Search by tag «Research» 671 results

• Scientists Use Lasers and Gold Particles to Turn Titanium Oxide Into Nanocomposite for Photocatalysts

  Oxides of different metals often serve as photocatalysts in various systems such as air purification, reactions of water decomposition and even in the production of self-cleaning surfaces for glass and mirrors. The physical-chemical properties of such materials can be improved by adding nanoparticles, which turn an ordinary oxide into a nanomaterial with new capabilities. To successfully perform this, however, it is necessary to understand the processes going on as a nanocomposite is being formed, and to be able to control them. ITMO University researchers together with their colleagues from France and the USA have demonstrated how a femtosecond laser can be used to tune the structure and nanocomposite properties for titanium dioxide films filled with gold nanoparticles. The paper was published in ACS The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 

  12.05.2020

• Optical “Nanomixer”: Scientists Propose New Method for Mixing Liquids

  Every now and then, scientists need to control the process of mixing liquids in vessels so small that the thinnest needle or even a hair won’t fit in there. At the same time, controlling the diffusion speed of molecules in the so-called microreactors is extremely important for the purposes of designing new drugs, conducting biological experiments and even diagnosing diseases fast enough. Scientists from ITMO University and their colleagues from the Czech Academy of Sciences proposed to solve this problem by using the energy of light. Their research has been published in Advanced Science.

  04.05.2020

• Scientists Develop Light-emitting Composite Material Based on Perovskite Nanocrystals with Air- and Water Resistant Optical Characteristics

  An international team of scientists including researchers from ITMO University has developed a new composite material based on perovskite nanocrystals to fabricate miniature light sources with improved performance. Protection of perovskite nanocrystals within porous glass microspheres made it possible to increase their stability by almost 3 times. Moreover, the subsequent coating of these particles with polymers resulted in the fabrication of water-dispersible luminescent microspheres based on CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. This method of fabrication is especially important for the implementation of perovskite nanocrystals in diverse biological applications. The results have been published in ChemNanoMat.

  29.04.2020

• Over 2000 Participate in ITMO’s Online Congress of Young Scientists

  ITMO University hosted the recent Congress of Young Scientists from April 15 to 18. This was the first time that the event was held online. Everyone was quick to adapt to the new online format, and the schedule remained intact. Overall, the Congress was attended by more than 2000 people from 60 cities in Russia and more than 180 research and educational organizations. Find out more in this article.

  22.04.2020

• ITMO University’s Congress of Young Scientists Held Online for the First Time

  The novel coronavirus pandemic has forced theaters, museums and concert halls to move into the digital space – and scientific events are not an exception. This year, the Congress of Young Scientists was set, for the 17th time, to bring together talented researchers at ITMO University. But 2020 turned out to be historic, and this Congress – unique. As part of the reviewed arrangement, young scientists will be presenting their research and communicating with experts on Zoom.

  16.04.2020

• Study Abroad at Home: ITMO University Student’s Experience

  Evgenia Ponomareva, a student at the Faculty of Photonics and Optical Information, and an employee at the Laboratory of Femtosecond Optics and Femtotechnologies, was supposed to study abroad, at Aalto University (Finland) from January to May. However, due to the pandemic, she had to return to St. Petersburg in March. She continues her studies at Aalto University remotely. Evgenia tells us how she studies in Finland from Russia and continues her research from home.

  16.04.2020

• Citizen Science: How to Contribute to Research From the Comfort of Your Home

  Citizen science is a global trend that has emerged in the recent decades. Today’s researchers often have to deal with the need to collect and process massive amounts of data. When machine learning algorithms can’t help, or when particularly thorough analysis is required, crowdsourcing comes to aid. And you don’t always need to be a specialist to take part: some projects are accessible to regular citizens or even children. In this article, we explore some of the ways you can contribute to scientific research from the comfort of your home.

  15.04.2020

• ITMO University Launches Laboratory of Quantum Processes and Measurements

  ITMO University has recently launched a new unit that specializes in studying quantum processes. According to the founders of the new laboratory, they are planning to introduce breakthrough theoretical developments of fundamental physics into experimental science. ITMO.NEWS contacted Anton Kozubov, the head of the new laboratory’s theoretical department, in order to learn more about the tasks that the scientists have set for themselves, as well as why their completion can expand the horizons of modern physics.

  14.04.2020

• Researchers Demonstrate a Platform for Future Optical Transistors

  Leading research groups in the field of nanophotonics are working toward developing optical transistors –  key components for future optical computers. These devices will process information with photons instead of electrons, thus reducing the heat and increasing the operation speed. However, photons do not interact with each other well, which creates a big problem for microelectronics engineers. A group of researchers from ITMO University, together with colleagues, have come up with a new solution to this problem by creating a planar system where photons couple to other particles, which enables them to interact with each other. The principle demonstrated in their experiment can provide a platform for developing future optical transistors. The results of their work are published in Light: Science & Applications.

  13.04.2020

• Gaka-Chu: The Robot That Dreams of Being an Artist

  “Everyone’s familiar with trying to make a living with art. I bet they’ve never known a robot with that dream,” says Gaka-Chu. A retired welding robot, it is working to be financially independent by creating art and selling it online. But what is it that makes its art real?  

  10.04.2020