Category: Nanoscale Bulk Technologies

Gina Miller writes "Nature Science Update reports: titanium dioxide nanoparticles break down carbon based molecules when induced by sunlight. This process is speculated to be a good canditate for self cleaning fabrics if coated ontop of the material at 20 nano meteres across. Gee, let us calculate how much time the average housewife would save if this simple coating could be achieved….hold on I'm still calculating….This process could also be used to target dirt, the environment and other nasty critters. This work has been done by Walid Daoud and John Xin of Hong Kong Polytechnic University. My house (and dog hair) is ready for this advancement. : )"

Jerry Fass writes "Physicists in Germany make atomic force microscope able to image features under 100 picometres (0.1 nanometer) across. New "higher-harmonic" force microscope uses one carbon atom as a probe, resolution is at least three times more than standard scanning tunnelling microscopes. http://physicsweb.org/article/news/8/6/6/"

brian wang writes "Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the U.S. Department of Energy are developing 'smart' nanoparticles to clean up environmental toxins that resist conventional remediation methods. Carnegie Mellon University researchers create nanoparticles to clean up contaminated sites"

Roland Piquepaille writes "Increasing storage density by packing more than 0 or 1 in a single memory cell is an appealing idea. Now, "researchers from the University of Southern California and NASA have built a prototype molecular memory device that stores three bits in the same spot." Each memory cell is a field-effect transistor (FET) made from a 10-nanometer-diameter indium oxide wire. By applying current to a gate electrode, the nanowire can have eight discrete levels of electrical conductance, therefore representing the eight combinations of 3 bits. The prototype can retain data for 600 hours and provides a data density of 40 gigabits per square centimeter. The researchers think they can reach a density of 400 gigabits per square centimeter within 5 to 10 years. More details and references are available in this overview. [Note: Nanodot described another approach to molecular memory last March.]"

Vik writes "This story in New Scientist describes how electrically-heated nanotubes have been made to accurately ferry molten metal around, in theory allowing the soldering of nanoscale metal parts. A variety of metals have been used, and there is an interesting possibility that this technique could be used to make crude nanotube structures that can weld themselves together."