Nanotech

Researchers at National Taiwan University developed a unified model that explains how thickness, defects, interface quality, and roughness together control the behavior of ultrathin oxide transistors. The work provides practical design rules for building low-leakage, normally-off devices suitable for future 3D chip stacking.

Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed a tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform that can identify tiny structural differences in oligosaccharides without fluorescent labels. The method can distinguish glycosidic linkages, estimate chain length, and even follow glycan synthesis in real time.

Enhancement of OER has been demonstrated via co-doping of Co/Ni into FeS2, which surpasses the performance of traditional expensive RuO2 as OER electrocatalyst.

A study, published in Small, has introduced a breakthrough solution in the form of a 3D-printed, auxetic hydrogel dressing known as MX/CPDs@PBGC.

Through protein binding, molecular heavy drugs are effectively transported to cancerous tissues

By placing single-atom-thick adlayers of p-block metals on commonly employed gold electrodes (d-block), a research team at National Taiwan University has successfully quantified the "interfacial hopping integral" between molecules and electrodes. This new model establishes a universal descriptor to predict conductance trends in single-molecule junctions, resolving long-standing variations in molecular measurements.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a method to reproducibly form subnanometer pores within a solid-state nanopore. A voltage-driven chemical reaction produces a precipitate that fills and closes the nanopore, while dissolution reopens conductive pathways. This process forms many subnanometer-sized pores, whose effective size can be tuned by changing reactant composition and pH. These ultrasmall pores mimic biological ion channels and enable studies of ion transport in confined spaces.

Researchers developed a compact device that converts sunlight and waste heat into clean hydrogen fuel while simultaneously purifying water. This innovative system improves energy efficiency and offers a promising solution for sustainable energy and environmental remediation.

This study demonstrated a new strategy for engineering the surface and functional properties of 2D SrTiO₃ perovskite nanoplatelets through the hydrothermal transformation of Aurivillius phase Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ nanoplatelets. We successfully synthesised both heterostructural SrTiO₃/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ photocatalyst which exhibited significantly higher H2 evolution rate than those of traditional heterojunction photocatalysts.

Scientists at the National Taiwan University Cancer Center and National Taiwan University Hospital have shed light on rare but important situations where radiotherapy to one tumor is accompanied by cancer growth or metastasis at untreated sites.

By utilizing the GaAs substrate miscut, we can modulate the superconducting critical temperature, current, and magnetic field of wafer-scale Al nanofilms grown by molecular beam epitaxy by approximately 10%, 100%, and 1000%, respectively. Our approach points to a simple method of tailoring grain architecture and superconductivity in Al, which is a critical requirement for advancements in quantum computation and engineering.

CO2 reduction to storable fuels or valuable chemical products provides a carbon-neutral cycle that can mitigate the rapid consumption of fossil fuels and increasing CO2 emissions. Although solar-driven CO2 reduction holds great promise for sustainable energy, the role and control of atomic-level active sites in governing intermediate formation and conversion pathways remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a capped VLS growth method employed to grow continuous ultrathin alloy films of molybdenum vanadium sulfide with sulfur vacancies, i.e., Svac-Mo1-xVxS2. The findings indicate a correlation between the density of Svac and the vanadium concentration, leading to the formation of V–Svac pairs, which serve as the active sites for CO2 reduction under solar light with water.

1. Simple, scalable protection for silicon-based Li-ion batteries: A low-cost polymer–ceramic coating dramatically reduces electrode damage caused by silicon expansion. 2. Much longer battery life and improved safety: The coated electrodes last hundreds more charge cycles while maintaining high efficiency and stable operation.

A collaborative team of four professors and several graduate students from the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemical Science and Technology at National Taiwan University, together with the Department of Applied Chemistry at National Chi Nan University, has achieved a long-sought breakthrough. By combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a Hadamard product–based image reconstruction algorithm, the researchers successfully visualized, for the first time, the nanoscopic dynamics of membrane rafts in live cells—making visible what had long remained invisible on the cell membrane.

Researchers at National Taiwan University reveal that combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and the preservative butylparaben, at a level considered safe on their own, can cause heritable harm, disrupting reproduction across generations through epigenetic changes.

A wearable sensor enables real-time monitoring of disinfectant exposure on skin and plant leaves, advancing health, agriculture, and environmental safety.

Researchers developed a highly selective membrane that efficiently separates carbon dioxide from other gases, supporting cleaner energy and industrial processes.

Brain atlas, From perfume to plastic, Stable solar power, Plant aging switch, Anti-cancer droplets, Greener gold, Extreme star factory and How research shapes sustainability policy. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Researchers from The University of Osaka fabricated a nanopore surrounded by a gate as a cooling system with enhanced efficiency for semiconductor chips. Applying a voltage to the gate induces the flow of ions through the nanopore. Creating a salt gradient makes the ion flow unidirectional. Heat is dragged along with the ions, resulting in heat transfer. Changing the applied voltage from negative to positive switches the system from cooling to heating.

Prof. Pi-Tai Chou’s group at National Taiwan University Department of Chemistry has created a catalyst that turns two challenges into one solution: it produces clean hydrogen with remarkable efficiency while breaking down urea with ease. This breakthrough not only lowers the energy cost of hydrogen but also helps eliminate harmful pollutants.

Researchers have developed an eco-friendly method to create gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using microalgae. This "green synthesis" avoids harsh chemicals, resulting in nanoparticles that are more stable than conventional ones. When activated by a laser, these AuNPs effectively destroy cancer cells while showing lower toxicity to healthy cells. This breakthrough promises a more sustainable and safer approach to photothermal cancer therapy and other applications in nanomedicine.

- Wafer-Scale Integration of Next-Generation Memristor Semiconductors: Establishing a World-Class Platform for High-Density, Low-Power Computing - Research Findings Published in Nature Communications

Researchers led by Prof. Kevin C.-W. Wu at National Taiwan University and Prof. Yusuke Yamauchi at Nagoya University have successfully developed a rapid and scalable evaporation-induced method to create continuous, uniform thin films of mesoporous amorphous metal-organic frameworks (aMOFs).

Researchers from the Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering at National Taiwan University have developed a multifunctional hydrogel sensor for detecting formaldehyde.

By employing state-of-the-art flat histogram Monte Carlo techniques combined with thermodynamic and configurational analyses, this study reveals the complex and diverse behavior of water adsorption in metal–organic frameworks.

Researchers from The University of Osaka have developed a polymeric adhesion system by introducing reversible bonds at the adhesion interface based on the formation and dissociation of host–guest complexes. The adhesive can be decomposed on demand using temperature or chemicals and reused multiple times. Visualization of the interface using neutrons revealed the mechanism underlying repeatable sticking and peeling. This technology can be used for sustainable material applications.

Researchers from The University of Osaka, AIST, Okayama University, and the University of Tokyo applied an innovative computational-analysis technique to clarify the atomic structure of soft, easily deformable regions in amorphous silicon. They discovered that these regions combine medium-range order with local disorder, a finding that will guide the design of more durable amorphous materials.

Researchers led by Professor Yi-Tsu Chan at National Taiwan University have created a giant molecular cage that mimics nature’s nested structures. This layered nanocage is remarkably stable and can serve as a miniature reactor for producing gold nanoparticles.

Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed biodegradable MXene–bamboo paper electrodes that combine flexibility, waterproof stability, and tunable conductivity. Encapsulated in a breathable Ecoflex layer, these scalable green electrodes enable wearable sensing, electromyography, and exoskeleton control, offering a sustainable pathway for next-generation assistive technologies.

A joint team has uncovered how soft, deformable particles, like cells, behave in microfluidic channels. Using precisely fabricated hydrogel particles and simulations on the supercomputer "Fugaku," they demonstrated that particle softness dramatically alters their focusing patterns, deviating significantly from rigid particle behavior. These findings reveal distinct "phase transitions" in focusing, shifting from mid-edge to eight-point, diagonal-edge, and finally center focusing as deformability increases. This breakthrough, explained by a new theoretical model incorporating inertia and deformability, offers crucial insights for designing next-generation microfluidic devices for highly efficient cell sorting and other biomedical applications like early cancer detection. The ability to control particle focusing based on deformability opens exciting possibilities for advanced particle manipulation and separation technologies.