New artificial fibres made of inorganic nanotubes
Mankind’s relationship with fibres goes back thousands of years, but in the last century we have moved beyond natural plant and animal-based yarns (silk, wool) to develop stronger, more versatile …
An ocean of microplastics tracked at the nanoscale
What is the fate of polymer debris in the ocean? Aging of polyethylene packaging after prolonged marine exposure has been tracked at the nanoscale. A recent work demonstrates that the …
Formation of the “splay-bend” nematic by the action of an electric field
The most common technology used nowadays in displays and screens is based on the properties of « nematic » liquid crystals. The existence of two new types of nematic liquid crystals was …
Inorganic Nanotube Mesophases Enable Strong Self-Healing Fibers
Macroscopic assembly of nanomaterials in fibers can improve their mechanical characteristics and add new functions. One-dimensional nanomaterials are particularly suited to the uniaxial geometry of fibers. Researchers at Imperial College …