Nanoscale & Nanoscale Advances Blog

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Electrochemically powered self-propelled electrophoretic nanosubmarines
Martin Pumera
Nanoscale, 2010, DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00287A

In the past few years, we have witnessed rapid developments in the realization of the old nanotechnology dream, autonomous nanosubmarines. This minireview focuses on a discussion of the fundamentals of the electrophoretic mechanism underlying the propulsion of this sort of nanosub, as well as a demonstration of the proof-of-concept capabilities of nanosubmarines.

These nanomachines are self-powered, taking energy from their environment by electrocatalytic conversion of chemicals present in the solution, self-propelled by flux of the electrons within the submarine and the hydronium ions on the surface of the nanosub, powering it in the direction opposite to that of the flux of the hydronium. These nanosubmarines are responsive to external fields, able to follow complex magnetic patterns, navigate themselves in complex microfluidic channels, follow chemical gradients, carry cargo, and communicate with each other.

Read for free this review on recent advances in single nanoparticles spectroscopy by Abhijit Biswas and colleagues:

Single metal nanoparticle spectroscopy: optical characterization of individual nanosystems for biomedical applications
Abhijit Biswas, Tao Wang and Alexandru S. Biris
Nanoscale, 2010, DOI: 10.1039/c0nr00133c

This paper reviews recent advances in single nanoparticles spectroscopy using both near-field and far-field optics. It covers spectroscopy methods for extremely small ( 1 nm) to relatively large nanoparticles ( 200 nm) and their optical properties. Different optical techniques are described. Finally, a perspective on possible practical applications of single nanoparticle spectroscopy focusing on biomedical fields is given.