Topic description and stories

Nano-antennas convert invisible infrared into visible light

Colour-changing magnifying glass gives clear view of infrared light

02 Dec 2021

By trapping light into tiny crevices of gold, researchers have coaxed molecules to convert invisible infrared into visible light, creating new low-...

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Nano camera

Nano ‘camera’ made using molecular glue allows real-time monitoring of chemical reactions

02 Sep 2021

Researchers have made a tiny camera, held together with ‘molecular glue’ that allows them to observe chemical reactions in real time.

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Stable giant quantum vortices

Giant 'quantum twisters' may form in liquid light

05 Mar 2021

New mechanism found for generating giant vortices in quantum fluids of light.

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Scientists write ‘traps’ for light with tiny ink droplets

24 Oct 2017

A microscopic ‘pen’ that is able to write structures small enough to trap and harness light using a commercially available printing technique could...

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Artist's impression of a nanobot

How to train your drugs: from nanotherapeutics to nanobots

23 Jun 2017

Nanotechnology is creating new opportunities for fighting disease – from delivering drugs in smart packaging to nanobots powered by the world’s...

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Mixing light with dye molecules, trapped in golden gaps

Nano ‘hall of mirrors’ causes molecules to mix with light

13 Jun 2016

Researchers have successfully used quantum states to mix a molecule with light at room temperature, which will aid in the exploration of quantum...

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Expanding polymer-coated gold nanoparticles

Little ANTs: researchers build the world’s tiniest engine

02 May 2016

Researchers have built a nano-engine that could form the basis for future applications in nano-robotics, including robots small enough to enter...

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Trapping the light fantastic

16 Jun 2014

The development of a ‘nanobarrel’ that traps and concentrates light onto single molecules could be used as a low-cost and reliable diagnostic test.

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Polymer Opals

Flexible opals

30 May 2013

A synthetic material which mimics the brightest and most vivid colours in nature, and changes colour when twisted or stretched, has been developed by...

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Hologram

Nanotubes used to create smallest ever hologram pixels

21 Sep 2012

A breakthrough in the use of carbon nanotubes as optical projectors has enabled scientists to generate holograms using the smallest ever pixels.

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Aligned carbon nanotubes, coated with a conducting polymer

Weaving electronics into the fabric of our physical world

24 Jan 2012

The integration of electronics with materials opens up a world of possibilities, the surface of which is just being scratched. Professor Arokia...

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Sensing molecules by light using a substrate of nanoscale gold vocals

Squeezing more from light: coupling nanoscience and photonics

01 Sep 2008

Cambridge’s new NanoPhotonics Centre is creating novel properties of light and matter at the nanoscale.

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