Scientists Build Nano Hot Rods
A team of scientists from Arizona State University managed to boost the performance of nanomachines, bring the technology closer to the point where it can be used for industrial or medical purposes.
A team of researchers from ASU found a way to soup up these nanomachines, and we’re now a step closer to the point where they will be able to deliver medications or test water quality in remote locations. They did this by modifying the engine design and using an additive that speeds up the oxidation of the hydrogen peroxide, making these nanomachines 350 times stronger than anything else built so far.
Until now, nanomachines were being built out of gold, nickel or platinum and were fueled by hydrogen peroxide, but their speed was only 10 microns per second, which was insufficient to be used for any scientific applications.
By inserting nanotubes into platinum and adding hydrazine, they managed to increase their speed to 200 microns per second (100 times the length of these nanomachines).
Since the human body doesn’t produce hydrogen peroxide, researchers are currently working on ways to synthesize it from glucose.
In the next two years, these nanomachines should be advanced enough to be used as part of sensors that would detect impurities in drinking water, and in a few years they could be used for medical purposes (delivering drugs into the body).
