Location, location, location - p309

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.141

Although the number of nanotechnology papers published by Chinese researchers is increasing rapidly, the US and Europe continue to lead in terms of quality.

Full Text - Location, location, location | PDF (129 KB) - Location, location, location

Subject Category: Education and research

Do single-walled carbon nanotubes occur naturally? - p310

Kieran J. MacKenzie, Chee Howe See, Oscar M. Dunens & Andrew T. Harris

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.139

Full Text - Do single-walled carbon nanotubes occur naturally? | PDF (108 KB) - Do single-walled carbon nanotubes occur naturally?

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Industry and IPR

Silicon nanowires feel the pinch - pp311 - 312

Alistair C. H. Rowe

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.108

Full Text - Silicon nanowires feel the pinch | PDF (173 KB) - Silicon nanowires feel the pinch

Subject Category: Electronic properties and devices

Narratives of nature and nanotechnology - pp313 - 315

Fern Wickson

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.140

Scientists often invoke comparisons with nature when discussing developments in nanotechnology, but the relationship between the two is more complex than it first appears, and can be broken down into nine different narratives.

Full Text - Narratives of nature and nanotechnology | PDF (386 KB) - Narratives of nature and nanotechnology

Subject Categories: Education and research | Ethical, legal and other societal issues

A new twist for nanowires, nanoparticles and socks, how to make a nanobioreactor, and quantum dot microdrop lasers - pp316 - 317

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.146

Full Text - A new twist for nanowires, nanoparticles and socks, how to make a nanobioreactor, and quantum dot microdrop lasers | PDF (259 KB) - A new twist for nanowires, nanoparticles and socks, how to make a nanobioreactor, and quantum dot microdrop lasers

Top down bottom up: Bridging two cultures - p317

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.147

Self-assembled nanofibres have been used to promote the growth of neuronal cells in mice after spinal cord injuries.

Full Text - Top down bottom up: Bridging two cultures | PDF (168 KB) - Top down bottom up: Bridging two cultures

Subject Category: Nanomedicine

NEMS: All you need is feedback - pp319 - 320

Kamil L. Ekinci

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.142

In the past, nanoelectromechanical resonators have been passive devices that required external oscillators to keep them working, so the development of a self-sustaining resonator powered only by a d.c. voltage is a major advance.

Full Text - NEMSAll you need is feedback | PDF (275 KB) - NEMSAll you need is feedback

Subject Categories: Nanosensors and other devices | NEMS

Environmental nanotechnology: Nanomaterials clean up - pp320 - 321

Joerg Lahann

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.143

Membranes made of manganese oxide nanowires can be used to selectively absorb oil from water through a combination of superhydrophobicity and capillary action.

Full Text - Environmental nanotechnologyNanomaterials clean up | PDF (319 KB) - Environmental nanotechnologyNanomaterials clean up

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Structural properties

Optical tweezers: Gold standard - p321

Tim Reid

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.137

Full Text - Optical tweezersGold standard | PDF (164 KB) - Optical tweezersGold standard

Subject Category: Photonic structures and devices

Nanoecotoxicology: Environmental risks of nanomaterials - pp322 - 323

Martin Scheringer

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.145

Rising production and use of engineered nanomaterials increases the likelihood of environmental exposure. A preliminary modelling study shows that quantitative risk assessment is possible but a large knowledge gap still exists.

Full Text - NanoecotoxicologyEnvironmental risks of nanomaterials | PDF (190 KB) - NanoecotoxicologyEnvironmental risks of nanomaterials

Subject Category: Environmental, health and safety issues

Force microscopy: Looking at molecules within molecules - p323

Peter Rodgers

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.138

Full Text - Force microscopyLooking at molecules within molecules | PDF (155 KB) - Force microscopyLooking at molecules within molecules

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Structural properties

Surface patterning: SAMs are better by design - pp324 - 325

Neil R. Champness

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.144

The patterning of self-assembled monolayers can be controlled on subnanometre length scales by careful design of the molecular components.

Full Text - Surface patterningSAMs are better by design | PDF (332 KB) - Surface patterningSAMs are better by design

Subject Categories: Molecular self-assembly | Surface patterning and imaging

Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites - pp327 - 331

T. Ramanathan, A. A. Abdala, S. Stankovich, D. A. Dikin, M. Herrera-Alonso, R. D. Piner, D. H. Adamson, H. C. Schniepp, X. Chen, R. S. Ruoff, S. T. Nguyen, I. A. Aksay, R. K. Prud'Homme & L. C. Brinson

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.96

Nanocomposites reinforced with functionalized graphene sheets that form strong interactions with the surrounding polymer matrix are shown to have significantly enhanced thermal and mechanical properties.

Abstract - | Full Text - Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites | PDF (280 KB) - Functionalized graphene sheets for polymer nanocomposites | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Structural properties

Superwetting nanowire membranes for selective absorption - pp332 - 336

Jikang Yuan, Xiaogang Liu, Ozge Akbulut, Junqing Hu, Steven L. Suib, Jing Kong & Francesco Stellacci

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.136

Through a combination of superhydrophobicity and capillary action, membranes made of manganese oxide nanowires can be used to selectively absorb hydrophobic contaminants, such as oil, from water.

Abstract - | Full Text - Superwetting nanowire membranes for selective absorption | PDF (785 KB) - Superwetting nanowire membranes for selective absorption | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Structural properties

See also: News and Views by Lahann

Atomically resolved mechanical response of individual metallofullerene molecules confined inside carbon nanotubes - pp337 - 341

Makoto Ashino, Dirk Obergfell, Miro Haluka, Shihe Yang, Andrei N. Khlobystov, Siegmar Roth & Roland Wiesendanger

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.126

Researchers have measured the mechanical response of individual metallofullerene molecules confined inside a carbon nanotube to the tip of an atomic force microscope with atomic resolution. Highly elastic — that is, almost frictionless — behaviour was observed under certain conditions

Abstract - | Full Text - Atomically resolved mechanical response of individual metallofullerene molecules confined inside carbon nanotubes | PDF (624 KB) - Atomically resolved mechanical response of individual metallofullerene molecules confined inside carbon nanotubes | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Structural properties

See also: News and Views by Rodgers

A self-sustaining ultrahigh-frequency nanoelectromechanical oscillator - pp342 - 346

X. L. Feng, C. J. White, A. Hajimiri & M. L. Roukes

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.125

To date most sensors based on nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) have been passive devices that require external periodic or pulsed stimuli to excite them into resonance. Now researchers have demonstrated an active NEMS device excited by a d.c. source that exhibits excellent frequency stability, linewidth narrowing and low-noise performance.

Abstract - | Full Text - A self-sustaining ultrahigh-frequency nanoelectromechanical oscillator | PDF (308 KB) - A self-sustaining ultrahigh-frequency nanoelectromechanical oscillator | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanosensors and other devices | NEMS

See also: News and Views by Ekinci

Impact of carbon nanotubes on the ingestion and digestion of bacteria by ciliated protozoa - pp347 - 351

Parnian Ghafari, Christine H. St-Denis, Mary E. Power, Xu Jin, Veronica Tsou, Himadri S. Mandal, Niels C. Bols & Xiaowu (Shirley) Tang

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.109

Nanoparticles released into the environment could impact the performance of the protozoa that regulate the population of bacteria and other microbes in water. New experiments show that carbon nanotubes are internalized by one such protozoa, Tetrahymena thermophila, reducing its ability to ingest and digest harmful bacteria species.

Abstract - | Full Text - Impact of carbon nanotubes on the ingestion and digestion of bacteria by ciliated protozoa | PDF (616 KB) - Impact of carbon nanotubes on the ingestion and digestion of bacteria by ciliated protozoa | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Structural properties

Trophic transfer of nanoparticles in a simplified invertebrate food web - pp352 - 355

R. David Holbrook, Karen E. Murphy, Jayne B. Morrow & Ken D. Cole

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.110

New laboratory studies using a simplified food web show that quantum dots can be ingested by certain ciliates and transferred to higher trophic organisms such as the predatory rotifers by dietary uptake.

Abstract - | Full Text - Trophic transfer of nanoparticles in a simplified invertebrate food web | PDF (262 KB) - Trophic transfer of nanoparticles in a simplified invertebrate food web | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanoparticles | Structural properties | Synthesis and processing

Selection of carbon nanotubes with specific chiralities using helical assemblies of flavin mononucleotide - pp356 - 362

Sang-Yong Ju, Jonathan Doll, Ity Sharma & Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.148

A small organic molecule self-assembles into helical ribbons that wrap around single-walled carbon nanotubes. The strength of the wrapping interaction depends on the chirality of each nanotube and enables mixtures to be separated.

Abstract - | Full Text - Selection of carbon nanotubes with specific chiralities using helical assemblies of flavin mononucleotide | PDF (935 KB) - Selection of carbon nanotubes with specific chiralities using helical assemblies of flavin mononucleotide | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Molecular self-assembly

Computer simulation study of fullerene translocation through lipid membranes - pp363 - 368

Jirasak Wong-Ekkabut, Svetlana Baoukina, Wannapong Triampo, I-Ming Tang, D. Peter Tieleman & Luca Monticelli

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.130

Computer simulations suggest that high concentrations of fullerenes can change the mechanical properties of the lipid membrane in cells. However, these changes are not large enough to damage the membrane, which suggests that other mechanisms are responsible for membrane disruption and fullerene toxicity.

Abstract - | Full Text - Computer simulation study of fullerene translocation through lipid membranes | PDF (801 KB) - Computer simulation study of fullerene translocation through lipid membranes | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Computational nanotechnology | Structural properties | Nanomedicine

Bit storage and bit flip operations in an electromechanical oscillator - p369

I. Mahboob & H. Yamaguchi

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.155

Full Text - Bit storage and bit flip operations in an electromechanical oscillator | PDF (78 KB) - Bit storage and bit flip operations in an electromechanical oscillator

Improved nanofabrication through guided transient liquefaction - p369

Stephen Y. Chou & Qiangfei Xia

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.156

Full Text - Improved nanofabrication through guided transient liquefaction | PDF (78 KB) - Improved nanofabrication through guided transient liquefaction