18:00 08 January 2008
NewScientist.com news service
Tom Simonite
Atom-thick sheets of a carbon compound called graphene should smash the record for room-temperature conductivity, say UK researchers.
The fact that the near-2D layers lets electrons travel so freely means the sheets could allow a new generation of super-fast microelectronics, they say.
Prototype devices like transistors have already been made from graphene, but its basic properties are still being explored.
Graphene is the name given to a sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagon pattern. Stacks of such sheets make the pencil-core ingredient graphite, but until recently it had been extremely difficult to isolate single layers.
The new research was carried out by scientists at the University of Manchester – where graphene was first isolated in 2004 – and colleagues from Russia, the Netherlands, and the US.
The team calculated that pure graphene should allow electrons to travel more easily than in any other material, including gold, silicon, gallium arsenide, and carbon nanotubes.
Electronic qualityThe mobility of charge in a semiconductor is known as its "electronic quality" and governs the speeds the material is able to provide in electronics.
For example, gallium arsenide is used in cellphone transmitters because its higher electronic quality means it can operate at greater frequencies than the silicon used for most other applications.
At room temperature, gallium arsenide has an electronic quality of 8500 cm2/Vs compared with just 1500 cm2/Vs for silicon. But good quality graphene without impurities should reach up to 200,000 cm2/Vs, according to the new research.
In experiments, the team showed that two different factors were slowing down the movement of charge.
The first factor is a "built-in" speed limit that cannot be changed: ripples in the sheets trap vibrations from heat passing through the graphene, which in turn slow down the travelling electrons.
The second source of electron congestion is impurities in the graphene. These could be removed, however, via better manufacturing, meaning the material's electronic quality should reach the proposed record-breaking levels.
Manufacturing problem"Graphene exhibits the highest electronic quality among all known materials," says Andre Geim of the Manchester University team. "Our work singles it out as the best possible material for electronic applications."
Walt de Heer at Georgia Institute of Technology, US, says that the projected figure agrees with what he had expected, based on the behaviour of similar materials like nanotubes.
But he adds the result highlights the main barrier between graphene and the electronics industry – it is hard to isolate pure layers of graphene in sheets large enough for industrial manufacture. "They need a workable material presented in large wafers like silicon," he says.
The experimental devices used in the new research were made by carefully peeling off layers of graphene from chunks of graphite using sticky tape. That technique, while useful in the lab, is of little use to semiconductor companies.
De Heer and colleagues are working to overcome this practical problem. They can already cover areas with a few layers of graphene by heating silicon carbide wafers up to 1300 ºC – the heat breaks down the material, leaving the graphene behind.
"We are able to 'grow' a canvas of material that has similar if not identical electrical properties," says de Heer.
The new research will appear in a forthcoming edition of the journal Physical Review Letters
Nanotechnology – Follow the emergence of a new technology in our continuously updated special report.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Magnetic Switch Flips On Immune Cell
Few things can make a scientist’s day like a phone call from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. A once-obscure branch of the Pentagon, DARPA gained wider recognition in the late 1990s as a kind of cloak-and-dagger agency, seeking out scientists doing the most audacious, out-of-the-box science it could find and enlisting them in projects to ensure national security.
Liza Green, HMS Media Services
“Magnetism is always at the basis of any magic trick—it’s under the table or wherever,” said Donald Ingber. “Magnetism also has definite effects in the body.” Ingber (front) is shown with (clockwise from left) Flavia Cassiola, Martin Montoya-Zavala, and Robert Mannix.
In the aftermath of the Gulf War, it was especially concerned with finding ways to fend off the threat of biological weapons and was convinced that answers lay in the cellular world. Cells carry out a host of functions—they can sense changes in the environment, process information, mount responses, and transmit signals. Immune cells, in particular, can detect and immediately respond to pathogens. DARPA wanted to harness this power to create small, cell-based, wearable devices that might protect American soldiers, and even civilians, from harmful biological agents. But they needed a portable, low-energy toggle that would quickly turn the cells on and off. They became intrigued by the possibility of creating a magnetic switch. It was around this time, early 2002, that DARPA phoned Donald Ingber.
“They asked, ‘Do you think this is feasible and how would you go about doing it?’” said Ingber, the Judah Folkman professor of vascular biology in the Department of Pathology at Children’s Hospital Boston. Ingber would spend the next few months coming up with a blueprint for such a device. Over the past five years, funded by a DARPA grant, he, Robert Mannix, Sanjay Kumar, and colleagues have been working to turn it into a reality.
In the January Nature Nanotechnology, they report that they have created a nanomagnetic cellular switch—one that can rapidly and reliably activate mast cells, a class of immune cell. Turning on the switch resulted in the release of intracellular calcium, which is exactly what happens when the mast cells are activated naturally.
Even more remarkable is how the switch mimics true mast cell activation. Mast cells are immune workhorses. They detect an extraordinarily wide variety of antigens—from pathogens and environmental contaminants—and attack them by releasing calcium, leading to the export of histamines and other substances. Like many cells, mast cells are not activated one receptor at a time. Antigens bind not just to one but several receptors on the cell surface, essentially drawing them together into clusters, or scaffolds, onto which activating molecules can fit.
Ingber’s concept was to recreate this clustering by attaching a single tiny iron oxide bead to each mast cell receptor and exposing the cells to a magnetic field. Once exposed, the beads would become magnetized, attracting one another and, at the same time, pulling the receptors into scaffold-like clusters (see figures).
“The idea that the biochemistry is really about binding sites in spatial proximity, that it’s really the physicality of bringing them together—that was the gamble, the hypothesis.”
“The idea that the biochemistry is really about binding sites in spatial proximity, that it’s really the physicality of bringing them together—that was the gamble, the hypothesis. If we could do this with magnets, would that be enough to trigger activation?” Ingber said.
Though the answer appears to be yes, the switch is still very much in the prototype stage. “It’s early in the process, and I think it needs to be taken a bit further to really have a specific target,” he said. But receptor clustering is a very common process and, down the road, the nanomagnetic switch could open the door to an array of cell-based devices.
“Imagine you engineer a cell to produce an antidote to some chemical biological agent,” Ingber ventured. “You cou.ld inject these cells subcutaneously—they’re basically factories that don’t normally make the antidote. With these particles on their receptors and a detector that says the agents are coming, you can switch the cells on to produce the antidote.” He envisions this might be done with a local magnet, lodged perhaps in a wristwatch. “The whole point is magnetic fields travel across the skin,” he said.
Getting Physical
Ingber is known for this kind of exuberant thinking—and, indeed, it is not surprising that DARPA called on him. Over the past three decades, he has been a lone voice for a different, often contrarian way of looking at cells and molecules—one that combines cutting-edge technology with an almost old-fashioned reverence for physicality (see Focus Sept. 3, 1999, and Feb. 25, 2005).
Years ago, in a set of classic experiments initiated while working as a postdoc with the late Judah Folkman, Ingber found that by varying the degree to which cells were stretched on a patch of extracellular matrix, he could get them to either grow, differentiate, or divide. It was while working on these experiments that he made his first foray into the field of magnetism. To get cells to stretch, he plated them on a bed of tiny magnetic beads, which the cells engulfed, and then exposed the cells to a magnet.
“I put my magnet underneath and all the beads aligned vertically, like little actin polymers. And the cells just sat between them—I knew nothing about magnetics,” he said. The beads had turned into tiny magnets and aligned in north–south fashion. He realized that for the beads to actually pull on cells required exposing them to a differential force, or magnetic gradient. He would go on to use the gradient-exposed iron oxide beads to explore the effect of mechanical force on integrins and other cell surface structures.
Divvying the Beads
But at five microns, the beads were far too bulky for the DARPA challenge. Ingber’s concept was to have one bead per receptor, which meant they needed to be infinitesimally smaller, about 30 nanometers. Also, the beads were supposed to tug on one another, pulling the receptors with them. Ingber wanted them to turn into tiny magnets when exposed to a magnetic field. In fact, to act as true on-off switches, they should be capable of being repeatedly magnetized and demagnetized, which sent Mannix, an HMS research fellow in pathology at Children’s, on a search.
“I began looking like crazy on the internet for beads and found a little company which stopped making the beads soon after I purchased them,” he said.
Beads in hand, Mannix, Kumar, then a postdoc in Ingber’s lab, and Ingber, faced another thorny challenge—making sure that each mast cell receptor had only one bead. They solved this by placing a non-binding ligand on 29 of the bead’s 30 binding sites, leaving only one with an actively binding ligand. Each receptor had been bound to a complementary antibody. The researchers mixed the ligand-coated beads with the antibody-bound mast cells. “Statistically, you can expect only one bead per receptor,” Mannix said. In fact, follow-up with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by Flavia Cassiola, HMS research fellow in surgery, showed that this was the case.
Beads of a feather. Like many cells, mast cells are not activated one receptor at a time, but instead by the clustering of receptors. Multivalent ligands bind to not just one but several receptors on the mast cell surface, essentially drawing them together into clusters, or scaffolds, onto which activating molecules can fit (top). The researchers mimicked this receptor clustering by attaching a single tiny iron oxide bead to each mast cell receptor and exposing the cells to a magnetic field. Once exposed, the beads became magnetized, attracting one another and, at the same time, pulling the receptors into scaffoldlike clusters (middle). Scanning electron micrographs vividly show the mast cell receptors before and after clustering (bottom).
Mannix and Kumar, now an assistant professor of bioengineering at UC-Berkeley, then loaded the mast cells with a calcium-revealing fluorescent dye and placed them on a microscope stage. Placing the tip of a magnetic needle—crafted by HMS instructor in surgery Martin Montoya-Zavala—near the cells, they applied a magnetic field at regular time intervals. Analyzing photos taken during the experiment, the researchers could see that the nanomagnetic switches worked: when the magnetic field was applied, the cells fluoresced, indicating they had been activated. SEM of the mast cell surface showed that the fluorescing coincided with the clustering of receptors.
DARPA’s challenge was to develop a generic switch—one that could be used on a variety of cells. It remains to be seen whether the new switch works on other cells. But given that most cells employ receptor clustering, it should. Though their DARPA grant has run out, Ingber believes a follow-up project is an example of the kind of research that might be conducted under the auspices of the new Harvard Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, which he cofounded.
Meanwhile, Ingber and the Department of Defense (DoD) have forged a new and somewhat unexpected relationship. It turns out the DoD is one of the biggest funders of breast cancer research, and Ingber was recently granted one of their Breast Cancer Innovator Awards, suggesting his days as a maverick are far from over. But with the formation of a new institute, his is no longer a lone voice.
“In the past, bioengineers took engineering principles to solve biological problems, but the boundaries between living and nonliving are breaking down,” he said. “It’s really exciting.”
—Misia Landau
The Chinese Government's Plans for Nanotechnology
By Alexis Madrigal February 17, 2008 | 4:29:52 PMCategories: AAAS 2008, Nanotechnology
BOSTON, MA - China aims to leapfrog the United States in technological development with substantial investment in nanotechnology, but whether those efforts will actually pay off is still unclear. That was the message from University of California at Santa Barbara researchers presenting their findings on the state of Chinese nanotechnology here at the AAAS annual meeting.
Richard Applebaum and Rachel Parker from the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at UCSB conducted about sixty interviews with Chinese officials to piece together a picture of the current state of Chinese nanotechnology. Applebaum set the specific research effort within the context of China's stated overarching goal to "leapfrog" the West by using a combination of learning from the West (i.e. technology transfer) and increasing domestic research capacity ("indigenous innovation" or zizhu chuangxin).
Nanotechnology research is one of four Chinese "science Megaprojects" that have the central purpose of catching the country up to US research by 2020. Still, for all the big talk, the actual government investment is not overwhelming. The researchers estimated that the Chinese government only invested $400 million from 2002 to 2007, although that investment is expected to rise considerably.
They highlighted several international partnerships related to nanotechnology including the Tsinghua-Foxconn Nanotechnology Research Center and the Zheijang-California NanoSystems Institute, but didn't go into much detail about what types of projects are being developed in those centers.
Right now, most nanotech research is being pushed by the central and regional governments with little private capital contributing to the national output. There are a lot of questions about whether or not that is a sustainable model for developing a high-tech industry, Applebaum noted. (It should also be noted, though, that some would question whether the venture capital model is sustainable either.)
It also leads to strange applications of nanotechnology in high-profile venues. Parker said that the Olympic village parking lots being constructed in Beijing will have a nanopolymer coating that will absorb exhaust. It was just an off-hand mention, but I am officially intrigued by the idea of coating our parking lots with pollution absorbing material. I can't vouch for the true environmental-safety of that solution, but I'd love to know how they're doing it. The coating could be something like this pollution absorbing concrete that uses titanium dioxide to degrade pollutants.
BOSTON, MA - China aims to leapfrog the United States in technological development with substantial investment in nanotechnology, but whether those efforts will actually pay off is still unclear. That was the message from University of California at Santa Barbara researchers presenting their findings on the state of Chinese nanotechnology here at the AAAS annual meeting.
Richard Applebaum and Rachel Parker from the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at UCSB conducted about sixty interviews with Chinese officials to piece together a picture of the current state of Chinese nanotechnology. Applebaum set the specific research effort within the context of China's stated overarching goal to "leapfrog" the West by using a combination of learning from the West (i.e. technology transfer) and increasing domestic research capacity ("indigenous innovation" or zizhu chuangxin).
Nanotechnology research is one of four Chinese "science Megaprojects" that have the central purpose of catching the country up to US research by 2020. Still, for all the big talk, the actual government investment is not overwhelming. The researchers estimated that the Chinese government only invested $400 million from 2002 to 2007, although that investment is expected to rise considerably.
They highlighted several international partnerships related to nanotechnology including the Tsinghua-Foxconn Nanotechnology Research Center and the Zheijang-California NanoSystems Institute, but didn't go into much detail about what types of projects are being developed in those centers.
Right now, most nanotech research is being pushed by the central and regional governments with little private capital contributing to the national output. There are a lot of questions about whether or not that is a sustainable model for developing a high-tech industry, Applebaum noted. (It should also be noted, though, that some would question whether the venture capital model is sustainable either.)
It also leads to strange applications of nanotechnology in high-profile venues. Parker said that the Olympic village parking lots being constructed in Beijing will have a nanopolymer coating that will absorb exhaust. It was just an off-hand mention, but I am officially intrigued by the idea of coating our parking lots with pollution absorbing material. I can't vouch for the true environmental-safety of that solution, but I'd love to know how they're doing it. The coating could be something like this pollution absorbing concrete that uses titanium dioxide to degrade pollutants.
UA Optical Scientists Add New, Practical Dimension to Holography
Tucson, AZ | Posted on February 6th, 2008
University of Arizona optical scientists have broken a technological barrier by making three-dimensional holographic displays that can be erased and rewritten in a matter of minutes.
The holographic displays - which are viewed without special eyewear - are the first updatable three-dimensional displays with memory ever to be developed, making them ideal tools for medical, industrial and military applications that require "situational awareness."
"This is a new type of device, nothing like the tiny hologram of a dove on your credit card," UA optical sciences professor Nasser Peyghambarian said. "The hologram on your credit card is printed permanently. You cannot erase the image and replace it with an entirely new three-dimensional picture."
"Holography has been around for decades, but holographic displays are really one of the first practical applications of the technique," UA optical scientist Savas Tay said.
Dynamic hologram displays could be made into devices that help surgeons track progress during lengthy and complex brain surgeries, show airline or fighter pilots any hazards within their entire surrounding airspace, or give emergency response teams nearly real-time views of fast-changing flood situations or traffic problems, for example.
And no one yet knows where the advertising and entertainment industries will go with possible applications, Peyghambarian said. "Imagine that when you walk into the supermarket or department store, you could see a large, dynamic, three-dimensional product display," he said.
Tay, Peyghambarian, their colleagues from the UA College of Optical Sciences and collaborators from Nitto Denko Technical Corp., of Oceanside, Calif., report on the research in the Feb. 7 issue of the journal Nature.
Their device basically consists of a special plastic film sandwiched between two pieces of glass, each coated with a transparent electrode. The images are "written" into the light-sensitive plastic, called a photorefractive polymer, using laser beams and an externally applied electric field. The scientists take pictures of an object or scene from many two-dimensional perspectives as they scan their object, and the holographic display assembles the two-dimensional perspectives into a three-dimensional picture.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, which has funded Peyghambarian's team to develop updatable holographic displays, has used holographic displays in the past. But those displays have been static. They did not allow erasing and updating of the images. The new holographic display can show a new image every few minutes.
The 4-inch-by-4-inch prototype display that Peyghambarian, Tay and their colleagues created now comes only in red, but the researchers believe much larger displays in full color could be developed. They next will make 1-foot-by-1-foot displays, then 3-foot-by-3-foot displays.
"We use highly efficient, low-cost recording materials capable of very large sizes, which is very important for life-size, realistic 3-D displays," Peyghambarian said. "We can record complete scenes or objects within three minutes and can store them for three hours."
The researchers also are working to write images even faster using pulsed lasers.
"If you can write faster with a pulsed laser, then you can write larger holograms in the same amount of time it now takes to write smaller ones," Tay said. "We envision this to be a life-size hologram. We could, for example, display an image of a whole human that would be the same size as the actual person."
Tay emphasized how important updatable holographic displays could be for medicine.
"Three-dimensional imaging techniques are already commonly used in medicine, for example, in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan (computerized tomography) techniques," Tay said. "However, the huge amount of data that is created in three dimensions is still being displayed on two-dimensional devices, either on a computer screen or on a piece of paper. A great amount of data is lost by displaying it this way. So I think when we develop larger, full-color 3-D holograms, every hospital in the world will want one."
####
About University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a premier, student-centered research institution. Established in 1885 as the first university in the Arizona Territory and the state's only land grant institution, the UA embraces its three-fold mission of excellence in teaching, research and public service. Now in its second century of service to the state, the UA has become one of the nation's top 20 public research institutions. It is one of only 62 members in the Association of American Universities, a prestigious organization that recognizes universities with exceptionally strong research and academic programs. With world class faculty in fields as diverse as astronomy, plant science, biomedical science, business, law, music and dance, The University of Arizona offers a rewarding educational experience to all who choose to focus on excellence.
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Nasser Peyghambarian
520-621-4649
nnp@u.arizona.edu
Savas Tay
520-245-9722
savas.tay@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Rounding up gases, nano-style
A new process for catching gas from the environment and holding it indefinitely in molecular-sized containers has been developed by a team of University of Calgary researchers, who say it represents a novel method of gas storage that could yield benefits for capturing, storing and transporting gases more safely and efficiently.
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“This is a proof of concept that represents an entirely new way of storing gas, not just improving on a method that already exists,” said U of C chemistry professor George Shimizu. “We have come up with a material that mechanically traps gas at high densities without having to use high pressures, which require special storage tanks and generate safety concerns.”
In a paper published in the current online version of the world’s leading material science journal Nature-Materials, Shimizu, fellow U of C professor David Cramb, chemistry graduate student Brett Chandler and colleagues from the National Research Council describe their invention of “molecular nanovalves.”
Using the orderly crystal structure of a barium organotrisulfonate, the researchers developed a unique solid structure that is able to convert from a series of open channels to a collection of air-tight chambers. The transition happens quickly and is controlled simply by heating the material to close the nanovalves, then adding water to the substance to re-open them and release the trapped gas. The paper includes video footage of the process taking place under a microscope, showing gas bubbles escaping from the crystals with the introduction of water.
“The process is highly controllable and because we’re not breaking any strong chemical bonds, the material is completely recyclable and can be used indefinitely,” Shimizu said.
The team intends to continue developing the nanovalve concept by trying to create similar structures using lighter chemicals such as sodium and lithium and structures that are capable of capturing the lightest and smallest of all gases – hydrogen and helium.
“These materials could help push forward the development of hydrogen fuel cells and the creation of filters to catch and store gases like CO2 or hydrogen sulfide from industrial operations in Alberta,” Cramb said.
The paper “Mechanical gas capture and release in a network solid via multiple single-crystalline transformations” is available in the Advanced Online Publication of the journal Nature-Materials.
Source: University of Calgary
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“This is a proof of concept that represents an entirely new way of storing gas, not just improving on a method that already exists,” said U of C chemistry professor George Shimizu. “We have come up with a material that mechanically traps gas at high densities without having to use high pressures, which require special storage tanks and generate safety concerns.”
In a paper published in the current online version of the world’s leading material science journal Nature-Materials, Shimizu, fellow U of C professor David Cramb, chemistry graduate student Brett Chandler and colleagues from the National Research Council describe their invention of “molecular nanovalves.”
Using the orderly crystal structure of a barium organotrisulfonate, the researchers developed a unique solid structure that is able to convert from a series of open channels to a collection of air-tight chambers. The transition happens quickly and is controlled simply by heating the material to close the nanovalves, then adding water to the substance to re-open them and release the trapped gas. The paper includes video footage of the process taking place under a microscope, showing gas bubbles escaping from the crystals with the introduction of water.
“The process is highly controllable and because we’re not breaking any strong chemical bonds, the material is completely recyclable and can be used indefinitely,” Shimizu said.
The team intends to continue developing the nanovalve concept by trying to create similar structures using lighter chemicals such as sodium and lithium and structures that are capable of capturing the lightest and smallest of all gases – hydrogen and helium.
“These materials could help push forward the development of hydrogen fuel cells and the creation of filters to catch and store gases like CO2 or hydrogen sulfide from industrial operations in Alberta,” Cramb said.
The paper “Mechanical gas capture and release in a network solid via multiple single-crystalline transformations” is available in the Advanced Online Publication of the journal Nature-Materials.
Source: University of Calgary
Invisibility cloaks and perfect lenses - the promise of optical metamaterials
The idea of an invisibility cloak - a material which would divert light undetectably around an object - captured the imagination of the media a couple of years ago. For visible light, the possibility of an invisibility cloak remains a prediction, but it graphically illustrates the potential power of a line of research initiated a few years ago by the theoretical physicist Sir John Pendry of Imperial College, London. Pendry realised that constructing structures with peculiar internal structures of conductors and dielectrics would allow one to make what are in effect new materials with very unusual optical properties. The most spectacular of these new metamaterials would have a negative refractive index. In addition to making an invisibility cloak possible one could in principle use negative refractive index metamaterials to make a perfect lens, allowing one to use ordinary light to image structures much smaller than the limit of a few hundred nanometers currently set by the wavelength of light for ordinary optical microscopy. Metamaterials have been made which operate in the microwave range of the electromagnetic spectrum. But to make an optical metamaterial one needs to be able to fabricate rather intricate structures at the nanoscale. A recent paper in Nature Materials (abstract, subscription needed for full article) describes exciting and significant progress towards this goal. The paper, whose lead author is Na Liu, a student in the group of Harald Giessen at the University of Stuttgart, describes the fabrication of an optical metamaterial. This consists of a regular, three dimensional array of horseshoe shaped, sub-micron sized pieces of gold embedded in a transparent polymer - see the electron micrograph below. This metamaterial doesn’t yet have a negative refractive index, but it shows that a similar structure could have this remarkable property.
An optical metamaterial consisting of split rings of gold in a polymer matrix. Electron micrograph from Harald Giessen’s group at 4. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart.
To get a feel for how these things work, it’s worth recalling what happens when light goes through an ordinary material. Light, of course, consists of electromagnetic waves, so as a light wave passes a point in space there’s a rapidly alternating electric field. So any charged particle will feel a force from this alternating field. This leads to something of a paradox - when light passes through a transparent material, like glass or a clear crystal, it seems at first that the light isn’t interacting very much with the material. But since the material is full of electrons and positive nuclei, this can’t be right - all the charged particles in the material must be being wiggled around, and as they are wiggled around they in turn must be behaving like little aerials and emitting electromagetic radiation themselves. The solution to the paradox comes when one realises that all these waves emitted by the wiggled electrons interfere with each other, and it turns out that the net effect is of a wave propagating forward in the same direction as the light thats propagating through the material, only with a somewhat different velocity. It’s the ratio of this effective velocity in the material to the velocity the wave would have in free space that defines the refractive index. Now, in a structure like the one in the picture, we have sub-micron shapes of a metal, which is an electrical conductor. When this sees the oscillating electric field due to an incident light wave, the free electrons in the metal slosh around in a collective oscillation called a plasmon mode. These plasmons generate both electric and magnetic fields, whose behaviour depends very sensitively on the size and shape of the object in which the electrons are sloshing around in (to be strictly accurate, the plasmons are restricted to the region near the surface of the object; its the geometry of the surface that matters). If you design the geometry right, you can find a frequency at which both the magnetic and electric fields generated by the motion of the electrons is out of phase with the fields in the light wave that are exciting the plasmons - this is the condition for the negative refractive index which is needed for perfect lenses and other exciting possibilities.
The metamaterial shown in the diagram has a perfectly periodic pattern, and this is what’s needed if you want a uniform plane wave arriving at the material to excite another uniform plane wave. But, in principle, you should be able to design an metamaterial that isn’t periodic to direct and concentrate the light radiation any way you like, on length scales well below the wavelength of light. Some of the possibilities this might lead to were discussed in an article in Science last year, Circuits with Light at Nanoscales: Optical Nanocircuits Inspired by Metamaterials (abstract, subscription required for full article) by Nader Engheta at the University of Pennsylvania. If we can learn how to make precisely specified, non-periodic arrays of metallic, dielectric and semiconducting shaped elements, we should be able to direct light waves where we want them to go on the nanoscale - well below light’s wavelength. This might allow us to store information, to process information in all-optical computers, to interact with electrons in structures like quantum dots, for quantum computing applications, to image structures using light down to the molecular level, and to detect individual molecules with great sensitivity. I’ve said this before, but I’m more and more convinced that this is a potential killer application for advanced nanotechnology - if one really could place atoms in arbitrary, pre-prescribed positions with nanoscale accuracy, this is what one could do with the resulting materials.
The idea of an invisibility cloak - a material which would divert light undetectably around an object - captured the imagination of the media a couple of years ago. For visible light, the possibility of an invisibility cloak remains a prediction, but it graphically illustrates the potential power of a line of research initiated a few years ago by the theoretical physicist Sir John Pendry of Imperial College, London. Pendry realised that constructing structures with peculiar internal structures of conductors and dielectrics would allow one to make what are in effect new materials with very unusual optical properties. The most spectacular of these new metamaterials would have a negative refractive index. In addition to making an invisibility cloak possible one could in principle use negative refractive index metamaterials to make a perfect lens, allowing one to use ordinary light to image structures much smaller than the limit of a few hundred nanometers currently set by the wavelength of light for ordinary optical microscopy. Metamaterials have been made which operate in the microwave range of the electromagnetic spectrum. But to make an optical metamaterial one needs to be able to fabricate rather intricate structures at the nanoscale. A recent paper in Nature Materials (abstract, subscription needed for full article) describes exciting and significant progress towards this goal. The paper, whose lead author is Na Liu, a student in the group of Harald Giessen at the University of Stuttgart, describes the fabrication of an optical metamaterial. This consists of a regular, three dimensional array of horseshoe shaped, sub-micron sized pieces of gold embedded in a transparent polymer - see the electron micrograph below. This metamaterial doesn’t yet have a negative refractive index, but it shows that a similar structure could have this remarkable property.
An optical metamaterial consisting of split rings of gold in a polymer matrix. Electron micrograph from Harald Giessen’s group at 4. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart.
To get a feel for how these things work, it’s worth recalling what happens when light goes through an ordinary material. Light, of course, consists of electromagnetic waves, so as a light wave passes a point in space there’s a rapidly alternating electric field. So any charged particle will feel a force from this alternating field. This leads to something of a paradox - when light passes through a transparent material, like glass or a clear crystal, it seems at first that the light isn’t interacting very much with the material. But since the material is full of electrons and positive nuclei, this can’t be right - all the charged particles in the material must be being wiggled around, and as they are wiggled around they in turn must be behaving like little aerials and emitting electromagetic radiation themselves. The solution to the paradox comes when one realises that all these waves emitted by the wiggled electrons interfere with each other, and it turns out that the net effect is of a wave propagating forward in the same direction as the light thats propagating through the material, only with a somewhat different velocity. It’s the ratio of this effective velocity in the material to the velocity the wave would have in free space that defines the refractive index. Now, in a structure like the one in the picture, we have sub-micron shapes of a metal, which is an electrical conductor. When this sees the oscillating electric field due to an incident light wave, the free electrons in the metal slosh around in a collective oscillation called a plasmon mode. These plasmons generate both electric and magnetic fields, whose behaviour depends very sensitively on the size and shape of the object in which the electrons are sloshing around in (to be strictly accurate, the plasmons are restricted to the region near the surface of the object; its the geometry of the surface that matters). If you design the geometry right, you can find a frequency at which both the magnetic and electric fields generated by the motion of the electrons is out of phase with the fields in the light wave that are exciting the plasmons - this is the condition for the negative refractive index which is needed for perfect lenses and other exciting possibilities.
The metamaterial shown in the diagram has a perfectly periodic pattern, and this is what’s needed if you want a uniform plane wave arriving at the material to excite another uniform plane wave. But, in principle, you should be able to design an metamaterial that isn’t periodic to direct and concentrate the light radiation any way you like, on length scales well below the wavelength of light. Some of the possibilities this might lead to were discussed in an article in Science last year, Circuits with Light at Nanoscales: Optical Nanocircuits Inspired by Metamaterials (abstract, subscription required for full article) by Nader Engheta at the University of Pennsylvania. If we can learn how to make precisely specified, non-periodic arrays of metallic, dielectric and semiconducting shaped elements, we should be able to direct light waves where we want them to go on the nanoscale - well below light’s wavelength. This might allow us to store information, to process information in all-optical computers, to interact with electrons in structures like quantum dots, for quantum computing applications, to image structures using light down to the molecular level, and to detect individual molecules with great sensitivity. I’ve said this before, but I’m more and more convinced that this is a potential killer application for advanced nanotechnology - if one really could place atoms in arbitrary, pre-prescribed positions with nanoscale accuracy, this is what one could do with the resulting materials.
Nanochip Closes $14 Million Financing Round To Complete Prototype Development of Advanced Data Storage Chips
Jan 23, 2008
Nanochip, Inc. is developing advanced microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) silicon data storage chips. The company’s latest round of investors included Intel Capital and JK&B Capital. Nanochip’s initial products are expected to exceed 100 GB per chip set, reaching terabytes (TB) in the future, and at significantly lower costs compared with current flash memory solutions. Nanochip’s $14M financing will be allocated to complete the development of the company’s initial prototypes later in 2008, support design verification testing, and execute targeted customer sampling in 2009.
Nanochip, Inc. is developing advanced microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) silicon data storage chips. The company’s latest round of investors included Intel Capital and JK&B Capital. Nanochip’s initial products are expected to exceed 100 GB per chip set, reaching terabytes (TB) in the future, and at significantly lower costs compared with current flash memory solutions. Nanochip’s $14M financing will be allocated to complete the development of the company’s initial prototypes later in 2008, support design verification testing, and execute targeted customer sampling in 2009.
Microscope Sees with Nanoscale Resolution
By Lisa Zyga
The resonant x-ray diffraction microscope takes two diffraction patterns, above and below the element’s absorption edge. The patterns are phased to obtain high-resolution images, and the difference of the two images represents the spatial distribution of the element. Image credit: Changyoung Song, et al.
Researchers have recently built an x-ray microscope that has a pixel resolution of just 15 nanometers, allowing scientists to study the properties of materials at the molecular scale and beyond.
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The collaborative team, led by Jianwei Miao and Changyong Song from the University of California at Los Angeles, also includes researchers from the Australian Synchotron, and Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. The ultimate resolution of the x-ray images, the scientists say, is limited only by the x-ray wavelengths, and can in principle reach the near-atomic level (the diameter of an average atom is around 0.1 nanometers). The study is published in a recent issue of Physical Review Letters.
“This is one of the highest resolutions obtained for x-ray microscopy,” Miao told PhysOrg.com. “It not only provides high-resolution images but also elemental specificity. For example, atomic spectroscopy only provides spectra, but not images.”
The imaging technique is called resonant x-ray diffraction microscopy, and this is the first demonstration of using the technique to image buried structures (such as dopants within host elements) at such a high resolution. Resonant x-ray diffraction microscopy is different than most imaging techniques because the microscope doesn’t have a lens. By avoiding the use of a lens, the method also avoids the limitations of lenses, such as a limited depth of focus that limits the thickness of the sample under investigation.
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Instead of a lens, the microscope consists of a 10-micrometer-diameter pinhole that selects the most spatially coherent part of the x-ray beam, which provides the “strongest” wavelength.
The x-ray beam first takes images of two x-ray diffraction patterns of a sample: one pattern just above the sample’s absorption edge, and one just below. (The absorption edge, or band edge, occurs when incident photons obtain enough energy [binding energy] to excite the atom’s electrons and produce a photoelectron.)
Then, the researchers determined the difference between the two diffraction patterns to obtain the spatial distribution of the element. Knowing the spatial distribution enabled the researchers to determine not only the surface structure, but also the index of refraction of the sample, which can be used to determine its molecular contents.
The researchers demonstrated the technique by mapping out bismuth (Bi) dopants that are broadly dispersed and buried inside silicon (Si) atoms. In other studies, researchers have used Bi dopants to control and manipulate the physical properties of materials in order to design advanced, highly functional materials, such as in semiconductors.
Because the microscope’s CCD camera recorded thousands of diffraction patterns, the researchers developed an evolutionary algorithm to pick out the images with the best characteristics to pass on to succeeding generations and create a final spatial distribution. When analyzing the map of the Bi dopants, the researchers found that Bi atoms, which are three times larger than Si atoms, sometimes form clusters that can influence atomic growth. Insights like this may help scientists better understand the 3D self-assembly of nanostructures.
“The resonant x-ray diffraction microscope can be adapted to perform electronic orbital as well as chemical state specific imaging of a broad range of systems,” said Miao. “These include magnetic materials, semiconductors, organic materials, bio-minerals, and biological specimens.”
More information: Song, Changyoung, Bergstrom, Raymond, Ramunno-Johnson, Damien, Jiang, Huaidong, Paterson, David, Jonge, Martin D., McNulty, Ian, Lee, Jooyoung, Wang, Kang L., and Miao, Jianwei. “Nanoscale Imaging of Buried Structures with Elemental Specificity Using Resonant X-Ray Diffraction Microscopy.” Physical Review Letters 100, 025504 (2008).
Copyright 2008 PhysOrg.com.
The resonant x-ray diffraction microscope takes two diffraction patterns, above and below the element’s absorption edge. The patterns are phased to obtain high-resolution images, and the difference of the two images represents the spatial distribution of the element. Image credit: Changyoung Song, et al.
Researchers have recently built an x-ray microscope that has a pixel resolution of just 15 nanometers, allowing scientists to study the properties of materials at the molecular scale and beyond.
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The collaborative team, led by Jianwei Miao and Changyong Song from the University of California at Los Angeles, also includes researchers from the Australian Synchotron, and Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. The ultimate resolution of the x-ray images, the scientists say, is limited only by the x-ray wavelengths, and can in principle reach the near-atomic level (the diameter of an average atom is around 0.1 nanometers). The study is published in a recent issue of Physical Review Letters.
“This is one of the highest resolutions obtained for x-ray microscopy,” Miao told PhysOrg.com. “It not only provides high-resolution images but also elemental specificity. For example, atomic spectroscopy only provides spectra, but not images.”
The imaging technique is called resonant x-ray diffraction microscopy, and this is the first demonstration of using the technique to image buried structures (such as dopants within host elements) at such a high resolution. Resonant x-ray diffraction microscopy is different than most imaging techniques because the microscope doesn’t have a lens. By avoiding the use of a lens, the method also avoids the limitations of lenses, such as a limited depth of focus that limits the thickness of the sample under investigation.
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Instead of a lens, the microscope consists of a 10-micrometer-diameter pinhole that selects the most spatially coherent part of the x-ray beam, which provides the “strongest” wavelength.
The x-ray beam first takes images of two x-ray diffraction patterns of a sample: one pattern just above the sample’s absorption edge, and one just below. (The absorption edge, or band edge, occurs when incident photons obtain enough energy [binding energy] to excite the atom’s electrons and produce a photoelectron.)
Then, the researchers determined the difference between the two diffraction patterns to obtain the spatial distribution of the element. Knowing the spatial distribution enabled the researchers to determine not only the surface structure, but also the index of refraction of the sample, which can be used to determine its molecular contents.
The researchers demonstrated the technique by mapping out bismuth (Bi) dopants that are broadly dispersed and buried inside silicon (Si) atoms. In other studies, researchers have used Bi dopants to control and manipulate the physical properties of materials in order to design advanced, highly functional materials, such as in semiconductors.
Because the microscope’s CCD camera recorded thousands of diffraction patterns, the researchers developed an evolutionary algorithm to pick out the images with the best characteristics to pass on to succeeding generations and create a final spatial distribution. When analyzing the map of the Bi dopants, the researchers found that Bi atoms, which are three times larger than Si atoms, sometimes form clusters that can influence atomic growth. Insights like this may help scientists better understand the 3D self-assembly of nanostructures.
“The resonant x-ray diffraction microscope can be adapted to perform electronic orbital as well as chemical state specific imaging of a broad range of systems,” said Miao. “These include magnetic materials, semiconductors, organic materials, bio-minerals, and biological specimens.”
More information: Song, Changyoung, Bergstrom, Raymond, Ramunno-Johnson, Damien, Jiang, Huaidong, Paterson, David, Jonge, Martin D., McNulty, Ian, Lee, Jooyoung, Wang, Kang L., and Miao, Jianwei. “Nanoscale Imaging of Buried Structures with Elemental Specificity Using Resonant X-Ray Diffraction Microscopy.” Physical Review Letters 100, 025504 (2008).
Copyright 2008 PhysOrg.com.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Fabless MEMS
By Michael Orshan
Are we really in a globalized market? As I was looking for news items to post on nano and microsystems, I saw a trend. The trend has been very popular for software, call centers, and many services. This is moving key components of ones business to different areas of the world. I question whether nanotech, MEMS and other advanced technology is ready for this.
I understand that the growing trend in semiconductors is fabless chip design houses. The design gets done, the design is sent to a fab and the fab creates a run of chips not knowing exactly what the chip does. This allows high end items with short chip runs to be satisfied. Military, prototype, and high priced applications all fit in this model. So do high volume runs fit this model as functionality becomes more and more customized per order. Areas such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and China are doing quite well with this model.
However, I am now seeing this with MEMS. Can you just take a design and move it to a fab? What security do you need with the fab? What quality controls? What insurance that your design will not be stolen? Certainly the fab will need to know more than the knowledge being passed in the semiconductor world.
I’d like to hear your comments on this. I think if we can get to the semiconductor model, we will be able to lower costs and create high global productivity Maybe global rules need to be decided upon.
Are we really in a globalized market? As I was looking for news items to post on nano and microsystems, I saw a trend. The trend has been very popular for software, call centers, and many services. This is moving key components of ones business to different areas of the world. I question whether nanotech, MEMS and other advanced technology is ready for this.
I understand that the growing trend in semiconductors is fabless chip design houses. The design gets done, the design is sent to a fab and the fab creates a run of chips not knowing exactly what the chip does. This allows high end items with short chip runs to be satisfied. Military, prototype, and high priced applications all fit in this model. So do high volume runs fit this model as functionality becomes more and more customized per order. Areas such as Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and China are doing quite well with this model.
However, I am now seeing this with MEMS. Can you just take a design and move it to a fab? What security do you need with the fab? What quality controls? What insurance that your design will not be stolen? Certainly the fab will need to know more than the knowledge being passed in the semiconductor world.
I’d like to hear your comments on this. I think if we can get to the semiconductor model, we will be able to lower costs and create high global productivity Maybe global rules need to be decided upon.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Discovery cuts cost of next generation optical fibres
1/20/2008 12:39:10 AM
Scientists have discovered a way of speeding up the production of hollow-core optical fibres - a new generation of optical fibres that could lead to faster and more powerful computing and telecommunications technologies.
The procedure, described today in the journal Optics Express, cuts the production time of hollow-core optical fibres from around a week to a single day, reducing the overall cost of fabrication.
Initial tests show that the fibre is also superior in virtually every respect to previous versions of the technology, making it an important step in the development of new technologies that use light instead of electrical circuits to carry information.
These technologies include faster optical telecommunications, more powerful and accurate laser machining, and the cheaper generation of x-ray or ultra-violet light for use in biomedical and surgical optics.
“This is a major improvement in the development of hollow-core fibre technology,” said Professor Jonathan Knight from the Centre for Photonics & Photonic Materials in the Department of Physics at the University of Bath.
“In standard optical fibres, light travels in a small cylindrical core of glass running down the fibre length.
“The fact that light has to travel through glass limits them in many ways. For example, the glass can be damaged if there is too much light.
“Also, the glass causes short pulses of light to spread out in a blurring effect that makes them less well defined. This limits its usefulness in telecommunications and other applications.
“Hence, fibres in which light travels in air down a hollow core hold great promise for a next generation of optical fibres with performance enhanced in many ways.”
The problem in developing hollow-core fibres is that only a special sort of optical fibre can guide light down an air hole. They use a two-dimensional pattern of tiny holes in the glass around the core to trap the light within the core itself.
The highly detailed nature of these fibres means that they have been difficult to fabricate and they can only work for a limited range of wavelengths.
However, the new procedure developed by the Bath photonics group shows how a tiny change to these fibres – narrowing the wall of glass around the large central hole by just a hundred nanometres (a 10 millionth of a metre) – broadens the range of wavelengths which can be transmitted.
They achieved this by omitting some of the most difficult steps in the fabrication procedure, reducing the time required to make the fibres from around a week to a single day.
The improved fibre was developed as part of a European Commission-funded Framework 6 project ‘NextGenPCF’ for applications in gas sensing.
However, the superior performance of the fibre means that it could have a significant impact in a range of fields such as laser design and pulsed beam delivery, spectroscopy, biomedical and surgical optics, laser machining, the automotive industry and space science.
“The consequences of being able to use light rather than electrical circuits to carry information will be fundamental,” said Professor Knight.
“It will make optical fibres many times more powerful and brings the day when information technology will consist of optical devices rather than less efficient electronic circuits much closer.
“For biomedical research, we can use these fibres to deliver light for diagnosis or surgery anywhere – even deep inside the body.
“Almost any device where light is important or can be used, photonic crystal fibres can make more efficient, sensitive and powerful.”
‘Control of surface modes in low loss hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers’, Optics Express, Vol. 16, Issue 2, pp. 1142-1149.
Scientists have discovered a way of speeding up the production of hollow-core optical fibres - a new generation of optical fibres that could lead to faster and more powerful computing and telecommunications technologies.
The procedure, described today in the journal Optics Express, cuts the production time of hollow-core optical fibres from around a week to a single day, reducing the overall cost of fabrication.
Initial tests show that the fibre is also superior in virtually every respect to previous versions of the technology, making it an important step in the development of new technologies that use light instead of electrical circuits to carry information.
These technologies include faster optical telecommunications, more powerful and accurate laser machining, and the cheaper generation of x-ray or ultra-violet light for use in biomedical and surgical optics.
“This is a major improvement in the development of hollow-core fibre technology,” said Professor Jonathan Knight from the Centre for Photonics & Photonic Materials in the Department of Physics at the University of Bath.
“In standard optical fibres, light travels in a small cylindrical core of glass running down the fibre length.
“The fact that light has to travel through glass limits them in many ways. For example, the glass can be damaged if there is too much light.
“Also, the glass causes short pulses of light to spread out in a blurring effect that makes them less well defined. This limits its usefulness in telecommunications and other applications.
“Hence, fibres in which light travels in air down a hollow core hold great promise for a next generation of optical fibres with performance enhanced in many ways.”
The problem in developing hollow-core fibres is that only a special sort of optical fibre can guide light down an air hole. They use a two-dimensional pattern of tiny holes in the glass around the core to trap the light within the core itself.
The highly detailed nature of these fibres means that they have been difficult to fabricate and they can only work for a limited range of wavelengths.
However, the new procedure developed by the Bath photonics group shows how a tiny change to these fibres – narrowing the wall of glass around the large central hole by just a hundred nanometres (a 10 millionth of a metre) – broadens the range of wavelengths which can be transmitted.
They achieved this by omitting some of the most difficult steps in the fabrication procedure, reducing the time required to make the fibres from around a week to a single day.
The improved fibre was developed as part of a European Commission-funded Framework 6 project ‘NextGenPCF’ for applications in gas sensing.
However, the superior performance of the fibre means that it could have a significant impact in a range of fields such as laser design and pulsed beam delivery, spectroscopy, biomedical and surgical optics, laser machining, the automotive industry and space science.
“The consequences of being able to use light rather than electrical circuits to carry information will be fundamental,” said Professor Knight.
“It will make optical fibres many times more powerful and brings the day when information technology will consist of optical devices rather than less efficient electronic circuits much closer.
“For biomedical research, we can use these fibres to deliver light for diagnosis or surgery anywhere – even deep inside the body.
“Almost any device where light is important or can be used, photonic crystal fibres can make more efficient, sensitive and powerful.”
‘Control of surface modes in low loss hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers’, Optics Express, Vol. 16, Issue 2, pp. 1142-1149.
Carbon nanosheets promise super-fast chips
18:00 08 January 2008
NewScientist.com news service
Tom Simonite
Atom-thick sheets of a carbon compound called graphene should smash the record for room-temperature conductivity, say UK researchers.
The fact that the near-2D layers lets electrons travel so freely means the sheets could allow a new generation of super-fast microelectronics, they say.
Prototype devices like transistors have already been made from graphene, but its basic properties are still being explored.
Graphene is the name given to a sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagon pattern. Stacks of such sheets make the pencil-core ingredient graphite, but until recently it had been extremely difficult to isolate single layers.
The new research was carried out by scientists at the University of Manchester – where graphene was first isolated in 2004 – and colleagues from Russia, the Netherlands, and the US.
The team calculated that pure graphene should allow electrons to travel more easily than in any other material, including gold, silicon, gallium arsenide, and carbon nanotubes.
Electronic qualityThe mobility of charge in a semiconductor is known as its "electronic quality" and governs the speeds the material is able to provide in electronics.
For example, gallium arsenide is used in cellphone transmitters because its higher electronic quality means it can operate at greater frequencies than the silicon used for most other applications.
At room temperature, gallium arsenide has an electronic quality of 8500 cm2/Vs compared with just 1500 cm2/Vs for silicon. But good quality graphene without impurities should reach up to 200,000 cm2/Vs, according to the new research.
In experiments, the team showed that two different factors were slowing down the movement of charge.
The first factor is a "built-in" speed limit that cannot be changed: ripples in the sheets trap vibrations from heat passing through the graphene, which in turn slow down the travelling electrons.
The second source of electron congestion is impurities in the graphene. These could be removed, however, via better manufacturing, meaning the material's electronic quality should reach the proposed record-breaking levels.
Manufacturing problem"Graphene exhibits the highest electronic quality among all known materials," says Andre Geim of the Manchester University team. "Our work singles it out as the best possible material for electronic applications."
Walt de Heer at Georgia Institute of Technology, US, says that the projected figure agrees with what he had expected, based on the behaviour of similar materials like nanotubes.
But he adds the result highlights the main barrier between graphene and the electronics industry – it is hard to isolate pure layers of graphene in sheets large enough for industrial manufacture. "They need a workable material presented in large wafers like silicon," he says.
The experimental devices used in the new research were made by carefully peeling off layers of graphene from chunks of graphite using sticky tape. That technique, while useful in the lab, is of little use to semiconductor companies.
De Heer and colleagues are working to overcome this practical problem. They can already cover areas with a few layers of graphene by heating silicon carbide wafers up to 1300 ºC – the heat breaks down the material, leaving the graphene behind.
"We are able to 'grow' a canvas of material that has similar if not identical electrical properties," says de Heer.
The new research will appear in a forthcoming edition of the journal Physical Review Letters
NewScientist.com news service
Tom Simonite
Atom-thick sheets of a carbon compound called graphene should smash the record for room-temperature conductivity, say UK researchers.
The fact that the near-2D layers lets electrons travel so freely means the sheets could allow a new generation of super-fast microelectronics, they say.
Prototype devices like transistors have already been made from graphene, but its basic properties are still being explored.
Graphene is the name given to a sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagon pattern. Stacks of such sheets make the pencil-core ingredient graphite, but until recently it had been extremely difficult to isolate single layers.
The new research was carried out by scientists at the University of Manchester – where graphene was first isolated in 2004 – and colleagues from Russia, the Netherlands, and the US.
The team calculated that pure graphene should allow electrons to travel more easily than in any other material, including gold, silicon, gallium arsenide, and carbon nanotubes.
Electronic qualityThe mobility of charge in a semiconductor is known as its "electronic quality" and governs the speeds the material is able to provide in electronics.
For example, gallium arsenide is used in cellphone transmitters because its higher electronic quality means it can operate at greater frequencies than the silicon used for most other applications.
At room temperature, gallium arsenide has an electronic quality of 8500 cm2/Vs compared with just 1500 cm2/Vs for silicon. But good quality graphene without impurities should reach up to 200,000 cm2/Vs, according to the new research.
In experiments, the team showed that two different factors were slowing down the movement of charge.
The first factor is a "built-in" speed limit that cannot be changed: ripples in the sheets trap vibrations from heat passing through the graphene, which in turn slow down the travelling electrons.
The second source of electron congestion is impurities in the graphene. These could be removed, however, via better manufacturing, meaning the material's electronic quality should reach the proposed record-breaking levels.
Manufacturing problem"Graphene exhibits the highest electronic quality among all known materials," says Andre Geim of the Manchester University team. "Our work singles it out as the best possible material for electronic applications."
Walt de Heer at Georgia Institute of Technology, US, says that the projected figure agrees with what he had expected, based on the behaviour of similar materials like nanotubes.
But he adds the result highlights the main barrier between graphene and the electronics industry – it is hard to isolate pure layers of graphene in sheets large enough for industrial manufacture. "They need a workable material presented in large wafers like silicon," he says.
The experimental devices used in the new research were made by carefully peeling off layers of graphene from chunks of graphite using sticky tape. That technique, while useful in the lab, is of little use to semiconductor companies.
De Heer and colleagues are working to overcome this practical problem. They can already cover areas with a few layers of graphene by heating silicon carbide wafers up to 1300 ºC – the heat breaks down the material, leaving the graphene behind.
"We are able to 'grow' a canvas of material that has similar if not identical electrical properties," says de Heer.
The new research will appear in a forthcoming edition of the journal Physical Review Letters
Boron nanotubes could outperform carbon
15:00 04 January 2008
NewScientist.com news service
Stephen Battersby
Carbon may be losing its monopoly over the nanoworld. According to the latest calculations, tubes built out of the element boron could have many of the same properties as carbon nanotubes, the ubiquitous components of nanoengineering. And for some electronic applications, they should even be better than carbon.
Boron nanotubes will have a more complicated shape than the simple linked hexagons that work for carbon, as the chemistry of boron makes that chicken-wire pattern unstable. The first boron nanotubes to be created, in 2004, are thought to be formed from a buckled triangular latticework.
But according to Xiaobao Yang, Yi Ding and Jun Ni from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, the best configuration for boron is to take the unstable hexagon lattice and add an extra atom to the centre of some of the hexagons (see image, top right). They calculate that this is the most stable known theoretical structure for a boron nanotube.
Their simulation also shows that, with this pattern, boron nanotubes should have variable electrical properties: wider ones would be metallic conductors, but narrower ones should be semiconductors. If so, then boron tubes might be used in nanodevices similar to the diodes and transistors that have already been made from carbon nanotubes, says Ni.
Variable surfacesIt's a surprise to other researchers, who expected all boron nanotubes to be metallic. "If this is true, it's interesting," says Sohrab Ismail-Beigi of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, whose earlier paper showed that this same structure would make stable flat sheets of boron.
Ismail-Beigi suspects that it will be difficult to make semiconducting boron nanotubes, even so. His work shows that there are many different structures almost as stable as this one, so real tubes are likely to have variable surfaces. "I would hypothesize that this would make most tubes metallic," Ismail-Beigi told New Scientist.
Metallic boron nanotubes would still be useful, however, as they should be better conductors than carbon. Ismail-Beigi speculates that they might also be superconducting at higher temperatures. So if a superconducting nanocomputer is ever built, it might have boron wiring.
To actually make the boron tubes, Ni suggests chemical vapour deposition, which is a process already used to grow carbon nanotubes. This technique requires an appropriate catalyst, such as a nanoparticle of nickel, to act as a template for the nanotube. "The key issue for the growth of boron nanotubes is to find effective catalysts," says Ni.
Journal ref: Physical Review B (DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.041402)
NewScientist.com news service
Stephen Battersby
Carbon may be losing its monopoly over the nanoworld. According to the latest calculations, tubes built out of the element boron could have many of the same properties as carbon nanotubes, the ubiquitous components of nanoengineering. And for some electronic applications, they should even be better than carbon.
Boron nanotubes will have a more complicated shape than the simple linked hexagons that work for carbon, as the chemistry of boron makes that chicken-wire pattern unstable. The first boron nanotubes to be created, in 2004, are thought to be formed from a buckled triangular latticework.
But according to Xiaobao Yang, Yi Ding and Jun Ni from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, the best configuration for boron is to take the unstable hexagon lattice and add an extra atom to the centre of some of the hexagons (see image, top right). They calculate that this is the most stable known theoretical structure for a boron nanotube.
Their simulation also shows that, with this pattern, boron nanotubes should have variable electrical properties: wider ones would be metallic conductors, but narrower ones should be semiconductors. If so, then boron tubes might be used in nanodevices similar to the diodes and transistors that have already been made from carbon nanotubes, says Ni.
Variable surfacesIt's a surprise to other researchers, who expected all boron nanotubes to be metallic. "If this is true, it's interesting," says Sohrab Ismail-Beigi of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, whose earlier paper showed that this same structure would make stable flat sheets of boron.
Ismail-Beigi suspects that it will be difficult to make semiconducting boron nanotubes, even so. His work shows that there are many different structures almost as stable as this one, so real tubes are likely to have variable surfaces. "I would hypothesize that this would make most tubes metallic," Ismail-Beigi told New Scientist.
Metallic boron nanotubes would still be useful, however, as they should be better conductors than carbon. Ismail-Beigi speculates that they might also be superconducting at higher temperatures. So if a superconducting nanocomputer is ever built, it might have boron wiring.
To actually make the boron tubes, Ni suggests chemical vapour deposition, which is a process already used to grow carbon nanotubes. This technique requires an appropriate catalyst, such as a nanoparticle of nickel, to act as a template for the nanotube. "The key issue for the growth of boron nanotubes is to find effective catalysts," says Ni.
Journal ref: Physical Review B (DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.77.041402)
Colorado State scientists dramatically improve soft x-ray lasers with discovery
FORT COLLINS, CO | Posted on January 22nd, 2008
The groundbreaking discovery covers very short wavelengths of light near 13 nanometers that are valuable particularly for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, which aims to develop the next generation of faster computer chips using that type of light by 2010 or 2011, said CSU University Distinguished Professor Jorge Rocca, senior author of the research. Rocca collaborated on the Nature Photonics paper with CSU colleagues Yong Wang, Brad Luther, Francesco Pedacci, Mark Berrill, Eduardo Granados and David Alessi.
"The potential applications are many - ultrahigh resolution microscopy, patterning to make nanodevices, and semiconductor industry measurements," Rocca said. "There are many other possibilities that in the future will also include biology."
The technology involves the generation of short wavelength light in the extreme ultraviolet or soft X-ray range of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths about 50 times shorter than visible light. A nanometer is billionths of a meter. A human hair is about 60,000 nanometers. These lasers can be used to "see" tiny features, create extremely small patterns and manipulate materials in ways that visible light can't.
The research reported in the Nature Photonics paper focused on making the light of lasers operating at 18.9 and 13.9 nanometers more "coherent" - a property that distinguishes laser light from light generated by other sources. Rocca's team generated a little seed of coherent X-ray light, converted the frequency of a visible laser beam to soft X-ray light and obtained a very coherent light at a low intensity. That seed was injected through a plasma amplifier and grew to produce a very high intensity beam of soft x-ray light with extraordinarily high coherence.
"Coherent soft x-ray light can be used to measure the properties of materials and directly write patterns with nano-scale dimension," Rocca said. "It can be used to look for extremely small defects in the masks that will be used to print the future generations of semiconductor chips."
The work is part of the research conducted at the National Science Foundation's Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology - a partnership between Colorado State University in Fort Collins, the University of Colorado-Boulder and the University of California Berkeley - that combines the expertise of researchers who are among the world leaders in developing compact extreme ultraviolet coherent light sources, optics and optical systems for nanoscience, nanotechnology and other applications.
The center also has significant industry and national laboratory involvement. The largest computer chip manufacturers - Intel, Advanced Micro Devices Inc, IBM and Samsung - are industrial members of the EUV ERC, joining a set of industries that include small- and medium-sized companies.
####
About Colorado State University
Colorado State University is one of our nation's leading research universities with world-class research in infectious disease, atmospheric science, clean energy technologies, and environmental science. It was founded in 1870 as the Colorado Agricultural College, six years before the Colorado Territory became a state.
Last year, CSU awarded degrees to more than 5,000 graduates, and this year, it attracted nearly $300 million in research funding. Colorado State is a land-grant institution and a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University-Extensive.
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Emily Narvaes Wilmsen
(970) 491-2336
The groundbreaking discovery covers very short wavelengths of light near 13 nanometers that are valuable particularly for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, which aims to develop the next generation of faster computer chips using that type of light by 2010 or 2011, said CSU University Distinguished Professor Jorge Rocca, senior author of the research. Rocca collaborated on the Nature Photonics paper with CSU colleagues Yong Wang, Brad Luther, Francesco Pedacci, Mark Berrill, Eduardo Granados and David Alessi.
"The potential applications are many - ultrahigh resolution microscopy, patterning to make nanodevices, and semiconductor industry measurements," Rocca said. "There are many other possibilities that in the future will also include biology."
The technology involves the generation of short wavelength light in the extreme ultraviolet or soft X-ray range of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths about 50 times shorter than visible light. A nanometer is billionths of a meter. A human hair is about 60,000 nanometers. These lasers can be used to "see" tiny features, create extremely small patterns and manipulate materials in ways that visible light can't.
The research reported in the Nature Photonics paper focused on making the light of lasers operating at 18.9 and 13.9 nanometers more "coherent" - a property that distinguishes laser light from light generated by other sources. Rocca's team generated a little seed of coherent X-ray light, converted the frequency of a visible laser beam to soft X-ray light and obtained a very coherent light at a low intensity. That seed was injected through a plasma amplifier and grew to produce a very high intensity beam of soft x-ray light with extraordinarily high coherence.
"Coherent soft x-ray light can be used to measure the properties of materials and directly write patterns with nano-scale dimension," Rocca said. "It can be used to look for extremely small defects in the masks that will be used to print the future generations of semiconductor chips."
The work is part of the research conducted at the National Science Foundation's Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology - a partnership between Colorado State University in Fort Collins, the University of Colorado-Boulder and the University of California Berkeley - that combines the expertise of researchers who are among the world leaders in developing compact extreme ultraviolet coherent light sources, optics and optical systems for nanoscience, nanotechnology and other applications.
The center also has significant industry and national laboratory involvement. The largest computer chip manufacturers - Intel, Advanced Micro Devices Inc, IBM and Samsung - are industrial members of the EUV ERC, joining a set of industries that include small- and medium-sized companies.
####
About Colorado State University
Colorado State University is one of our nation's leading research universities with world-class research in infectious disease, atmospheric science, clean energy technologies, and environmental science. It was founded in 1870 as the Colorado Agricultural College, six years before the Colorado Territory became a state.
Last year, CSU awarded degrees to more than 5,000 graduates, and this year, it attracted nearly $300 million in research funding. Colorado State is a land-grant institution and a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University-Extensive.
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Emily Narvaes Wilmsen
(970) 491-2336
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
When can we expect the nano fuel cells?
by Michael Orshan
Energy prices are going through the roof here in the US and elsewhere. Supplies of energy are steady, but the global use is higher and that is the issue. Everyone is rightfully looking into biomass, wind, geothermal and solar as ways to offset the lack of supplies. This is all taking time, as consumers we are waiting for economies of scales to kick in and then maybe this will all work out.
There is another way around this and doing this in parallel with renewable energy options is great. That is to optimize the energy we are already using. For instance hydrogen fuel cells will be great. If we can store the hydrogen in nanocells then we can use the exact amount of hydrogen to propel a car or whatever. We can use the nanocell concept for gas and most fuel supplies. Nanostorage devices will be great. However, when will they show up? Who is doing what about this? Anytime soon?
The concept for fuel cells is for more then vehicles. These are expected to be a super battery. It should really change mobile consumer electronics if you only need to recharge once a week or month. I sometimes wonder how tethered the world is to an electric outlet. Imagine of that was not the case!
Energy prices are going through the roof here in the US and elsewhere. Supplies of energy are steady, but the global use is higher and that is the issue. Everyone is rightfully looking into biomass, wind, geothermal and solar as ways to offset the lack of supplies. This is all taking time, as consumers we are waiting for economies of scales to kick in and then maybe this will all work out.
There is another way around this and doing this in parallel with renewable energy options is great. That is to optimize the energy we are already using. For instance hydrogen fuel cells will be great. If we can store the hydrogen in nanocells then we can use the exact amount of hydrogen to propel a car or whatever. We can use the nanocell concept for gas and most fuel supplies. Nanostorage devices will be great. However, when will they show up? Who is doing what about this? Anytime soon?
The concept for fuel cells is for more then vehicles. These are expected to be a super battery. It should really change mobile consumer electronics if you only need to recharge once a week or month. I sometimes wonder how tethered the world is to an electric outlet. Imagine of that was not the case!
Wall Street will resume nanotechnology financing
“ALL THE miracles of life that nature has created are based on Nanotechnology. It is up to mankind to perfect these miracles in the upcoming decades and centuries.”
Nanotechnology is one of the most active areas of research and development today with an investment of over $10 billion (2006) going into it worldwide. The United States, with its substantial government-funding involving the National Science Foundation (NSF), its Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defence (DOD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), leads the world in nanotechnology research and development. In January 2007, the European Union launched its largest-ever funding programme for research and technological development called the Seventh Framework Program (FP7). The programme has allocated about $ 4.5 billion for nanotechnology research and development. Other countries, including Russia, India, Japan and China have earmarked several billion USD for future nanotechnology investment programmes.
During the last five years, Wall Street has not been active in nanotechnology financing. It has allowed the venture capital companies, without competition, to cherry-pick the elite nanotechnology investment opportunities while leaving many promising nanotechnology ventures to starve financially. Today, with 400+ nanotechnology products in the domestic marketplace, the industry appears credible and the Street’s focus may be changing. The planned $100 million Initial Public Offering (IPO) by NanoDynamics, Inc (ND) may change the funding landscape for nanotechnology companies. It’s a very important change. The reasons behind the ND IPO’s expected success will become clear once you dig through the S-1 Prospectus, understand which specific green and nanotechnology markets ND’s new products aim to penetrate and why ND will be profitable in both those markets. "Green Energy and Nanotechnology" is a winning corporate strategy for the next decade. After a successful ND offering, a financing rush will be on and Wall Street should once again become a major player in nanotechnology funding, especially for young and cash-starved nanotechnology companies.
Environmental applications of nanotechnology
Environmental benefits from nanotechnology are derived from a wide range of possible applications, including nanotechnology-enabled, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes that reduce waste products - ultimately leading to atomically precise molecular manufacturing with zero waste; the use of nano- materials as catalysts to minimize or eliminate the use of toxic materials for greater efficiency in the current manufacturing processes; the use of nano-materials and nano-devices to reduce pollution (e.g. water and air filters); and the use of nano-materials for more efficient alternative energy production (e.g. solar and fuel cells).
Fuel additives for increased fuel efficiency
Nano-particle additives have been shown to increase the fuel efficiency of diesel engines by approximately 5% which could result in a maximum saving of 22-23 millions of tons per annum of CO2 in Europe alone. This could be implemented immediately across the diesel-powered fleet. However, since little is known about the health impact of free nano-particles in diesel exhaust gases, a comprehensive toxicological testing and subsidized independent performance tests are required to validate the absence of environmental harm.
Solar Cells
Nanotechnology may deliver significant benefits in vastly decreasing the production costs of solar cells. Conservatively, if a distributed solar generation grid met 1% of the world’s electricity demand, approximately 40 million tons per annum of CO2 could be saved. The major barrier to this technology is the incorporation of nanotechnology into solar cells, not the nanotechnology itself. There is currently a lack of skills to transfer the science base into workable prototypes. What is needed is to develop programmes and facilities for taking fundamental research through to early stage prototypes where established mechanisms can be employed to commercialize new technologies. Centres of excellence in Photovoltaics have to be created to allow cross-fertilization of ideas from different scientific disciplines.
Hydrogen Production through Nanotechnology
Hydrogen-powered vehicles could eliminate all toxic emissions, which would improve public health. If hydrogen were generated via renewable means or using carbon capture and storage, all CO2 emissions from transport could be eliminated (over 1 billion tons per annum). The hydrogen economy, however, is estimated to be 20 years away from potential universal deployment. Nanotechnology is central to developing efficient hydrogen storage, which is likely to be the largest barrier to worldwide use. Nanotechnology is also a lead candidate for improving the efficiency of fuel cells and for developing a method for renewable hydrogen production. To initiate a process in the right direction, public procurement to fund hydrogen-powered urban public transport is recommended which in turn will create a market and infrastructure for hydrogen-powered transport. Funding large international projects and continuing R&D support will also be crucial.
Ethanol Production through Nanotechnology
The recent interest in ethanol has been sparked by its use as a renewable fuel alternative to gasoline. Even though we have been drinking ethanol, an alcohol, for thousands of years (fermented beverages such as beer and wine contain up to 5-15% ethanol by volume), the largest single use of ethanol is as a motor fuel and fuel additive. Ethanol is produced by fermentation of feedstocks when certain species of yeast metabolize sugar. The primary feedstock for ethanol production in the U.S. is corn. In Brazil, the world’s leading ethanol producer, it’s mostly derived from sugar cane. While there is a heated controversy over the economic and ecological benefits of using biomass for producing ethanol fuel, it seems that the carbon nano-tubes (CNT) are increasingly recognized as promising materials for catalysis, either as catalysts themselves or as catalyst additives or as catalyst supports. Research has shown that CNTs loaded with rhodium (Rh) nano-particles are able to convert a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into ethanol. This appears to be the first example where the activity and selectivity of a metal-catalyzed gas-phase reaction benefits significantly from proceeding inside a nano-sized CNT reaction vessel.
Fuel Recycling
Diesel-burning engines are a major contributor to environmental pollution, since they emit a mixture of gases and fine particles that contain over 40 mostly toxic chemicals, including Benzene, Butadiene, Dioxin and mercury compounds. Diesel exhaust is listed as a known or probable human carcinogen by over 40 countries in the world. A Japanese government-supported research has shown that diesel soot can be recycled as a carbon source for the synthesis of single-walled carbon nano-tubes (SWCNTs). The diesel soot was predominantly collected by Soxhlet extraction of the particulate matter with ethanol. The collected diesel soot recycled by this method was then subjected to laser vaporization to synthesize SWCNTs, which can be used to produce new diesel fuel.
Batteries and Super-Capacitors
Recent advances in battery technology have made the range and power of electric vehicles more practical. Issues still surround the charge time. Nanotechnology may provide a remedy to this problem by allowing electric vehicles to be recharged much more quickly. Without nanotechnology, electric vehicles are likely to remain a niche market because of the issue of charge time. Significant infrastructural investment will be required to develop recharging stations throughout most industrialized nations. Fiscal incentives to purchasers such as the congestion charge scheme, fast track schemes for commercialization and cultivation of links with automotive multinationals will also be important.
Insulation
Cavity and loft insulation are cheap and effective; however, there are no easy methods for insulating solid walled buildings, which currently account for approximately a third of most buildings in industrialized countries with a cold winter climate. Nanotechnology provides several efficient approaches: Ultra thin nano-films on windows can reduce heat loss much more efficiently than anything currently on the market. In addition, improvement of Aerogels, which themselves are nanostructures, can minimize heat-loss of concrete walls.
Nanotechnology is one of the most active areas of research and development today with an investment of over $10 billion (2006) going into it worldwide. The United States, with its substantial government-funding involving the National Science Foundation (NSF), its Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defence (DOD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), leads the world in nanotechnology research and development. In January 2007, the European Union launched its largest-ever funding programme for research and technological development called the Seventh Framework Program (FP7). The programme has allocated about $ 4.5 billion for nanotechnology research and development. Other countries, including Russia, India, Japan and China have earmarked several billion USD for future nanotechnology investment programmes.
During the last five years, Wall Street has not been active in nanotechnology financing. It has allowed the venture capital companies, without competition, to cherry-pick the elite nanotechnology investment opportunities while leaving many promising nanotechnology ventures to starve financially. Today, with 400+ nanotechnology products in the domestic marketplace, the industry appears credible and the Street’s focus may be changing. The planned $100 million Initial Public Offering (IPO) by NanoDynamics, Inc (ND) may change the funding landscape for nanotechnology companies. It’s a very important change. The reasons behind the ND IPO’s expected success will become clear once you dig through the S-1 Prospectus, understand which specific green and nanotechnology markets ND’s new products aim to penetrate and why ND will be profitable in both those markets. "Green Energy and Nanotechnology" is a winning corporate strategy for the next decade. After a successful ND offering, a financing rush will be on and Wall Street should once again become a major player in nanotechnology funding, especially for young and cash-starved nanotechnology companies.
Environmental applications of nanotechnology
Environmental benefits from nanotechnology are derived from a wide range of possible applications, including nanotechnology-enabled, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes that reduce waste products - ultimately leading to atomically precise molecular manufacturing with zero waste; the use of nano- materials as catalysts to minimize or eliminate the use of toxic materials for greater efficiency in the current manufacturing processes; the use of nano-materials and nano-devices to reduce pollution (e.g. water and air filters); and the use of nano-materials for more efficient alternative energy production (e.g. solar and fuel cells).
Fuel additives for increased fuel efficiency
Nano-particle additives have been shown to increase the fuel efficiency of diesel engines by approximately 5% which could result in a maximum saving of 22-23 millions of tons per annum of CO2 in Europe alone. This could be implemented immediately across the diesel-powered fleet. However, since little is known about the health impact of free nano-particles in diesel exhaust gases, a comprehensive toxicological testing and subsidized independent performance tests are required to validate the absence of environmental harm.
Solar Cells
Nanotechnology may deliver significant benefits in vastly decreasing the production costs of solar cells. Conservatively, if a distributed solar generation grid met 1% of the world’s electricity demand, approximately 40 million tons per annum of CO2 could be saved. The major barrier to this technology is the incorporation of nanotechnology into solar cells, not the nanotechnology itself. There is currently a lack of skills to transfer the science base into workable prototypes. What is needed is to develop programmes and facilities for taking fundamental research through to early stage prototypes where established mechanisms can be employed to commercialize new technologies. Centres of excellence in Photovoltaics have to be created to allow cross-fertilization of ideas from different scientific disciplines.
Hydrogen Production through Nanotechnology
Hydrogen-powered vehicles could eliminate all toxic emissions, which would improve public health. If hydrogen were generated via renewable means or using carbon capture and storage, all CO2 emissions from transport could be eliminated (over 1 billion tons per annum). The hydrogen economy, however, is estimated to be 20 years away from potential universal deployment. Nanotechnology is central to developing efficient hydrogen storage, which is likely to be the largest barrier to worldwide use. Nanotechnology is also a lead candidate for improving the efficiency of fuel cells and for developing a method for renewable hydrogen production. To initiate a process in the right direction, public procurement to fund hydrogen-powered urban public transport is recommended which in turn will create a market and infrastructure for hydrogen-powered transport. Funding large international projects and continuing R&D support will also be crucial.
Ethanol Production through Nanotechnology
The recent interest in ethanol has been sparked by its use as a renewable fuel alternative to gasoline. Even though we have been drinking ethanol, an alcohol, for thousands of years (fermented beverages such as beer and wine contain up to 5-15% ethanol by volume), the largest single use of ethanol is as a motor fuel and fuel additive. Ethanol is produced by fermentation of feedstocks when certain species of yeast metabolize sugar. The primary feedstock for ethanol production in the U.S. is corn. In Brazil, the world’s leading ethanol producer, it’s mostly derived from sugar cane. While there is a heated controversy over the economic and ecological benefits of using biomass for producing ethanol fuel, it seems that the carbon nano-tubes (CNT) are increasingly recognized as promising materials for catalysis, either as catalysts themselves or as catalyst additives or as catalyst supports. Research has shown that CNTs loaded with rhodium (Rh) nano-particles are able to convert a gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into ethanol. This appears to be the first example where the activity and selectivity of a metal-catalyzed gas-phase reaction benefits significantly from proceeding inside a nano-sized CNT reaction vessel.
Fuel Recycling
Diesel-burning engines are a major contributor to environmental pollution, since they emit a mixture of gases and fine particles that contain over 40 mostly toxic chemicals, including Benzene, Butadiene, Dioxin and mercury compounds. Diesel exhaust is listed as a known or probable human carcinogen by over 40 countries in the world. A Japanese government-supported research has shown that diesel soot can be recycled as a carbon source for the synthesis of single-walled carbon nano-tubes (SWCNTs). The diesel soot was predominantly collected by Soxhlet extraction of the particulate matter with ethanol. The collected diesel soot recycled by this method was then subjected to laser vaporization to synthesize SWCNTs, which can be used to produce new diesel fuel.
Batteries and Super-Capacitors
Recent advances in battery technology have made the range and power of electric vehicles more practical. Issues still surround the charge time. Nanotechnology may provide a remedy to this problem by allowing electric vehicles to be recharged much more quickly. Without nanotechnology, electric vehicles are likely to remain a niche market because of the issue of charge time. Significant infrastructural investment will be required to develop recharging stations throughout most industrialized nations. Fiscal incentives to purchasers such as the congestion charge scheme, fast track schemes for commercialization and cultivation of links with automotive multinationals will also be important.
Insulation
Cavity and loft insulation are cheap and effective; however, there are no easy methods for insulating solid walled buildings, which currently account for approximately a third of most buildings in industrialized countries with a cold winter climate. Nanotechnology provides several efficient approaches: Ultra thin nano-films on windows can reduce heat loss much more efficiently than anything currently on the market. In addition, improvement of Aerogels, which themselves are nanostructures, can minimize heat-loss of concrete walls.
Should we be worried about nanotechnology?
by Joshua Cockfield
Cosmos Online
Molecular construction: An illustration from a Nanotechnology Victoria poster of a 'fourth generation dendrimer'. Dendrimers are a type of complex polymer that include multiple braches and can be built using nanotechnology.
Image: Nanotechnology Victoria
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SYDNEY: Nanotech experts are more concerned than the public about the potential health and environmental risks of the technology, says a new survey. So should we be worried?
Detailed in the journal Nature Nanotechnology the study suggests the public are still largely in the dark over the potentially huge benefits and risks of the diminutive new science.
"Nanotechnology is starting to emerge on the policy agenda, but with the public, it's not on their radar," said study co-author Dietram Scheufele, a professor of life sciences communication and journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
Despite acknowledging the risks, scientists surveyed believe their work will lead to major breakthroughs in medicine, environmental cleanup and military technology. By addressing any risks before the technology widely enters the public domain, the experts hope to avoid a backlash in public opinion that has been seen in other emerging technologies such as genetically modified food.
Micro machines
Nanotechnology is a promising area of applied science that draws from diverse fields including physics, chemistry and biology. The common theme that connects these threads is the manipulation of matter on a molecular scale. The fruits of nanotechnology don't exceed 100 nanometres in size, which is only one thousandth the breadth of a human hair. DNA, for example, is two nanometres wide and carbon nanotubes can be half that size in diameter.
Hundreds of consumer products already contain nanomaterials, most of which are cosmetics, sunscreens and cleaning products with microscopic particles. But this is the only first step in what promoters of nanotech say will be a technological revolution.
Nanomaterials lighter and stronger than those used today could revolutionise the car and aeroplane industries, and similar technologies are being developed in the fields of robotics, computers, clothing, energy storage and air purification. Medical scientists are investigating the possible uses of nanotechnology in treating cancer and other diseases. It is hoped that nanoparticles could specifically target and deliver drugs to cancerous cells.
Futurists imagine a world where sub-microscopic 'nanobots' repair damaged tissue or eliminate harmful pollutants from the environment. The idea of building molecular machines was first raised in the 1950's by U.S. physicist Richard Feynman who coined the term 'nanotechnology' – but if such advanced engineering is possible, it remains a long way off.
Risky business
To learn more about the perception of risks and benefits associated with the technology Scheufele and Elizabeth Corley of Arizona State University in Phoenix surveyed around 1,000 members of the public and 363 nanotech scientists. Their findings reveal a disparity between the perceptions of scientists and the general public on the potential risks and benefits of nanotechnology.
The potential of nanoparticles to harm human health was found to be more of a worry to scientists than the general public.
The report draws attention to the existing debate within the scientific community about a lack of systematic research into the risks of nanotechnology. According to researchers, our current knowledge of the toxicology of nanoparticles is limited. There is a fear that the particles may have detrimental effects on the lungs, for example, if they are inhaled.
"We are realising that the standard regulations aren't necessarily appropriate for nanotechnology," said Peter Binks, the chief executive officer of Nanotechnology Victoria, a promotion and commercialisation body at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He highlighted the fact that current toxicology regulations relate to the mass of a dose – but in the case of nanoparticles, the surface area may be more important.
The report concluded that the public believe scientists to be a more trustworthy source of nanotechnology information than regulatory agencies and governmental bodies. "We found communication gaps, but also tremendous opportunities for scientists to close them" said Scheufele. "There is definitely a huge opportunity for scientists to communicate with a public who trusts them."
"This is a terrific report and really highlights that the debate is becoming more sophisticated," commented Binks. "In Australia, we are well positioned to participate in that debate."
Cosmos Online
Molecular construction: An illustration from a Nanotechnology Victoria poster of a 'fourth generation dendrimer'. Dendrimers are a type of complex polymer that include multiple braches and can be built using nanotechnology.
Image: Nanotechnology Victoria
Advertisement
Related articles
Nanotech dangers demand attention
Nano cancer detection
Nanotechnology offers chemotherapy relief
Molecular torch sheds light on cells
Australia's Eureka science prizes awarded
SYDNEY: Nanotech experts are more concerned than the public about the potential health and environmental risks of the technology, says a new survey. So should we be worried?
Detailed in the journal Nature Nanotechnology the study suggests the public are still largely in the dark over the potentially huge benefits and risks of the diminutive new science.
"Nanotechnology is starting to emerge on the policy agenda, but with the public, it's not on their radar," said study co-author Dietram Scheufele, a professor of life sciences communication and journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
Despite acknowledging the risks, scientists surveyed believe their work will lead to major breakthroughs in medicine, environmental cleanup and military technology. By addressing any risks before the technology widely enters the public domain, the experts hope to avoid a backlash in public opinion that has been seen in other emerging technologies such as genetically modified food.
Micro machines
Nanotechnology is a promising area of applied science that draws from diverse fields including physics, chemistry and biology. The common theme that connects these threads is the manipulation of matter on a molecular scale. The fruits of nanotechnology don't exceed 100 nanometres in size, which is only one thousandth the breadth of a human hair. DNA, for example, is two nanometres wide and carbon nanotubes can be half that size in diameter.
Hundreds of consumer products already contain nanomaterials, most of which are cosmetics, sunscreens and cleaning products with microscopic particles. But this is the only first step in what promoters of nanotech say will be a technological revolution.
Nanomaterials lighter and stronger than those used today could revolutionise the car and aeroplane industries, and similar technologies are being developed in the fields of robotics, computers, clothing, energy storage and air purification. Medical scientists are investigating the possible uses of nanotechnology in treating cancer and other diseases. It is hoped that nanoparticles could specifically target and deliver drugs to cancerous cells.
Futurists imagine a world where sub-microscopic 'nanobots' repair damaged tissue or eliminate harmful pollutants from the environment. The idea of building molecular machines was first raised in the 1950's by U.S. physicist Richard Feynman who coined the term 'nanotechnology' – but if such advanced engineering is possible, it remains a long way off.
Risky business
To learn more about the perception of risks and benefits associated with the technology Scheufele and Elizabeth Corley of Arizona State University in Phoenix surveyed around 1,000 members of the public and 363 nanotech scientists. Their findings reveal a disparity between the perceptions of scientists and the general public on the potential risks and benefits of nanotechnology.
The potential of nanoparticles to harm human health was found to be more of a worry to scientists than the general public.
The report draws attention to the existing debate within the scientific community about a lack of systematic research into the risks of nanotechnology. According to researchers, our current knowledge of the toxicology of nanoparticles is limited. There is a fear that the particles may have detrimental effects on the lungs, for example, if they are inhaled.
"We are realising that the standard regulations aren't necessarily appropriate for nanotechnology," said Peter Binks, the chief executive officer of Nanotechnology Victoria, a promotion and commercialisation body at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He highlighted the fact that current toxicology regulations relate to the mass of a dose – but in the case of nanoparticles, the surface area may be more important.
The report concluded that the public believe scientists to be a more trustworthy source of nanotechnology information than regulatory agencies and governmental bodies. "We found communication gaps, but also tremendous opportunities for scientists to close them" said Scheufele. "There is definitely a huge opportunity for scientists to communicate with a public who trusts them."
"This is a terrific report and really highlights that the debate is becoming more sophisticated," commented Binks. "In Australia, we are well positioned to participate in that debate."
World Gold Council identifies key areas for research funding
Released on Thursday 13th December 2007
The World Gold Council today announced five key markets for future research funding: advanced electronics, optical materials, fuel cell systems, biomedical applications and industrial catalysts—for future research funding to develop new industrial applications for gold. Richard Holliday, head of industrial applications, explains that ‘the financial resources available from the council under its market research and feasibility GROW program are finite and that only a limited proportion of project proposals received will be funded.’
The Council’s key areas of interest include:
Industrial catalysts, including chemical processing and pollution control applications—and especially innovative technology for improving the durability of gold catalysts for room temperature air purification applications, the use of gold catalysts or gold nanotechnology that is directly related to the control of harmful environmental pollutants and commercially viable preparation methods for producing high loading gold-on-carbon electrocatalysts for potential use in fuel cell applications.
Advanced electronics, including any technology and components likely to be used in next-generation devices.
Fuel cell systems, including applications both within the fuel cell structure and hydrogen processing infrastructure.
Optical materials, including nanotechnology, chemicals and coatings.
Biomedical applications, including medical implants, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.
Follow these links to view the nanotechnology page of the World Gold Council, or to read the Council’s press release.
The World Gold Council today announced five key markets for future research funding: advanced electronics, optical materials, fuel cell systems, biomedical applications and industrial catalysts—for future research funding to develop new industrial applications for gold. Richard Holliday, head of industrial applications, explains that ‘the financial resources available from the council under its market research and feasibility GROW program are finite and that only a limited proportion of project proposals received will be funded.’
The Council’s key areas of interest include:
Industrial catalysts, including chemical processing and pollution control applications—and especially innovative technology for improving the durability of gold catalysts for room temperature air purification applications, the use of gold catalysts or gold nanotechnology that is directly related to the control of harmful environmental pollutants and commercially viable preparation methods for producing high loading gold-on-carbon electrocatalysts for potential use in fuel cell applications.
Advanced electronics, including any technology and components likely to be used in next-generation devices.
Fuel cell systems, including applications both within the fuel cell structure and hydrogen processing infrastructure.
Optical materials, including nanotechnology, chemicals and coatings.
Biomedical applications, including medical implants, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.
Follow these links to view the nanotechnology page of the World Gold Council, or to read the Council’s press release.
The Future of Nanomaterials
The DC-based research and consulting firm Social Technologies recently released a series of 12 briefs that shed light on the top areas for technology innovation through 2025. The brief on "nanomaterials," by futurist Peter von Stackelberg, is the fourth trend in the series.
"In the next 10 to 20 years, we'll see major breakthroughs in nanomaterials and related processes used to produce many of our consumer and industrial products," von Stackelberg forecasts. Here's why.
Technology overview Small is the key word that describes the world of nanotechnology. The concept centers on miniaturization, and involves the creation of particles, fibers, films, coatings, and other materials that are significantly smaller than the typical bacterium—between one and 100 nanometers in size.
Because these particles are so tiny, nano-objects can access previously impenetrable areas. That means they can make consumer products lighter, stronger, and more efficient—creating a significant competitive advantage for the companies incorporating them into their goods. In an era when consumers are demanding products that are more effective, protective, and assistive, nanomaterials provide the perfect fit.
Industries and consumers are also demanding more efficient use of resources and fewer waste streams. Again, nanomaterials fit the bill. Additionally, rising energy costs and the insecurity of petroleum supplies are driving research into nanomaterials that can boost production from alternative sources, or cut demand via greater energy efficiency.
Challenges ahead
As nanotech emerges as a major technological force over the coming decades, it will face a variety of obstacles. These include:
Mastering nanoscale behavior. To date, the potential interactions of nanoscale matter are not understood, von Stackelberg explains. "As research progresses, we may find that nanomaterials do not act as expected, leading to unanticipated and potentially harmful consequences. Once understanding improves about how matter behaves at the nanoscale, researchers will be able to develop increasingly sophisticated applications of nanotech while avoiding human side effects."
Public fears. The perception of the benefits vs. hazards of nanotech will have a significant impact on consumer acceptance of the technology. "A survey conducted in 2006 showed that although 42% of those polled had no awareness of nanotech, 20% had heard a little about it and 11% were quite familiar with it," von Stackelberg says—noting that the majority of those in the know believed that the risks of nanotech outweigh the benefits (35%). Only 15% said they believe the benefits outweigh the risks, and 7% said the benefits and risks are about equal.
Nanotech risks. "Obviously, a rational assessment of the true risks of nanotechnology are needed to ensure that wildcards like ‘grey goo' don't dominate the discussions of risk while other, more realistic risks are ignored," he points out. The potential for severe risk have been identified by the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, and include:
Health and environmental risks. A growing body of scientific evidence reports that nanomaterials have the potential to pollute air, soil, and water and to damage human health. Some of the most interesting properties of nanomaterials—such as the ability of nanoparticles to penetrate human cells—also present health risks if these particles escape into the environment, where they can be absorbed into people's bodies. "Our understanding of the potential health and environmental implications of nanotech are extremely limited," adds von Stackelberg.
Proliferation of "nanolitter." As more sophisticated nanomaterials become widely used, nano-byproducts will need to be dealt with. For instance, it isn't currently known whether nanoparticles used to treat cancer can remain in a patient's body or be excreted. "The reality is that nanomaterials which are useful and benign in one setting can actually be harmful in another," von Stackelberg explains.
Criminal or terrorist use. Small, powerful weapons made from nanomaterials would be difficult for society to defend against.
Forecasts
Although the underlying concepts of nanotechnology were thought up in 1959, only during the 1990s were the first tentative steps taken toward identifying and developing nanomaterials. "Between the end of the first decade of the 21st century and 2025, a number of gamechangers will need to occur if nanotech is to advance significantly," von Stackelberg says. These gamechangers include:
A shift from "passive" to "active" nanotech. In the coming decades, nanotech will likely make the transition from simple nanomachines—particles, crystals, rods, tubes, and sheets of atoms—to more complex ones that contain valves, switches, pumps, and motors.
Nanoscale tools. To work at the nanoscale, new tools will be needed to allow researchers and technicians to see, measure, and manipulate individual atoms and molecules. "One promising approach uses dynamic light scattering, a technique that measures how much nanoparticles jiggle when hit with laser light," von Stackelberg shares. "Many scientists agree that this method has the potential to do rapid, accurate measurement, and is expected to be operational by 2010."
Nanofabrication. Currently, manufacturing processes for nanomaterials are extremely expensive, produce only small amounts of material, and generate a significant amount of impurities and waste, von Stackelberg says. "But consider this: Assembly of nanodevices today is at the same stage as the automobile industry was before Henry Ford developed the assembly line."
Learn more
To determine the relevance of these findings and forecasts for major business sectors, set up an interview with Peter von Stackelberg by sending an email to Hope Gibbs, leader of corporate communications, at hope.gibbs@socialtechnologies.com .
Peter von Stackelberg ) Futurist
Peter von Stackelberg, the leader of Social Technologies' Futures Interactive program, brings more than a decade of experience as a futurist, strategic thinker, and writer. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in strategic management of technology and innovation at the State University of New York- Alfred, and as an advisor to the computer animation program at Alfred State. Peter has previously worked as a journalist, business analyst, university webmaster, e-commerce project manager, published poet, and computer artist. He is former editor-in-chief of Shaping Tomorrow and the founder of Applied Futures and FuturesWatch.org. He received a BA in journalism from Ryerson Polytechnical University in Toronto, Canada, and an MS in studies of the future from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and has taken graduate courses in creative writing, computer art, and art history in pursuit of an MA in Humanities. Areas of expertise: Biotechnology, energy (green, renewable, oil), nanotechnology, future of technology, scenario planning.
Social Technologies is a global research and consulting firm specializing in the integration of foresight, strategy, and innovation. With offices in Washington DC, London, and Shanghai, Social Technologies serves the world’s leading companies, government agencies, and nonprofits. A holistic, long-term perspective combined with actionable business solutions helps clients mitigate risk, make the most of opportunities, and enrich decision-making.
http://www.socialtechnologies.com/
"In the next 10 to 20 years, we'll see major breakthroughs in nanomaterials and related processes used to produce many of our consumer and industrial products," von Stackelberg forecasts. Here's why.
Technology overview Small is the key word that describes the world of nanotechnology. The concept centers on miniaturization, and involves the creation of particles, fibers, films, coatings, and other materials that are significantly smaller than the typical bacterium—between one and 100 nanometers in size.
Because these particles are so tiny, nano-objects can access previously impenetrable areas. That means they can make consumer products lighter, stronger, and more efficient—creating a significant competitive advantage for the companies incorporating them into their goods. In an era when consumers are demanding products that are more effective, protective, and assistive, nanomaterials provide the perfect fit.
Industries and consumers are also demanding more efficient use of resources and fewer waste streams. Again, nanomaterials fit the bill. Additionally, rising energy costs and the insecurity of petroleum supplies are driving research into nanomaterials that can boost production from alternative sources, or cut demand via greater energy efficiency.
Challenges ahead
As nanotech emerges as a major technological force over the coming decades, it will face a variety of obstacles. These include:
Mastering nanoscale behavior. To date, the potential interactions of nanoscale matter are not understood, von Stackelberg explains. "As research progresses, we may find that nanomaterials do not act as expected, leading to unanticipated and potentially harmful consequences. Once understanding improves about how matter behaves at the nanoscale, researchers will be able to develop increasingly sophisticated applications of nanotech while avoiding human side effects."
Public fears. The perception of the benefits vs. hazards of nanotech will have a significant impact on consumer acceptance of the technology. "A survey conducted in 2006 showed that although 42% of those polled had no awareness of nanotech, 20% had heard a little about it and 11% were quite familiar with it," von Stackelberg says—noting that the majority of those in the know believed that the risks of nanotech outweigh the benefits (35%). Only 15% said they believe the benefits outweigh the risks, and 7% said the benefits and risks are about equal.
Nanotech risks. "Obviously, a rational assessment of the true risks of nanotechnology are needed to ensure that wildcards like ‘grey goo' don't dominate the discussions of risk while other, more realistic risks are ignored," he points out. The potential for severe risk have been identified by the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, and include:
Health and environmental risks. A growing body of scientific evidence reports that nanomaterials have the potential to pollute air, soil, and water and to damage human health. Some of the most interesting properties of nanomaterials—such as the ability of nanoparticles to penetrate human cells—also present health risks if these particles escape into the environment, where they can be absorbed into people's bodies. "Our understanding of the potential health and environmental implications of nanotech are extremely limited," adds von Stackelberg.
Proliferation of "nanolitter." As more sophisticated nanomaterials become widely used, nano-byproducts will need to be dealt with. For instance, it isn't currently known whether nanoparticles used to treat cancer can remain in a patient's body or be excreted. "The reality is that nanomaterials which are useful and benign in one setting can actually be harmful in another," von Stackelberg explains.
Criminal or terrorist use. Small, powerful weapons made from nanomaterials would be difficult for society to defend against.
Forecasts
Although the underlying concepts of nanotechnology were thought up in 1959, only during the 1990s were the first tentative steps taken toward identifying and developing nanomaterials. "Between the end of the first decade of the 21st century and 2025, a number of gamechangers will need to occur if nanotech is to advance significantly," von Stackelberg says. These gamechangers include:
A shift from "passive" to "active" nanotech. In the coming decades, nanotech will likely make the transition from simple nanomachines—particles, crystals, rods, tubes, and sheets of atoms—to more complex ones that contain valves, switches, pumps, and motors.
Nanoscale tools. To work at the nanoscale, new tools will be needed to allow researchers and technicians to see, measure, and manipulate individual atoms and molecules. "One promising approach uses dynamic light scattering, a technique that measures how much nanoparticles jiggle when hit with laser light," von Stackelberg shares. "Many scientists agree that this method has the potential to do rapid, accurate measurement, and is expected to be operational by 2010."
Nanofabrication. Currently, manufacturing processes for nanomaterials are extremely expensive, produce only small amounts of material, and generate a significant amount of impurities and waste, von Stackelberg says. "But consider this: Assembly of nanodevices today is at the same stage as the automobile industry was before Henry Ford developed the assembly line."
Learn more
To determine the relevance of these findings and forecasts for major business sectors, set up an interview with Peter von Stackelberg by sending an email to Hope Gibbs, leader of corporate communications, at hope.gibbs@socialtechnologies.com .
Peter von Stackelberg ) Futurist
Peter von Stackelberg, the leader of Social Technologies' Futures Interactive program, brings more than a decade of experience as a futurist, strategic thinker, and writer. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in strategic management of technology and innovation at the State University of New York- Alfred, and as an advisor to the computer animation program at Alfred State. Peter has previously worked as a journalist, business analyst, university webmaster, e-commerce project manager, published poet, and computer artist. He is former editor-in-chief of Shaping Tomorrow and the founder of Applied Futures and FuturesWatch.org. He received a BA in journalism from Ryerson Polytechnical University in Toronto, Canada, and an MS in studies of the future from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and has taken graduate courses in creative writing, computer art, and art history in pursuit of an MA in Humanities. Areas of expertise: Biotechnology, energy (green, renewable, oil), nanotechnology, future of technology, scenario planning.
Social Technologies is a global research and consulting firm specializing in the integration of foresight, strategy, and innovation. With offices in Washington DC, London, and Shanghai, Social Technologies serves the world’s leading companies, government agencies, and nonprofits. A holistic, long-term perspective combined with actionable business solutions helps clients mitigate risk, make the most of opportunities, and enrich decision-making.
http://www.socialtechnologies.com/
Monday, January 7, 2008
Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development Student Rankings
by Michael Orshan
What do exactly do with our taxes? Do we spend in on the advancement of science and technology? How about education? Ha! How about, I don’t know what else? Besides war and basic operations, I can’t figure out what the US government does for the advancement of society. Once upon a time we lead the world in so much.
Check out the student assessment study recently released. Korea. Oh my god, Korea is having so much success in education they should franchise whatever they are doing. Or Finland, who is having an equally phenomenal success story. I hope that someone on this side of the world is checking these programs out.
So what’s the news? I’ve checked several times now and on the reading scale, the United States is not on the chart. Who is preventing them from showing up besides the top dogs? Well the bottom three is Azerbaijan, Qatar and Kyrgyzstan.
What about math? Well the United States makes the bottom 3rd. The country rankings are below and the report is at
http://www.oecd.org/document/2/0,3343,en_32252351_32236191_39718850_1_1_1_1,00.html. It is worth a viewing.
Range of rank of countries/economies on the reading scale
Korea 556
Finland 547
Hong Kong-China 536
Canada 527
New Zealand 521
Ireland 517
Australia 513
Liechtenstein 510
Poland 508
Sweden 507
Netherlands 507
Belgium 501
Estonia 501
Switzerland 499
Japan 498
Chinese Taipei 496
United Kingdom 495
Germany 495
Denmark 494
Slovenia 494
Macao-China 492
Austria 490
France 488
Iceland 484
Norway 484
Czech Republic 483
Hungary 482
Latvia 479
Luxembourg 479
Croatia 477
Portugal 472
Lithuania 470
Italy 469
Slovak Republic 466
Spain 461
Greece 460
Turkey 447
Chile 442
Russian Federation 440
Israel 439
Thailand 417
Uruguay 413
Mexico 410
Bulgaria 402
Serbia 401
Jordan 401
Romania 396
Indonesia 393
Brazil 393
Montenegro 392
Colombia 385
Tunisia 380
Argentina 374
Azerbaijan 353
Qatar 312
Kyrgyzstan 285
Range of rank of countries/economies on the mathematics scale
Chinese Taipei 549
Finland 548
Hong Kong-China 547
Korea 547
Netherlands 531
Switzerland 530
Canada 527
Macao-China 525
Liechtenstein 525
Japan 523
New Zealand 522
Belgium 520
Australia 520
Estonia 515
Denmark 513
Czech Republic 510
Iceland 506
Austria 505
Slovenia 504
Germany 504
Sweden 502
Ireland 501
France 496
United Kingdom 495
Poland 495
Slovak Republic 492
Hungary 491
Luxembourg 490
Norway 490
Lithuania 486
Latvia 486
Spain 480
Azerbaijan 476
Russian Federation 476
United States 474
Croatia 467
Portugal 466
Italy 462
Greece 459
Israel 442
Serbia 435
Uruguay 427
Turkey 424
Thailand 417
Romania 415
Bulgaria 413
Chile 411
Mexico 406
Montenegro 399
Indonesia 391
Jordan 384
Argentina 381
Colombia 370
Brazil 370
Tunisia 365
Qatar 318
Kyrgyzstan 311
What do exactly do with our taxes? Do we spend in on the advancement of science and technology? How about education? Ha! How about, I don’t know what else? Besides war and basic operations, I can’t figure out what the US government does for the advancement of society. Once upon a time we lead the world in so much.
Check out the student assessment study recently released. Korea. Oh my god, Korea is having so much success in education they should franchise whatever they are doing. Or Finland, who is having an equally phenomenal success story. I hope that someone on this side of the world is checking these programs out.
So what’s the news? I’ve checked several times now and on the reading scale, the United States is not on the chart. Who is preventing them from showing up besides the top dogs? Well the bottom three is Azerbaijan, Qatar and Kyrgyzstan.
What about math? Well the United States makes the bottom 3rd. The country rankings are below and the report is at
http://www.oecd.org/document/2/0,3343,en_32252351_32236191_39718850_1_1_1_1,00.html. It is worth a viewing.
Range of rank of countries/economies on the reading scale
Korea 556
Finland 547
Hong Kong-China 536
Canada 527
New Zealand 521
Ireland 517
Australia 513
Liechtenstein 510
Poland 508
Sweden 507
Netherlands 507
Belgium 501
Estonia 501
Switzerland 499
Japan 498
Chinese Taipei 496
United Kingdom 495
Germany 495
Denmark 494
Slovenia 494
Macao-China 492
Austria 490
France 488
Iceland 484
Norway 484
Czech Republic 483
Hungary 482
Latvia 479
Luxembourg 479
Croatia 477
Portugal 472
Lithuania 470
Italy 469
Slovak Republic 466
Spain 461
Greece 460
Turkey 447
Chile 442
Russian Federation 440
Israel 439
Thailand 417
Uruguay 413
Mexico 410
Bulgaria 402
Serbia 401
Jordan 401
Romania 396
Indonesia 393
Brazil 393
Montenegro 392
Colombia 385
Tunisia 380
Argentina 374
Azerbaijan 353
Qatar 312
Kyrgyzstan 285
Range of rank of countries/economies on the mathematics scale
Chinese Taipei 549
Finland 548
Hong Kong-China 547
Korea 547
Netherlands 531
Switzerland 530
Canada 527
Macao-China 525
Liechtenstein 525
Japan 523
New Zealand 522
Belgium 520
Australia 520
Estonia 515
Denmark 513
Czech Republic 510
Iceland 506
Austria 505
Slovenia 504
Germany 504
Sweden 502
Ireland 501
France 496
United Kingdom 495
Poland 495
Slovak Republic 492
Hungary 491
Luxembourg 490
Norway 490
Lithuania 486
Latvia 486
Spain 480
Azerbaijan 476
Russian Federation 476
United States 474
Croatia 467
Portugal 466
Italy 462
Greece 459
Israel 442
Serbia 435
Uruguay 427
Turkey 424
Thailand 417
Romania 415
Bulgaria 413
Chile 411
Mexico 406
Montenegro 399
Indonesia 391
Jordan 384
Argentina 381
Colombia 370
Brazil 370
Tunisia 365
Qatar 318
Kyrgyzstan 311
IBM Demos New Nanotechnology Method to Build Chip Components
ARMONK, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 8, 2003–
IBM today announced it is the first to successfully apply a novel approach in nanotechnology to aid conventional semiconductor processing, potentially enabling continued device miniaturization and chip performance improvements. IBM used a “molecular self assembly” technique that is compatible with existing chip-making tools, making it attractive for applications in future microelectronics technologies because it avoids the high cost of tooling changes and the risks associated with major process changes.
IBM’s self-assembly technique leverages the tendency of certain types of polymer molecules to organize themselves. The polymer molecules pattern critical device features that are smaller, denser, more precise, and more uniform than can be achieved using conventional methods like lithography. The use of techniques such as self assembly could ultimately lead to more powerful electronic devices such as microprocessors used in the growing array of computer systems, communications devices, and consumer electronics. IBM expects self-assembly techniques could be used in pilot phases 3-5 years from now.
“Self assembly opens up new opportunities for patterning at dimensions smaller than those in current technologies,” said Dr. T.C. Chen, vice president of science and technology at IBM Research. “As components in information technology products continue to shrink toward the molecular scale, self-assembly techniques could be used to enhance lithographic methods.”
Nanotechnology is a broad field of science in which materials are manipulated at dimensions which approach the size of individual atoms or molecules. Self assembly is a subset of nanotech that refers to the natural tendency of certain individual elements to arrange themselves into regular nanoscale patterns.
In this instance, IBM researchers used self assembly to form critical features of a semiconductor memory device. The polymer patterns the formation of a dense silicon nanocrystal array which becomes the basis for a variant of conventional FLASH memory. Nanocrystal memories are difficult to fabricate using conventional methods; by using self-assembly, IBM has discovered a much easier method to build conventional semiconductor devices such as FLASH memories. Device processing, including self assembly, was performed on 200 mm diameter silicon wafers using methods fully compatible with existing chip-making tools.
This nanotechnology breakthrough is reported in a paper entitled “Low Voltage, Scalable Nanocrystal FLASH Memory Fabricated by Templated Self Assembly” by K.W. Guarini, C.T. Black, Y. Zhang, I.V. Babich, E.M. Sikorski and L.M. Gignac will be presented by IBM tomorrow at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) in Washington, D.C. Continuing its leadership in technology innovation, IBM is presenting 19 papers at IEDM this year, more than any other company.
IBM today announced it is the first to successfully apply a novel approach in nanotechnology to aid conventional semiconductor processing, potentially enabling continued device miniaturization and chip performance improvements. IBM used a “molecular self assembly” technique that is compatible with existing chip-making tools, making it attractive for applications in future microelectronics technologies because it avoids the high cost of tooling changes and the risks associated with major process changes.
IBM’s self-assembly technique leverages the tendency of certain types of polymer molecules to organize themselves. The polymer molecules pattern critical device features that are smaller, denser, more precise, and more uniform than can be achieved using conventional methods like lithography. The use of techniques such as self assembly could ultimately lead to more powerful electronic devices such as microprocessors used in the growing array of computer systems, communications devices, and consumer electronics. IBM expects self-assembly techniques could be used in pilot phases 3-5 years from now.
“Self assembly opens up new opportunities for patterning at dimensions smaller than those in current technologies,” said Dr. T.C. Chen, vice president of science and technology at IBM Research. “As components in information technology products continue to shrink toward the molecular scale, self-assembly techniques could be used to enhance lithographic methods.”
Nanotechnology is a broad field of science in which materials are manipulated at dimensions which approach the size of individual atoms or molecules. Self assembly is a subset of nanotech that refers to the natural tendency of certain individual elements to arrange themselves into regular nanoscale patterns.
In this instance, IBM researchers used self assembly to form critical features of a semiconductor memory device. The polymer patterns the formation of a dense silicon nanocrystal array which becomes the basis for a variant of conventional FLASH memory. Nanocrystal memories are difficult to fabricate using conventional methods; by using self-assembly, IBM has discovered a much easier method to build conventional semiconductor devices such as FLASH memories. Device processing, including self assembly, was performed on 200 mm diameter silicon wafers using methods fully compatible with existing chip-making tools.
This nanotechnology breakthrough is reported in a paper entitled “Low Voltage, Scalable Nanocrystal FLASH Memory Fabricated by Templated Self Assembly” by K.W. Guarini, C.T. Black, Y. Zhang, I.V. Babich, E.M. Sikorski and L.M. Gignac will be presented by IBM tomorrow at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) in Washington, D.C. Continuing its leadership in technology innovation, IBM is presenting 19 papers at IEDM this year, more than any other company.
Nanotech Semiconductor announces breakthrough new CMOS Transimpedance Amplifier IC Family. Double the Sensitivity of existing ICs, at lowest power con
11 December 2007
2.5Gbps APD replacement & 10Gbps in CMOS for the first time
Bristol, England, December 7th 2007 – Nanotech Semiconductor Limited ("Nanotech"), a fabless IC company specializing in advanced Analog & Mixed-Signal ICs for fiber based Communications applications, today announced its latest breakthrough in CMOS TIA design.
Building on over a decade of Worlds firsts in pure-CMOS, this new family of 2.5Gb and 10Gb TIAs offers at least 3-4dB more Sensitivity at each data rate Vs. the best existing solutions, which are typically in expensive SiGe processes.
The NT25L55 offers –33dBm typically at 2.5Gbps, with a standard PIN diode, and with only 33mA current consumption. The NT25L55 can therefore be used to replace APD based solutions in GPON networks, offering dramatic cost and power savings.
The NT28L50 and NT28L51 offer –25dBm typically at 10Gbps, again with only 33mA consumption. The NT28L50 is intended for upcoming SFP+ modules, while the NT28L51 is tailored to LRM applications. Both ICs are believed to offer not only by far the highest performance in the world, but also are the World’s first CMOS 10Gbps TIAs.
All ICs require a single 3.3v supply, and are pin-compatible with previous products. On-chip filtering means no capacitors are required inside the ROSA, offering both Bill-of-Materials cost reduction and faster, lower cost assembly. Photodiode Monitor source/sink and output polarity are both bond-programmable, offering complete build flexibility.
'Alpha' customers are being sought now, with production ramp-up expected early in 2008.
Dr. Ya Nong Ning, Marketing Director for GOF products, added: "Manufactured in standard 0.13u CMOS, at the world’s largest wafer foundry, this new family of ICs offers customers exactly what they need in terms of reliability, short manufacturing lead-times, and CMOS pricing, in addition to the best performance ever seen."
Gary Steele, CEO, commented: "One of the most interesting things about this latest architectural breakthrough is that it builds upon the Company’s earlier solutions to the challenges in the Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) world. Not only does this new architecture offer both higher sensitivity and lower power, but it is also extremely forgiving of it’s opto-electrical and mechanical environment, something the Consumer- and Auto-orientated POF world takes for granted, but that is relatively new to the Glass fiber world."
Contact Nanotech for details of the Alpha customer program, datasheets & applications support materials. Alpha customers will also have early access to important additional novel features, under NDA.
About Nanotech Semiconductor
Nanotech is a Venture-Capital backed, UK based fabless chip company, focused on Analog and mixed-signal ICs principally for fiber-optics based communications.
www.nanosemi.co.uk
2.5Gbps APD replacement & 10Gbps in CMOS for the first time
Bristol, England, December 7th 2007 – Nanotech Semiconductor Limited ("Nanotech"), a fabless IC company specializing in advanced Analog & Mixed-Signal ICs for fiber based Communications applications, today announced its latest breakthrough in CMOS TIA design.
Building on over a decade of Worlds firsts in pure-CMOS, this new family of 2.5Gb and 10Gb TIAs offers at least 3-4dB more Sensitivity at each data rate Vs. the best existing solutions, which are typically in expensive SiGe processes.
The NT25L55 offers –33dBm typically at 2.5Gbps, with a standard PIN diode, and with only 33mA current consumption. The NT25L55 can therefore be used to replace APD based solutions in GPON networks, offering dramatic cost and power savings.
The NT28L50 and NT28L51 offer –25dBm typically at 10Gbps, again with only 33mA consumption. The NT28L50 is intended for upcoming SFP+ modules, while the NT28L51 is tailored to LRM applications. Both ICs are believed to offer not only by far the highest performance in the world, but also are the World’s first CMOS 10Gbps TIAs.
All ICs require a single 3.3v supply, and are pin-compatible with previous products. On-chip filtering means no capacitors are required inside the ROSA, offering both Bill-of-Materials cost reduction and faster, lower cost assembly. Photodiode Monitor source/sink and output polarity are both bond-programmable, offering complete build flexibility.
'Alpha' customers are being sought now, with production ramp-up expected early in 2008.
Dr. Ya Nong Ning, Marketing Director for GOF products, added: "Manufactured in standard 0.13u CMOS, at the world’s largest wafer foundry, this new family of ICs offers customers exactly what they need in terms of reliability, short manufacturing lead-times, and CMOS pricing, in addition to the best performance ever seen."
Gary Steele, CEO, commented: "One of the most interesting things about this latest architectural breakthrough is that it builds upon the Company’s earlier solutions to the challenges in the Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) world. Not only does this new architecture offer both higher sensitivity and lower power, but it is also extremely forgiving of it’s opto-electrical and mechanical environment, something the Consumer- and Auto-orientated POF world takes for granted, but that is relatively new to the Glass fiber world."
Contact Nanotech for details of the Alpha customer program, datasheets & applications support materials. Alpha customers will also have early access to important additional novel features, under NDA.
About Nanotech Semiconductor
Nanotech is a Venture-Capital backed, UK based fabless chip company, focused on Analog and mixed-signal ICs principally for fiber-optics based communications.
www.nanosemi.co.uk
Nano Titanate Batteries May Resurrect the Electric Car
In January 2007, a member of our Design News staff claimed responsibility for a murder; see “I Killed the Electric Car” by Chuck Murray. Chuck’s article presented simple calculations to illustrate that for standard American drivers, conventional electric cars make no sense due to long charge time and low mileage-per-charge. Nonetheless, Chuck elicited some angry reader feedback including a post, “What about the Chevy Volt, Chuck!?”, by our Editor-In-Chief, John Dodge, who apparently likes to wait 6 hours every time he needs to fuel his car.
After almost a year of staring one another down from their respective cubicles and periodically firing ethanol and bio-diesel spitballs at each other across the office, Chuck and John can finally put their debate to rest.
Advances in battery technology originally aimed at lap top computers piggybacked atop zero-emission vehicle regulations established to entice development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may be breathing new life into the electric car.
“Who’s Resurrecting the Electric Car?” by David Schneider appeared in the October edition of American Scientist Magazine. According to this article, lithium-ion batteries first used in lap top computers are now being successfully integrated into street-legal cars such as the high-end Roadster by Tesla Motors. Powered by computer batteries, this car boasts the performance, speed, and range of its gas-fired sports car cousins. While consumers may need to take out a second mortgage to buy a Tesla Roadster (base price $98,000 before upgrades), the company has already filled all available reservations for the 2008 model year, and they will soon be taking orders for their 2009 model. While a cursory search failed to reveal any data on this company’s financial viability, Tesla’s growing product wait list seems to denote a company in no danger of going under.
When Chuck Murray killed the electric car in January 2007, his calculations considered the time required to traverse various distances in excess of the EV1's 70- to 100-mile-per-charge range. Key to this analysis was the inconvenient five-hour charge time associated with lead-acid or nickel-metal-hydride batteries. With four charge stops at five hours per stop between Chicago and Detroit, Chuck’s regular 5-hour jaunt increased to a 25 hour exercise in patience.
To eliminate long charge times, the new generation of electric vehicles will be powered by lithium-based batteries related to the cells used to power laptops, but with a twist. Historically, the challenge with scaling-up lithium batteries was their tendency to release oxygen if they overheated, causing fires and explosions. However, by switching the battery’s carbon chemistry for titante nano-particles, the fire hazard is eliminated. Although this switch reduces energy density with respect to carbon-based lithium-ion batteries, it enables scale-up of lithium technology competent for safe use in electric cars.
Nano-titanate-based lithium batteries have greater energy density than the lead-acid or nickel-metal-hydride batteries of the old EV1. Plus, they have an even more desirable attribute: the ability to recharge in about 10 minutes as opposed to hours. For rapid charging, the Altairnano lithium titanate battery is the leading power source for automotive applications. The uncanny 10-minute recharge time is enabled by nano-materials that dramatically reduce ion travel distance while increasing the surface area available to the ions.
Another startup electric car manufacturer, Phoenix Motorcars, is using this new battery technology in their zero-emission fleet vehicles. Rapid recharge time and 100+ mile range may qualify vehicles from Phoenix Motorcars for the highest zero emission vehicle category established by the California Air Resources Board. This category, originally slated for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, may provide Phoenix substantial credit for each vehicle they put on the road.
Driving a Phoenix automobile powered by Altairnano batteries, even Chuck Murray, the great murder of electric vehicles, could comfortably get from Chicago to Detroit in about 5 hours and 30 minutes without burning a drop of gasoline. John Dodge could make it in 5.5 hours too, if he was willing to give up those six-hour pit stops.
After almost a year of staring one another down from their respective cubicles and periodically firing ethanol and bio-diesel spitballs at each other across the office, Chuck and John can finally put their debate to rest.
Advances in battery technology originally aimed at lap top computers piggybacked atop zero-emission vehicle regulations established to entice development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may be breathing new life into the electric car.
“Who’s Resurrecting the Electric Car?” by David Schneider appeared in the October edition of American Scientist Magazine. According to this article, lithium-ion batteries first used in lap top computers are now being successfully integrated into street-legal cars such as the high-end Roadster by Tesla Motors. Powered by computer batteries, this car boasts the performance, speed, and range of its gas-fired sports car cousins. While consumers may need to take out a second mortgage to buy a Tesla Roadster (base price $98,000 before upgrades), the company has already filled all available reservations for the 2008 model year, and they will soon be taking orders for their 2009 model. While a cursory search failed to reveal any data on this company’s financial viability, Tesla’s growing product wait list seems to denote a company in no danger of going under.
When Chuck Murray killed the electric car in January 2007, his calculations considered the time required to traverse various distances in excess of the EV1's 70- to 100-mile-per-charge range. Key to this analysis was the inconvenient five-hour charge time associated with lead-acid or nickel-metal-hydride batteries. With four charge stops at five hours per stop between Chicago and Detroit, Chuck’s regular 5-hour jaunt increased to a 25 hour exercise in patience.
To eliminate long charge times, the new generation of electric vehicles will be powered by lithium-based batteries related to the cells used to power laptops, but with a twist. Historically, the challenge with scaling-up lithium batteries was their tendency to release oxygen if they overheated, causing fires and explosions. However, by switching the battery’s carbon chemistry for titante nano-particles, the fire hazard is eliminated. Although this switch reduces energy density with respect to carbon-based lithium-ion batteries, it enables scale-up of lithium technology competent for safe use in electric cars.
Nano-titanate-based lithium batteries have greater energy density than the lead-acid or nickel-metal-hydride batteries of the old EV1. Plus, they have an even more desirable attribute: the ability to recharge in about 10 minutes as opposed to hours. For rapid charging, the Altairnano lithium titanate battery is the leading power source for automotive applications. The uncanny 10-minute recharge time is enabled by nano-materials that dramatically reduce ion travel distance while increasing the surface area available to the ions.
Another startup electric car manufacturer, Phoenix Motorcars, is using this new battery technology in their zero-emission fleet vehicles. Rapid recharge time and 100+ mile range may qualify vehicles from Phoenix Motorcars for the highest zero emission vehicle category established by the California Air Resources Board. This category, originally slated for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, may provide Phoenix substantial credit for each vehicle they put on the road.
Driving a Phoenix automobile powered by Altairnano batteries, even Chuck Murray, the great murder of electric vehicles, could comfortably get from Chicago to Detroit in about 5 hours and 30 minutes without burning a drop of gasoline. John Dodge could make it in 5.5 hours too, if he was willing to give up those six-hour pit stops.
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