The ability to characterize nanoscale materials is essential to many applications and industries around the world. Nanoscale materials are increasingly beneficial to fields such as electronics, medical devices, and scientific research, so combating the current challenges is crucial for their development. In this blog post, we look at what nanoscale material characterization is and the challenges in the field.

Fluid inclusions are small encapsulations in of liquids or gases that are trapped within a crystal. Sometimes the fluids become trapped while the crystal is being formed. Fluid inclusions can also occur later in time when the crystal undergoes fracturing and rehealing, and the small drops are trapped.  

In recent years, the need for sustainable energy sources has increased dramatically, thus leading to substantial developments in renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic (PV) cells. A photovoltaic cell, also called a solar cell, is a single device that converts sunlight into electrical energy through semiconducting components. Larger PV units, called modules or panels, are formed by connecting many individual cells and can be configured in different ways depending on their application and industry setting. 

Carbon-based nanomaterials have been in vogue in the research community since the discovery of graphene. When Professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov first isolated monolayer carbon, it effectively heralded the beginning of two-dimensional materials research. Scientists continue to innovate 2D carbon structures due to the material’s advantageous electromechanical and thermal properties. One such breakthrough structure is the carbon nanotube (CNT).