1. Hello From Alvin

Dear Reader, 

Welcome to the latest edition of Nanotube News!

April has held some exciting developments in the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) world, from providing a potential solution for opto-thermal cooling by emitting more energy than they receive to sensing multi-directional deformations to transform biomedical devices. It is clear that CNTs are pushing boundaries in a wide range of applications, demonstrating their potential for revolutionising many aspects of everyday life. One such application is in conductive concrete, a field that Dr Myrsini Maglogianni is investigating. We were lucky enough to interview Dr Maglogianni this month and find out how she is planning on using our TrimTabs CNTs to advance her research.

This month, we’ve also been reflecting on the work of R. Buckminster Fuller and how his philosophy of “Pollution is nothing but resources we're not harvesting” has inspired our work producing CNTs from non-recyclable plastics.

As always, thank you for being part of this community. I can’t wait to see what the next month brings.

Warmly, 

Alvin

‍Dr. Alvin Orbaek White, Founder and CEO of TrimTabs

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‍2. Company Updates

This month at TrimTabs, we have some exciting news to share with you all!

- We are undergoing a team expansion and have hired a new Development Engineer. We’re looking forward to seeing all that John Luckett will bring to TrimTabs.

- We have closed an exciting grant from the Welsh Government that funded research into the material circularity of our process, helped hire two new staff, and built AI tools for rapid characterisation of spectral images (savings up to 120 hours of manual labour). In all, the grant helped expand our CNT production capabilities.

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3. Research and Market News

This month, we’ve been excited to see the variety of applications in which CNTs are being used. From their use in medicine, opening new possibilities for biomedical devices, to turning concrete into a self-sensing material that can detect damage or stress in real-time. CNTs continue to prove their potential as a transformative solution to advancing multiple industries. For the full stories, click the links to visit the news section of our website!

‍Unlocking the Secret of Carbon Nanotubes That Emit More Energy Than They Receive

Researchers at RIKEN have developed a theory for how CNTs can emit light with more energy than they absorb, paving the way for their use in opto-thermal cooling. The researchers demonstrated that this up-conversion photoluminescence occurs when phonons (a type of vibration) enhance electron energy to form a "dark exciton". CNTs offer a sustainable alternative to traditional cooling systems by significantly reducing energy consumption. Therefore, this discovery could provide a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional cooling methods, revolutionising thermal management and optical networking. 

Carbon Nanotubes as Piezoresistive Sensors

CNTs can turn regular cement into a smart, self-sensing material. When dispersed in cement, CNTs form a conductive network that responds to stress or strain by changing its electrical resistance – a property known as piezoresistivity. This enables concrete to act as a sensor, detecting damage or stress in real time. Unlike traditional sensors, CNT-modified cement-based smart materials (CNT-CS) are embedded directly into the structure. This innovation has significant potential for enhancing structural health monitoring (SHM) in buildings, roads, and bridges, enabling the early detection of issues and extending the lifespan of infrastructure.

Carbon Nanotubes for Sensing Strain in Biomedical Devices

Strain sensors convert mechanical force into electrical signals, making them essential for applications such as load measurement, structural monitoring, and aircraft safety. Recently, researchers at Peking University developed a strain sensor utilising CNTs that can detect deformations in multiple directions with high sensitivity, a wide operating range (0–120%), and a rapid response time. This advancement could transform biomedical devices, improving the fit of prosthetic limbs and enhancing wearable technologies, such as fitness trackers. At TrimTabs, we're excited to see how CNTs are opening new possibilities in healthcare, enhancing human health through advanced material innovation.

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4. April Food for Thought: Conductive Concrete with Dr. Myrsini Maglogianni

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with Dr Myrsini Maglogianni from Wayne State University about her innovative research into the revolutionary application of CNTs: conductive concrete.

Conductive concrete is a specialised form of concrete that incorporates electrically conductive materials, allowing it to transmit electricity. Myrsini is exploring how incorporating CNTs rather than traditional macroscale materials enhances the conductivity and applicability of cementitious systems.

CNTs in Conductive Concrete

The conductive properties of this concrete enable a temperature rise in the material when small amounts of electricity are applied. Myrsini is interested in using this property to develop pavements or roads that can be de-iced by heating the surface itself. The use of CNTs as opposed to macro materials creates a continuous and effective conductive network. Self-sensing applications of CNTs could also be applied to conductive concrete, with the potential for sensing tiny cracks in the concrete by detecting a jump or alteration in the intensity of the electric current signal.

The Challenges of CNTs in Conductive Concrete

CNTs are prone to agglomeration. Therefore, creating conductive concrete with CNTs is complex due to dispersion challenges. Assessing dispersion is also difficult, as CNTs effectively disappear when added to cement due to the creation of its own hydration products around the CNTs. Myrsini and her team currently assess dispersion using tailored characterisation techniques before incorporating the nanomaterials into the cement, and then evaluate the properties of the hardened conductive concrete. Scaling for construction use remains difficult, but the superior conductive and mechanical properties and lower material requirements of CNTs make this a prime research area.

TrimTabs CNTs in Conductive Concrete

TrimTabs is thrilled to be collaborating with Dr Myrsini and has been able to provide her with our CNTs, which are produced using innovative, low-impact production methods. Dr. Myrsini saw a unique opportunity to test how these materials could support the development of more sustainable conductive concrete technologies, including zero-carbon conductive concrete.

We can’t wait to see how Dr. Myrsini’s research progresses, and we look forward to working alongside her. We will be posting updates once Dr. Myrsini’s research has progressed further, so keep an eye out to stay up to date with the latest in conductive concrete!

To learn more, check out the link below:

Conductive Concrete with Dr. Myrsini Maglogianni

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5. TrimTabs Recommends: Our Guide to Events, Books, Films, and Podcasts

This month, we’re recommending something a little different: R. Buckminster Fuller’s short book titled ‘Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth’. Buckminster Fuller was an American architect with interests in engineering, systems theory, and philosophy. We at TrimTabs have been inspired by both his work and philosophies, even naming TrimTabs in homage to his ideas, based on three key links to his work.

Firstly, this link is via the CNTs themselves. Buckminster Fuller is well-known for producing a radical, futuristic architectural design: geodesic domes, which are spheres made up of a network of interconnected triangles. Geodesic domes were the inspiration for the discovery of Carbon-60, a molecule formed of 60 carbon atoms in a sphere, which was consequently named Buckminsterfullerene. CNTs are formed from a similar carbon structure to Buckminsterfullerene, providing TrimTabs’ first link to Buckminster Fuller.

Secondly, Buckminster Fuller has been quoted as saying that “Pollution is nothing but resources we're not harvesting”. This philosophy has inspired TrimTabs. The production of CNTs is often a carbon-intensive process; however, we produce our CNTs from non-recyclable plastics – a resource that we have harvested to prevent it from otherwise becoming pollution.

Finally, our name itself is inspired by Buckminster Fuller. Another of his famous quotes can be found on his tombstone – “Call me Trim Tab”. A trim tab is essentially a tiny rudder found on the edge of the main rudder. Despite its small size, it is essential to provide the forces necessary for adjusting the rudder and turning a boat. Buckminster Fuller’s philosophy and our aims are based on the idea that our small actions can lead to widespread change, in this case, the adoption of sustainably produced CNTs.

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6. This Month in Science: April Nanotechnology Milestones

Each month, we recognise a significant historical milestone, special event, or breakthrough discovery in the world of nanotechnology. This month, we’re looking at an interesting discovery from April 2009 – a virus-built battery. 

The scientists behind this discovery engineered viruses to build both an anode and a cathode. The anode was produced by engineering the viruses to coat themselves with cobalt oxide and gold and subsequently organising into a nanowire. The cathode is produced by engineering the viruses to bind specifically to CNTs after coating themselves with iron phosphate. Networks of CNTs are used to allow electrons to flow through the electrodes. The CNTs played a crucial role in enhancing the conductivity of the cathode without significantly increasing the battery's weight.

Not only are these virus-built batteries a fascinating feat of bioengineering, but they also may provide a method for the production of the next generation of batteries using cheap and environmentally friendly processes.

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7. CNT Comedy: Science Humour for the Month

There are 10 types of people in the world.

‍Those who understand binary and those who don’t.

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8. Stories From Our Community

We love hearing from our community! Whether you're working on groundbreaking CNT research, developing new applications, or have exciting updates from the field, we want to know! Send your stories, updates, or news to hello@trimtabs.co, and we'll feature them in an upcoming newsletter. Let’s build the CNT community together! 

‍That’s all for this month. Is there anything we missed? Anything you would like to see included or share with our community? We value your input and look forward to hearing your thoughts. Simply send us an email to get in touch. 

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