The Patent - Invention Magazine
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nanotechnology

Physics

A microscopic Archimedes screw spins between gold tips and boosts conductivity

Physicists and chemists in Germany, Denmark, and Israel have built an electrically driven molecular motor based on the spiral design of the Archimedes screw. The single-molecule invention, suspended between two atomic-scale gold tips, rotates continuously when current passes through it and reverses direction when the electrical polarity flips. By measuring electron transport and modeling quantum states, the researchers discovered that the spinning movement increases electrical conductivity by up to 100 times.

Giovanni Sapere

Chemistry

UT Austin Develops Bio-Inspired Channels to Filter Lithium

Chemical engineers at the University of Texas at Austin have engineered nanoscale artificial pores that mimic biological cell membranes to filter lithium ions. The chemical innovation allows lithium to pass through while blocking competing metals such as sodium and magnesium. Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the method offers a cleaner path to extract critical raw materials for energy storage.

Giovanni Sapere

Environment

Catalytic Membrane Uses Palladium and Hydrogen to Disarm PFAS

Researchers have developed a catalytic membrane that captures and neutralises per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances directly from water. The invention moves past standard filtration by splitting hydrogen gas into reactive atoms that strip fluorine from persistent pollutants.

Letizia Giugliano

Physics

Rare Quantum Lattice Assembled from Propeller-Shaped Organic Molecules

An international research team has created a rare two-dimensional diatomic Kagome lattice by assembling propeller-like organic molecules. Published in Nano Letters on September 2, 2026, the discovery demonstrates that organic molecular assemblies can support topological quantum states, widening avenues for future electronic design.

Letizia Giugliano

Events

E-NNOVATE International Innovation Summit 2025

Innovation is back in the spotlight with E-NNOVATE 2025, the international summit dedicated to inventions and new technologies, to be held in Krakow from 10 to 12 June 2025 and in online format from 20 June to 12 July. As a media partner of the event, The Patent Magazine will again contribute to…

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