All those R&D teams working feverishly to bring their products to market may be in for an unpleasant surprise — their materials may not be transferable to manufacturing at industrial scale. In the case of nano pillars, for example, intrinsic variability may prevent them from progressing past proof of concept, according to a study by Mike Kelly of the University of Cambridge's Centre for Advanced Photonics and Electronics. Current process equipment lacks the ability to fabricate structures with 3 nm design rules reproducibly in a top-down approach. At the same time, self-assembly techniques aren't sufficiently predictable to produce defect-free material in large volumes.

GlobalSpec's new video archive provides direct access to GlobalSpec's online trade show & conference educational sessions developed by leading manufacturers and thought leaders. Browse over 100 searchable, educational videos. Check back often to view new videos as we will be adding more monthly.

nano Motion Technology presents Aerotech's nanopositioners for laboratory/industrial applications. Products include single- and dual-axis linear nanopositioners with 1 nm resolution, ±250 nm accuracy, and travels of 25-160 mm; rotary nanopositioners with 0.01 arc-second resolution, 0.005 arc-second in-position stability, and 360 degree continuous rotation; and goniometer, vertical lift, and 'Z' nanopositioners.

Disperse, deagglomerate, and reduce particle size with a new Sonicator ultrasonic processor. A variety of systems are available for small to large sample volumes. Our new, high powered 1,375 W system is capable of processing up to 20 L/min. Contact Qsonica and mention GlobalSpec for a special 5% discount.

Suspension plasma spray (SPS) and solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) are two recent advancements in thermal spraying that permit coatings to be made from nano particles 50 nm (0.000002 in.) in diameter. These coatings have higher wear and protective properties. The 100HE is also used in the manufacture of nano powders.

NOTIO™ from Mitsui Chemicals America, Inc. is a flexible, low density, transparent elastomer that can be used as a modifier for other compounds, achieving a balance of impact resistance, scratch resistance, heat resistance, transparency, flexibility and elasticity, and elimination of whitening upon bending. NOTIO™ enables the development of higher-value, better functioning products.

Nanostructures are making headlines as drug-delivery platforms. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with doxorubicin demonstrated a 10 to 12% uptake in tumor tissue, say UCLA researchers. The approach appears to increase therapeutic benefit while decreasing side effects. Elsewhere, researchers have leveraged the characteristic pH of tumor tissue to develop a removable polymer coating for nanoparticles. The coating protects the particle in the bloodstream, but degrades rapidly in the acidic environment around the tumor to release its payload.

By engineering biologically formed nanoscale capsules to release an immune-triggering protein, UCLA researchers have demonstrated a new method for inhibiting tumor growth. The group modified naturally occurring protein-based vaults to secrete excess amounts of a chemokine known as CCL21. When injected into lung tumors in mice, the vaults stimulated an immune response. The therapy shows promise for preventing cancer recurrence.

Borate glass nanofibers can help heal chronic wounds caused by poor circulation, experiments in Missouri have shown. The bio-active material consists of cotton-like 300 nm to 5 µm fibers that provide a scaffold to allow blood platelets to form a scab. Meanwhile, lithium leaching out of the glass creates an alkaline environment that kills bacteria such as staph, and calcium helps promote healing. According to the study and the nurse who administered the treatments, the material seems to disappear as the wound heals.

Photonic crystals formed of carbon nanofibers can act as chemical sensors, opening the possibility of respiratory filters that can monitor worker exposure to hazardous materials. Using a porous silicon rugate filter as a template, researchers built carbon/silicon composite structures that change color upon absorbing volatile organic compounds. The nanofibers provide an order of magnitude increase in sensitivity compared to porous silicon.

As society settles into the 21st century, things are getting smaller and smaller. It's often been said that it's becoming a 'Nano world'. Nanotechnology is becoming more important in photonics, energy, semiconductor processing, and the medical and life sciences industries. Learn more.

TPL offers a range of titanate powders with controlled size and chemistry. The nano-size powders are produced via an aqueous, low temperature process that allows for binary and tertiary oxide compositions with controlled stoichiometries. The particle sizes (50 to 400 nm) are ideal for ultra-thin dielectric layers in composites and ceramic capacitors.

A microfluidic sensor leverages ferromagnetic nanoparticles to detect hazardous materials and transmit the results. Oregon State University researchers functionalized iron oxide nano beads with biochemical probes that cause them to bind to the materials of interest. To test a sample, they add it to a microfluidic chip with the beads, then apply a microwave signal. If the bead concentration is sufficiently high, the resultant ferromagnetic resonances in the nanoparticles will cause the signal to rise above background.

Using an atomic force microscope (AFM) as a sort of high-tech Etch-A-Sketch, researchers have fabricated a 1.5 nm single-electron transistor. The devices consist of source and drain electrodes separated by a conducting-oxide island through which single electrons tunnel. The group starts with a strontium titanate crystal overlaid with a 1.2 nm thick lanthanum aluminate layer. They use the cantilever tip of the AFM at the interface of the two to form the island and the electrodes that control the population of electrons on the island. Applications include force and charge sensors, as well as next-generation computing.

By controlling the fabrication of carbon nanocomposites using a genetically engineered virus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have improved the conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by a factor of more than 25%. A single-walled carbon nanotube core is surrounded by a titanium dioxide (TiO₂) shell. During manufacturing, peptides in the virus positionally stabilize the nanotubes, then the virus produces the TiO₂ coating. The organisms also render the nanotubes water-soluble, making them compatible with aqueous processing. The group cycles the viruses through the various steps in the process by adjusting the pH of the environment.

Doping provides an essential design tool in semiconductor manufacturing. Technological barriers have previously prevented the application of the technology to strongly confined colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, however. Now, Hebrew University researchers have overcome the challenge, producing n- and p-doped semiconductor nanocrystals using a room temperature doping method.

Maintenance-free plastic plain bearings made from iglide^® T500, 1 of 12 standard materials from bearings specialist igus®, are high-tech problem solvers for temperature-, pressure- and chemical-critical applications. The company is now launching an advanced bearing material using nano particles.

Eccospheres® glass microspheres are the materials of choice throughout the world for the formulation of high strength-to-weight syntactic adhesives, edge sealants, core fillers, and reinforcing compounds. From Trelleborg Offshore Boston, Inc.

In a rapidly innovating sector like nano technology, intellectual property (IP) is every bit as important as R&D. To navigate the market, you need to be as informed on business and patent issues as on synthesizing nanoparticles. Learn to avoid pitfalls in both protecting and acquiring IP. Stay abreast of patent issues so that you can steer your venture to success.

If you needed more proof of how nanotechnology can improve the world, look no further than Dog Gone Smart Pet Products, which uses nanotech-enabled textiles to produce everything from doggie beds to horse blankets. The fabrics provide contamination and bacteria resistance. The product line also features nano-based leashes and collars for the smart and stylish dog, in 'basic' and 'fashion' colors. Don't laugh — the American Pet Products Association predicts spending on Fido to exceed $50 billion this year in the U.S. alone.

Nanoregulation: Technology or Politics?

Is politics overtaking science in the rush to regulate nanotechnology?