham University, UK, and its team includes researchers based at Darmstadt University of Technology (Germany), the Centre for Social Studies at the University of Coimbra (Portugal), and the University of Twente (Netherlands).
DEEPEN is examining the ethical challenges posed by emerging nanotechnologies in real world circumstances, and their implications for civil society, for governance, and for scientific practice. In this recently released video, members of the public, policymakers, scientists and industrialists come together to discuss nanotechnology’s responsible development. Where should nanotechnology go next, and who should be involved in directing its development?
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Nanowiki Releases ePub
2 February 2010, 17:04
Categories: responsible-nanotechnology
An electronic publication (ePub) about the evolution of nanotechnology was recently released by nanowiki. You can download the 9 MB ebook for multiple reading systems in PCs, mobiles or ebook readers. You can also just read the ePub file in Firefox, if you have the Firefox add-on. This free digital book includes 42 original plates of nanoparticles.
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Hydrogels Of Clay And Water
26 January 2010, 15:00
Categories: gels--foams smt-polymorphic-shape-shifters
Scientists at the University of Tokyo have created a hydrogel that is made of water and clay, and is both stronger and self-healing. Key to their work, was the development of a long-molecule binder that links the clay particles into a network, trapping water. The bonds that form the network are relatively weak, which is what enables the material to have self-healing properties.
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Cool Nanoparticles For Buildings
26 January 2010, 14:46
Categories: coatings nanoparticles
Researchers at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, have proposed a nanoparticle heat pump that could one day cool buildings without the need for energy-intensive air conditioning.
Professor Geoff Smith and Dr Angus Gentle have created a coating that can be used as an efficient heat pump and reduce the need for energy-guzzling air conditioning. It relies on a phenomenon known as “night sky cooling”, in which energy absorbed by surfaces during the day is emitted back into the atmosphere.
Smith and Gentle’s invention takes advantage of the fact that certain wavelengths of radiation emitted from the Earth are less likely to be reabsorbed by the atmosphere. These wavelengths, between 7.9 µm and 13 µm, are more likely to escape all the way back into space than others.
The researchers have found that a mixture of 50 nm silicon carbide and silicon dioxide nanoparticles can reduce temperatures down to 15 degrees cooler than ambient temperatures in Sydney. The technology would mainly work at night, but could sometimes work on the shady side of buildings.
“We’ve managed to cool six cans of beer,” says Smith.
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Nanotech Improves Functionality Of Wool Fabrics
25 January 2010, 22:53
Categories: nanoparticles superoleophobic-philic
In addition to being light and soft, wool is one of the best insulating fibers known to man. The quality that distinguishes wool fibers is the presence of a fatty, hydrophobic (water-repellent) outer layer that surrounds each fiber. Therefore, the water absorption and sweat venting properties of wool fiber are not very good, affecting the comfort of wearing wool textiles.
The hydrophobic surface of wool is also a barrier to adding hydrophilic (water-attracting) agents, which is an issue for adding smart functionalities to wool fabrics. But researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have now found a method for creating hydrophilic wool. They applied silica sols to natural wool fibers to form an ultrathin layer on the surface of the fibers, increasing both the surface roughness and surface energy of the wool fabrics.
“We adopted a new and simple method, similar to dyeing, for fabricating environmentally stable superhydrophilic wool fabrics” explains Dong Chen. “A transparent and thin layer of silica nanoparticles changes both the surface energy and surface roughness of the wool fibers. Thanks to the silica layer’s optical transparence and chemical stability, we obtained functionalized fabrics without changing the color and fabric morphology.”
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Contaminated Site Remediation: Are Nanomaterials the Answer?
24 January 2010, 14:06
Categories: responsible-nanotechnology
In its 2004 report Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties, the British Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering recommended that the use of free manufactured nanoparticles be prohibited for environmental applications such as remediation until further research on potential risks and benefits had been conducted. Further to that, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) called for additional risk research in 2005 while acknowledging environmental remediation technology as one of nanotechnology’s potential benefits.
Now, a new review article appearing in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) provides an overview of current practices; research findings; societal issues; potential environment, health, and safety implications; and possible future directions for nanoremediation. The authors conclude that the technology could be an effective and economically viable alternative for some current site cleanup practices, but potential risks remain poorly understood.
According to Dr. Todd Kuiken, one of the authors of the EHP article, “Despite the potentially high performance and low cost of nanoremediation, more research is needed to understand and prevent any potential adverse environmental impacts, particularly studies on full-scale ecosystem-wide impacts. To date, little research has been done.”
To coincide with the release of the EHP article, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is making available a newly updated online map of nanoremediation sites around the globe. The map shows nearly 60 sites where nanomaterials have been used and includes detailed information on the contaminants treated and the nature of the treatment.
PEN has also organized a presentation for interested parties, to take place on Thursday, February 4, 2010, 12:30–1:30 PM (light lunch at 12:00 noon), in the 5th Floor Conference Room, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C. The presentation will also be webcast.
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Nano-Vitruvian Man
24 January 2010, 13:46
Categories: tools
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A pioneering fabrication technique developed by the UK’s National Physics Laboratory and the University of Surrey can mill 3D profiles with unrivaled accuracy. The new technique is capable of milling structures on the nanometer scale in all three dimensions, and opens up a range of possible device applications, particularly in the field of optics and calibration standards for microscopy.
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Trend For 2010
24 January 2010, 13:31
Categories: smt-luminescent-light-emit coatings
Innovations like skin-enhancing bedding from US-based company, London Luxury, and sun-activated clothing from Toronto brand SunSoul, show that wearable skincare could become more common in the future.
These products incorporate ultrafine particles like copper or aloe vera into clothing or bedding. For example, SunSoul’s products use pigments that fluoresce when they are stimulated by the broad spectrum of sunlight, absorbing UV rays to emit a narrower bandwidth of light that doesn’t include UV rays.
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Nanotubes Remove Wastewater Colorants
24 January 2010, 12:51
Categories: filtration nanotubes-wires-fullerenes
Researchers at University of Tabriz, Iran, have produced an electrode made of carbon nanotubes which is capable of highly removing colorants from industrial wastewaters.
“First, we fabricated PTFE carbon nanotube and PTEF graphite electrodes to be used as cathodes. Then, we measured hydrogen peroxide produced by the two mentioned electrodes through electrolysis. After that, we removed C.I. Basic Yellow 2 pollutant from contaminated waters by the fabricated electrodes,” says Mahmoud Zarei.
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Cool Socks
24 January 2010, 12:39
Categories: nanofibers superhydrophobicphilic
The Manila Times is reporting that Gold Toe, a sock manufacturer, is using special fibers to manage moisture in their Element line of socks. The socks are made of Tencel, a fiber that is manufactured from beech by Lenzing AG, Austria. The wood pulp is dissolved in a chemical solvent and is then spun into Tencel fibers.
Very fine hairs found on the outer Tencel fibers, called nanofibrils, are the key to the performance possibilities of the fibers. The nanofibrils are hydrophilic and optimize absorption of moisture with excellent cooling properties. With the large surface area of the fine hairs, they can absorb excess liquid and quickly releases it again into the atmosphere.
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Widening Information Gap On Nanotechnology
21 January 2010, 18:00
Categories: responsible-nanotechnology
As the global nanotechnology industry continues to produce cutting-edge consumer products, the scientific community is leaving a key part of the U.S. public behind when sharing knowledge of this new field of science, according to a new study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Arizona State University.
The researchers found widening gaps in nanotech knowledge since 2004 between the least-educated and most-educated citizens. Americans with at least a college degree have shown an increase in understanding of the new technology, while knowledge about nanotechnology has declined over time for those with education levels of less than a high school diploma, according to the study.
“Unfortunately, people with little or no formal education — those who need outreach the most — aren’t getting as much information about this issue, which will likely become even harder to understand over time,” says Elizabeth Corley, a professor at Arizona State University. Well-educated people who are already “information-rich” are learning about nanotechnology from traditional outreach efforts such as museums, Corley says. The study also found that the Internet is one of the most effective methods in closing gaps and informing the less educated about nanotechnology.
“Online and social media are some of the most promising tools for making sure we reach all members of the public with information about science and technology,” says Dietram Scheufele, a professor at UW-Madison, “and tools like Digg, Twitter, or Facebook will only become more important down the road.” Nanoarchitecture.net is a part of that.
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An Invisibility Cloak Of Water
21 January 2010, 17:49
Categories: optics--photonics nanoparticles
Researchers at Fudan University, China, have proposed a new type of invisibility cloak that consists of silver-coated nanoparticles floating in water. The 10 nm diameter magnetite nanoparticles would self-assemble into chains that are controllable by magnetic fields of different strengths, the scientists say. By aligning themselves in the direction of the magnetic field, a negative refraction index would be produced, so that underwater objects would appear to be out of the water entirely. Cloaking technology of this sort could also bend the light around an object so that nothing appears.
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A Matter Of Size
21 January 2010, 17:40
Categories: molecular-manufacturing
Eric Drexler recently commented on a report by the NRC’s Committee to Review the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The report, titled A Matter of Size: Triennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, documented a study that examined the physical principles of atomically precise manufacturing (i.e., molecular manufacturing), assessing its feasibility and closing with a call for experimental research.
The committee examined the concept of advanced molecular manufacturing, and found that the analysis of its physical principles is based on accepted scientific knowledge, and that it addresses the major technical questions. However, in the committee’s view, theoretical calculations are insufficient; only experimental research can reliably answer the critical questions and move the technology toward implementation.
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e-Textiles Wearable Electronics Advance
21 January 2010, 17:25
Categories: nanotubes-wires-fullerenes energy
Could powering your portable devices become as easy as plugging it into your clothes, and then recharging the clothing overnight? Scientists in California are reporting an advance in that direction with an easier way of changing ordinary cotton and polyester into conductive energy textiles, e-Textiles that double as a rechargeable battery.
“Wearable electronics represent a developing new class of materials with an array of novel functionalities, such as flexibility, stretchability, and lightweight, which allow for many applications and designs previously impossible with traditional electronics technology,” Yi Cui and colleagues note. “High-performance sportswear, wearable displays, new classes of portable power, and embedded health monitoring systems are examples of these novel applications.”
Their report describes a new process for making e-textiles that uses ink made from single-walled carbon nanotubes — electrically conductive carbon fibers barely 1/50,000 the width of a human hair. When applied to cotton and polyester fabrics, the ink produced e-Textiles with an excellent ability to store electricity. The fabrics retained flexibility and stretchability of regular cotton and polyester, and kept their new e-properties under conditions that simulated repeated laundering.
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Ferropaper Actuators
21 January 2010, 16:48
Categories: nanoparticles smt-polymorphic-shape-shifters
Researchers at Purdue University have created a magnetic “ferropaper” that might be used to make low-cost micromotors. The smart material is made by impregnating ordinary paper, including newsprint, with a mixture of mineral oil and magnetic nanoparticles of iron oxide. The nanoparticle-laden paper can then be moved using a magnetic field.
“Paper is a porous matrix, so you can load a lot of this material into it,” said professor Babak Ziaie. “It is very inexpensive to make. You put a droplet on a piece of paper, and that is your actuator, or motor.”
Once saturated with the “ferrofluid” mixture, the paper is coated with a biocompatible plastic film, which makes it water resistant, prevents the fluid from evaporating and improves mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness and elasticity.
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Snail Armor
21 January 2010, 16:40
Categories: biomimicry
Two-and-one-half miles below the central Indian Ocean, scientists discovered a gastropod mollusk whose armor could improve load-bearing and protective materials in everything from aircraft hulls to sports equipment.
The so-called “scaly-foot gastropod,” has a unique tri-layered shell that may hold insights for future mechanical design principles. Specifically, it has a highly calcified inner layer, a thick organic middle layer. But, it’s the extraordinary outer layer fused with granular iron sulfide that excites researchers at MIT.
Testing has led to a “realization that each layer of the (mollusk’s) exoskeleton is responsible for distinct and multifunctional roles in mechanical protection,” Christine Ortiz and her colleagues write in the report. The testing reveals that the shell is “advantageous for penetration resistance, energy dissipation, mitigation of fracture and crack arrest, reduction of back deflections, and resistance to bending and tensile loads.”
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Viagra Bed Sheets
11 January 2010, 16:27
Categories: nanoparticles
According to The Sun, Pep Torres has used nanotechnology to infuse Viagra’s arousing ingredient into the fibers of a bed sheet. When people get into bed the Viagra soaks into their skin and gets into the bloodstream.
“It started as a joke after we saw a German study that said businessmen get little sex because they are too tired from work,” Pep said. “But we got so many calls after launching it that we’re going into production. The people we got to test them said they couldn’t concentrate on anything except…well, you know,” he added.
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Self-Assembly Of Nanoparticles Imaged
11 January 2010, 16:11
Categories: nanoscopy--microscopy self-assembly
Scientists from the University of Glasgow and the University of Bielefeld, Germany, have imaged the self-assembly of nanoparticles, unveiling the blueprint for building designer molecular machines atom-by-atom. The researchers observed the self-assembly of molybdenum oxide wheel molecules around an intermediate structure in the center of the wheel, which they found to be the ‘template’ or scaffold used to construct the larger molecule.
Following completion of the molybdenum oxide wheel molecule, which is just 3.6 nanometers in diameter, the template was ejected, freeing it to repeat the process. The researchers were able to image the process and the template using X-ray crystallography.
“This advance is very important since in the construction of molecular nano-objects we must rely on ‘self-assembly’ where the nano-scale objects builds itself – a process which is almost impossible to understand or control using current step-wise chemical synthesis approaches,” says Professor Leroy Cronin. “Therefore, understanding the assembly process is vital if we are to create a new range of functional nano-objects.”
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NanoHype: Nanotechnology Implications and Interactions
11 January 2010, 15:57
Categories: other
According to a study by David Berube, funded by the National Science Foundation, much of what is sold in the market as nanotechnology is, in fact, a recasting of straightforward materials science, which is leading to a “nanotech industry built solely on selling nanotubes, nanowires, and the like” and that will “end up with a few suppliers selling low-margin products in huge volumes.”
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New Aerogel for High-Temperature Thermal Insulation
7 January 2010, 15:28
Categories: gels--foams
A high-performance, silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) aerogel material has been made by Aspen Aerogels, Inc. for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. The SiOC aerogel is suitable for use as thermal insulation at temperatures approaching 1,200 °C, and was created using cost-effective, commercially available substances.
When tested, the SiOC aerogels exhibited bulk densities and thermal conductivities that rival traditional silica-based aerogels, and prolonged exposure to temperatures above 1,000 °C had virtually no effect on the thermal conductivity, surface area, pore volume, or pore diameter of the SiOC aerogels.
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