By tweaking the shape of the diamond nanostructures into the form of tiny umbrellas, researchers experimentally showed that the fluorescence intensity of their structures was three to five times greater than that of bulk diamond.

Chemists using computational techniques to predict how nanoscale materials will behave recently made a surprising discovery about the structure of bimetallic catalysts. An imperfect surface may produce a better catalyst.

Many semiconductor devices in modern technology are based on nanostructures. Producing arrays of regular nanostructures usually requires substantial effort. If they were self-organized, the production of such devices would be considerably faster and the costs would therefore sink. Researchers have now demonstrated a method for self-organization of nanostructured arrays via broad ion beam irradiation.

In a breakthrough for nanoscience, polymer engineers have made such a mold for nanostructures that can shape liquid silicon out of an organic polymer material. This paves the way for perfect, 3-D, single crystal nanostructures.