New megalibrary approach proves useful for the rapid discovery of new materials

Identifying the best material for a given application -- catalysts, light-harvesting structures, biodiagnostic labels, pharmaceuticals and electronic devices -- is traditionally a slow and daunting task. Now, a new Northwestern University study supports the efficacy of a potentially revolutionary new discovery tool developed at Northwestern University to rapidly test millions (even billions) of nanoparticles to determine the best for a specific use. The tool is thousands of times faster than conventional screening methods.