Research Highlights in 2009

The electromagnetic fields in and around nanostructures can be visualized by combining electron microscopy with intense optical pulses.

Rolling nanorods on the surface of polar liquids using a coulombically induced torque.

DNA molecules in biological samples can be detected and quantified by measuring their changes in stiffness.

Europium nanoparticles can be used for sensing and imaging temperature in the physiological range.

Liquid suspensions made from nanoparticles attached to short organic polymers show some remarkably slow fluid dynamics.

A nickel-based catalyst has been developed for use in hydrogen fuel cells.

It is now possible to grow nanowires with abrupt junctions between different group IV semiconductors.

RTH-type zeolites can have notable catalytic properties.

Colloidal particles made from functionalized graphene sheets can enhance fuel combustion.

Researchers in Liverpool have found a unique way to unite the physical and biological sciences.

Researchers have used a deformable mirror to focus 20 keV X-rays to a spot size of just 7 nm.

Magnetism hinders the formation of atomic chains in break junctions.

Three-dimensional nanoscale imaging can be performed without measuring or controlling the phase of light.

New photonic nanostructures could have tunable optical properties controlled by forces from a laser.

Calculations suggest that bilayer graphene nanoribbons are very sensitive to low-energy photons.

Highly efficient solar cells can be produced by using zinc oxide nanowires infiltrated with lead selenide quantum dots.

A nanostructure consisting of a periodic array of the letter G produces a luminescent pattern whose handedness depends on the chirality of the illuminating light.

Metal clusters of different sizes may have particular electronic structures that affect their performance as catalysts.

Magnetic tunnel junctions that show large magnetoresistance changes and excellent temperature stability can be produced using a simple sputtering method.