American Chemical Society

MXene material could improve sensors that sniff

Sensors that sniff out chemicals in the air to warn us about everything from fires to carbon monoxide to drunk drivers to explosive devices hidden in luggage have improved so much that they can even detect diseases on a person's breath.

Flexible vertical micro LED

A research team has developed flexible vertical micro LEDs using anisotropic conductive film (ACF)-based transfer and interconnection technology.

New biosensor could monitor glucose levels in tears and sweat

Constantly tracking a person's glucose levels through their tears or sweat could be one step closer to providing people with diabetes an improved monitoring tool.

Lab unlocks secrets of nanoscale 3D printing

Researchers have discovered novel ways to extend the capabilities of two-photon lithography, a high-resolution 3D printing technique capable of producing nanoscale features smaller than one-hundredth the width of a human hair.

Carbon nanotubes devices may have a limit to how 'nano' they can be

Carbon nanotubes bound for electronics not only need to be as clean as possible to maximize their utility in next-generation nanoscale devices, but contact effects may limit how small a nano device can be, according to researchers.

Nanotubes go with the flow to penetrate brain tissue

Researchers have invented a device that uses fast-moving fluids to insert flexible, conductive carbon nanotube fibers into the brain, where they can help record the actions of neurons.

Chemists synthesize narrow ribbons of graphene using light and heat

Silicon — the shiny, brittle metal commonly used to make semiconductors — is an essential ingredient of modern-day electronics. But as electronic devices have become smaller and smaller, creating tiny silicon components that fit inside them has become more challenging and more expensive.

Novel hybrid material may inspire next gen displays

Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals with the potential to revolutionize diverse technologies, from photovoltaics and medical imaging to quantum computing.

SOFT e-textiles could offer advanced protection for soldiers

New technology that harnesses electronic signals in a smart fabric could lead to advanced hazardous-material gear that protects against toxic chemicals, according to research.

Electronic skin glows when it gets hurt

Electronic-skin technologies for prosthetics and robots can detect the slightest touch or breeze. But oddly, the sensors that make this possible do not respond effectively to a harmful blow.

New fast-charging, high-energy electric-car battery technology

An international team of researchers has presented a novel hydrogen isotope separation system based on a porous metal organic framework.

Research yields significant thermoelectric performance

Scientists reported significant advances in the thermoelectric performance of organic semiconductors based on carbon nanotube thin films that could be integrated into fabrics to convert waste heat into electricity or serve as a small power source.

Chemical and biological threat detector-on-a-ring

Wearable sensors are revolutionizing the tech-world, capable of tracking processes in the body, such as heart rates. But wearable sensors also can have applications in detecting threats that are external to the body.

A new miniature solution for storing renewable energy

Scientists have long searched for the next generation of materials that can catalyze a revolution in renewable energy harvesting and storage.

Efficient catalyst for key step in artificial photosynthesis

Chemists have designed a new catalyst that speeds up the rate of a key step in "artificial photosynthesis" -- an effort to mimic how plants, algae, and some bacteria harness sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into energy-rich fuels.

Asphalt helps lithium batteries charge faster

A touch of asphalt may be the secret to high-capacity lithium metal batteries that charge 10 to 20 times faster than commercial lithium-ion batteries, according to scientists.

Carbon nanofiber supercapacitor (without the flammable ingredients)

A group of researchers have created a fabric-like material electrode that could help make energy storage devices — batteries and supercapacitors — faster and less susceptible to leaks or disastrous meltdowns.

Peel-and-go printable structures fold themselves

As 3-D printing has become a mainstream technology, industry and academic researchers have been investigating printable structures that will fold themselves into useful three-dimensional shapes when heated or immersed in water.

Synthesizing pure graphene, a miracle material

Formed deep within the earth, stronger than steel, and thinner than a human hair. These comparisons aren't describing a new super hero. They're describing graphene, a substance that some experts have called "the most amazing and versatile" known to mankind.

Cyborg bacteria outperform plants at photosynthesis

Photosynthesis provides energy for the vast majority of life on Earth. But chlorophyll, the green pigment that plants use to harvest sunlight, is relatively inefficient. To enable humans to capture more of the sun's energy than natural photosynthesis can, scientists have taught bacteria to cover themselves in tiny, highly efficient solar panels to produce useful compounds.