Nanorods: Nanometer-sized crystalline oxide rods e

Gina Miller writes "An article in the March 4, 2002 issue of Chemical & Engineering News ("Three-Element Nanorods: Nanometer-sized crystalline oxide rods exhibit useful properties" by Mitch Jacoby) reports that researchers at Harvard University, led by assistant chemistry professor Hongkun Park, have succeeded in using a solution chemistry procedure to prepare single-crystal nanorods composed of transition metal oxides. Specifically, they made nanorods of barium titanate (BaTiO3) and strontium titanate (SrTiO3) with diameters ranging from 5 to 60 nm and lengths exceeding 10 micrometers. These nanocrystals have interesting electrical and magnetic properties. "The group has demonstrated that the materials are promising candidates as media for high-density data storage. The new synthesis strategy may be extended to other classes of materials and provides new opportunities for investigations in piezo- and ferroelectricity, magnetoresistivity, and other areas." (For another recent breakthrough with inorganic nanorods possessing useful electrical properties, see this Nanodot post from 30 March 2002.)"