Nanohybrids: Pure nanoparticles of one type
are not only difficult to isolate, synthesize and characterize, but also have
limited use. Increasingly nanomaterial’s are found as ‘nanohybrids’ (NH) i.e two moieties combined
in the nano/molecular scale. Not to be confused with a nanocomposites - NH’s offers
unique properties not inherent in either of the parent components. A recent article
published in Environmental Nano discusses the distinctive environmental risks these materials pose while proposing a strategy for focusing research efforts on relevant NH systems.
Controlling nanowire growth has always been a challenge in NM synthesis. Recently scientists from the Berkeley National Lab demonstrated a novel technique for growing nanowires that promises 'a new means of control
over their light-emitting and electronic properties'. Reported in NANOletters see the release from the Berkley labs here.
(Image from: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/2015/02/05/precision-growth-light-emitting-nanowires/)