Nanoscience and nanotechnology

The MIT team found that an effective solar cell could be made from a stack of two one-molecule-thick materials: Graphene (a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms, shown at bottom in blue) and molybdenum disulfide (above, with molybdenum atoms shown in red and sulfur in yellow). The two sheets together are thousands of times thinner than conventional silicon solar cells.

Solar power heads in a new direction: thinner

Atom-thick photovoltaic sheets could pack hundreds of times more power per weight than conventional solar cells.

June 26, 2013

Lipid nanoparticles (carrying siRNA) are shown as they are transported inside cells using endocytic vesicles.

Enhancing RNA interference

Helping RNA escape from cells’ recycling process could make it easier to shut off disease-causing genes.

June 23, 2013

Schematics of a ferroelectric-graphene-ferroelectric nanostructure. Different domains of ferroelectrics can define densely packed waveguide patterns on graphene. Terahertz plasmons at ultrashort wavelength can flow on these waveguides.

Ferroelectric-graphene-based system could lead to improved information processing

New system uses two-dimensional structures to guide plasmonic waves at ultrashort wavelength, offering a new platform for memory and computer chips.

June 21, 2013

Pixelanted image of the MIT Dome in red on a blue background with the left-hand portion of the image also in red

An electrical switch for magnetism

MIT researchers develop a new approach to controlling the motion of magnetic domains; work could lead to low-power computer memory.

May 29, 2013

Solving a semiconductor riddle

New observations of material disprove leading theory about LED brightness, opening new avenues for research.

May 24, 2013

Image of hexagonal portion of two slices of graphene, with red and blue dots representing carbon atoms, that are superimposed at a slightly odd angle to create a moire pattern

Stacking 2-D materials produces surprising results

New experiments reveal previously unseen effects, could lead to new kinds of electronics and optical devices.

May 16, 2013

Nanotechnology could help fight diabetes

Injectable nanogel can monitor blood-sugar levels and secrete insulin when needed.

May 16, 2013

Graphic of a carbon nanotube, colored in rainbow colors on a black background

Explained: Nanowires and nanotubes

Tiny filaments and cylinders are studied for possible uses in energy, electronics, optics and other fields.

April 11, 2013

At left, metallized DNA (red) forms letters on a graphene surface. Treatment with oxygen plasma etches the shape of the letters into the graphene, right.

Patterning graphene with DNA

Folded DNA templates allow researchers to precisely cut out graphene shapes, which could be used in electronic circuits.

April 9, 2013

President Barack Obama greets the 2012 U.S. Kavli Prize winners in the Oval Office on March 28, including MIT's Mildred Dresselhaus (in gray jacket), Ann Graybiel (in purple suit) and Jane Luu (in blue jacket).

Obama hosts Dresselhaus, Graybiel and Luu in Oval Office

The three MIT scientists are among six winners of the 2012 Kavli Prizes to visit the White House.

April 1, 2013

Three by three grid with various blue and gray abstract-looking images

Watching fluid flow at nanometer scales

Researchers find that tiny nanowires can lift liquids as effectively as tubes.

March 31, 2013

Scanning Electron Microscope images show an array of zinc-oxide nanowires (top) and a cross-section of a photovoltaic cell made from the nano wires, interspersed with quantum dots made of lead sulfide (dark areas). A layer of gold at the top (light band) and a layer of indium-tin-oxide at the bottom (lighter area) form the two electrodes of the solar cell.

New solar-cell design based on dots and wires

MIT researchers improve efficiency of quantum-dot photovoltaic system by adding a forest of nanowires.

March 25, 2013

Human breast cancer cells (purple) are targeted by nanoparticles (green) developed by MIT professor Paula Hammond. The particles bind to receptors overexpressed by cancer cells.

Practicing medicine at the nanoscale

New approaches to drug delivery offer hope for new, more targeted treatments.

March 11, 2013

This diagram shows one of the core-shell nanoparticles embedded in a host material, as described in a paper in <i>Advanced Materials</i>. The motion of electrons, as shown by brown lines, is bent in such a way that they appear to be unaffected by the presence of the particle, thus allowing them to pass with little resistance.

‘Invisible’ particles could enhance thermoelectric devices

New approach could improve the efficiency of devices that harness power from temperature differences.

February 6, 2013

Dörthe M. Eisele of the Research Laboratory of Electronics (left) and Moungi G. Bawendi of chemistry are investigating fundamental processes in light-harvesting nanotubes and quantum dots with a goal of one day developing a completely new approach to collecting energy from the sun.

Capturing energy from the sun

MIT investigators are inspired by a deep-sea bacterium that is able to harvest tiny amounts of incoming solar energy with exquisite efficiency.

January 23, 2013

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