12-09/10::September/October2012 1nanotimes

New Thin-Film Polymer Metamaterial (42)

12-09/10::September/October20122 nanotimesContent | Editor‘s Letter

Events 2012/13 88 – 91

News in Brief 42 – 83

Editor‘s Letter

DearReaders,

Again,wearehappytopresentanamazingnano-timeseditionwithlatestkeynanotechnews.Nanotechnology,specificallynanosilverremainsinthediscussion.Thereisincreasingconcernabouttheenvironmentaleffects.Overthelasttenyears,NGOsoftencreatedahostileenvironmentfornanotechentrepreneursinGermany.ThatisonereasonwhyGermanandAustriannano-technologycompaniesstoppedcommunicatingnanotechinpublicoremigratedelsewhere.IstillrememberSamsung‘swashingmachinewithaso-calledSilverNanoHealthSystemanditsintro-ductiontothemarketin2006inGermany.

TheannouncementledtoaheateddiscussioninthemedialedbyNGOBUND,aGermanenvi-ronmentalorganization.InSweden,thewashingmachinehadalreadybeenintroducedtothemarket.Furthermore,theSwedishEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyEPAhaddeclareditacceptableforuse.Now,nanosilverisagaincomingunderattack.ASwedish studyconcludesthatsilvercancauselong-termdamagetoagriculturalland.ThisresultwaspublishedrecentlybyChalmersresearcherRickardArvidsson[ ContributionstoEmission,ExposureandRiskAssessmentofNano-materials,ChalmersUniversityofTechnology].Mr.ArvidssonconductedastudyatGothenburg‘swastewatertreatmentplant.Histeamconcludesthatthetoxicpollutiondependsontheamountofsilverthatmanufacturersuseinclothing.

06 – 11Watchlist

Content

Cartoon Corner 93

Companies 12 – 41

Stamping Process to Pattern Biomolecules [47]

EU-Projects 84 – 85

Patents 86 – 87

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

12-09/10::September/October2012 3nanotimesSponsors

12-09/10::September/October20124

Editor‘s Letter

Thecapitalmarketsituationisbecomingincreasinglydifficultforsmallnanotechcompaniesincl.theUS.Forexample,theformerexemplarycompanyA123 Systems,anelectriccarbatteriesmanufacturer,filedvoluntarypetitionsforreorganizationunderChapter11weeksago.ItwillshowinthenextfewweeksiftheengagementoftheChineseWanxiangGroupCorp.iseffective.Theautopartsmakerwillprovide$50millionloan,aso-calleddebtor-in-possessionfinancing.

InEurope,politicianswilllikelyhavetolookforabetterlegalsolutionforfinancingcompaniesviacrowd-funding.LastweekIwasinVienna.AsmallshoemanufacturerstirsuptheAustriancapitalmarketthere.ThebusinessfounderhasreceivedfundsuptoEUR3million($3.8m)fromfriendsandfamily.Hepayshis“investors”interest;however,hehasnobankinglicense.ThatgothimintotroublewiththefinancialregulationauthoritiesinAustria.ThepoliticalViennahassomewhatbackeddownafterweeksofdispute.Sometimesitisworthtofightforyour(business)interests.

ThomasIlfrich

nanotimes

12-09/10::September/October2012 5nanotimesAdvertisement

12-09/10::September/October20126 nanotimesWatchlist I

Company Symbol Country

1366 Technologies Private

3M MMM

A123 Systems AONE

Acacia Research ACTG

Accelrys ACCL

Accurion (Nanofilm) Private

Aculon Private

Acusphere ACUS

Advanced Nano Products Private

Air Products APD

Alcatel-Lucent ALU

ALD NanoSolutions Private

Alexium International AJX

Alfalight Private

ALIO Industries Private

Altair Nanotechnologies ALTI

AMCOL International ACO

American Superconductor AMSC

Amprius Private

AMRI (Albany Molecular Research) AMRI

AnCatt Private

Aneeve Nanotechnologies Private

Angstron Materials Private

Anson Nanotechnology Group Private

Applied Materials AMAT

Applied NanoFluorescence Private

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Applied Nanodetectors Private

Applied Nanotech APNT

Arknano Technology Developm. Private

Arrowhead Research ARWR

Artimplant AAPLTF

Asemblon Private

Aspen Aerogels Private

BASF BASFY

Bayer BAYZF

Beneq Private

BHR Group Private

BioForce Nanosciences BFNH

Bio-Gate Private

BioMers Private

BioSante Pharmaceuticals BPAX

Boeing BA

Bosch Private

Bruker BRKR

bubbles & beyond Private

Buhler Partec Private

Cabot CBT

Cambridge NanoTech Private

Cambrios Private

CAP-XX CPX

CAPRES Private

Carl Bechem Lubrication Private

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Company Symbol Country

CDT (Sumitomo Chemical) SOMMF

Chengdu Alpha Nano Technology Private

Chevron (MolecularDiamond) CVX

Chongyi Zhangyuan Tungsten 002378

Clean Technology International Private

Cluster Technology 4240

Crystal Clear Technologies Private

DayStar DSTI

Deutsche Nanoschicht Private

Diamond Hard Surface Private

DME Nanotechnologie Private

Dow Chemical DOW

Doxa AB Private

DuPont DD

Dyesol DYSOY

E Ink (YFY Group) 1907

Element 6 (De Beers/umicore) Private

Elmarco Private

EPG (Engineered nanoProducts) Private

Everspin Technologies Private

Evonik Industries Private

Exergy Technologies Private

eZelleron Private

FastCAP Systems Private

FCC (Union Company) Private

FEI Company FEIC

Company Symbol Country

FEW Chemicals Private

First Nano (CVD Equipment) CVV

Flamel Technologies FLML

Flibe Energy Private

Frontier Carbon (FCC) Private

Future Carbon Private

General Electric GE

GigOptix (Lumera) GGOX

GoNano Technologies Private

Graphene Industries Private

Graphene Laboratories Private

GS Nanotech Private

Haldor Topsøe A/S Private

Harris & Harris Group TINY

Headwaters HW

HeJi Private

Hemoteq Private

Hewlett-Packard HPQ

Hitachi HIT

holotools Private

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Private

Hyperion Catalysis Int. Private

IBM IBM

ILJIN Private

Illumina ILMN

Image Metrology Private

nanotimesWatchlist II

12-09/10::September/October20128

Company Symbol Country

ImageXpert Private

IMS Nanofabrication Private

Industrial Nanotech (Nansulate®) INTK

Infinite Power Solutions Private

Integran Technologies Private

Integrated Nano-Technologies Private

Intrinsiq Materials Private

IOTA NanoSolutions (Unilever) Private

ItN Nanovation I7N

Jadoo Power Private

Jilin OLED Material Tech Private

JMAR Technologies JMAR

Kateeva Private

Kelvin Nanotechnology Private

KLA-TENCOR KLAC

Klocke Nanotechnik Private

Konarka Technologies Private

Kopin KOPN

Kurion Private

Landa Labs Private

Lehigh Nanotech Private

LIFE Technologies LIFE

LiqTech LIQT

Liquidmetal Technologies LQMT

Liqum Private

Lockheed Martin LMT

Company Symbol Country

Lumiphore Private

Luxtera Private

MagForce Nanotechnologies MF6.FSE

Magnisense Private

Mantis Deposition Private

Mar Systems Private

Maxim MXIM

Mesolight (Qdots) Private

Metabolix Inc. MBLX

MicroGen Systems Private

Millipore (Merck Germany) MKGAY

Minus K® Technology Private

Modumetal Private

Molecular Imprints Private

Moore Nanotechnology Systems Private

Moser Baer India 517140

mPhase Technologies XDSL

namos Private

Nano109 Private

NanoAmor Private

NanoAxis (AxiCad™ QDs) Private

Nano-C Private

NanoCarbLab (NCL) Private

Nanoco Group PLC NNOCF

Nanocomp Oy Private

Nanocomp Technologies (NCTI) Private

nanotimesWatchlist III

12-09/10::September/October2012 9

Company Symbol Country

Nanocyl Private

Nano Dispersions Technology Private

Nanofilm Private

Nanofocus N2F.FSE

Nanoforce Technology Private

Nanogate N7G.FSE

Nano Green Technology Private

NanoH2O Private

Nanoholdings Private

NanoInk Private

NanoLab Private

Nanoledge Private

NanoMask (EMFP) NANM

NanoMaterials Ltd. (ApNano) Private

NanoMech Private

Nanonics Imaging Private

Nanophase Technologies NANX

Nanoptek Private

NanoScale Private

NanoScape Private

Nanoscience Instruments Private

Nanoshel Private

NanoSight Private

Nanosolar Private

Nanosphere NSPH

NanoSpire (Cavitation) Private

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NANO-SS JSC Private

Nanostart NASRY

Nanostellar (catalysts) Private

NanoString® Technologies Private

Nanosurf Private

Nanosys Private

NanoTechLabs Private

Nanotec Electrónica Private

Nanotech Security NTS

NanoTex Private

Nano-X Private

Natural Nano NNAN

NEC NIPNF

Neoker Private

Neo Material Technologies NEM

NeoPhotonics NPTN

NETZSCH Group Private

NGK Insulators Ltd. 5333

NIL Technology Private

Novacentrix Private

Novaled Private

Novavax Private

nPoint Private

nTact (former FAS Holdings) Private

NTERA Private

NT-MDT Private

nanotimesWatchlist IV

12-09/10::September/October201210

Company Symbol Country

NVE Corporation NVE

Oasys (Osmotic Application Systems) Private

Obducat OBDU B

Ocean NanoTech Private

Optitune (BraggOne Oy) Private

Optomec Private

Oxford Advanced Surfaces OXA

Oxford Photovoltaics Private

Photronics PLAB

Picosun Private

PlasmaChem Private

Plasma-Therm Private

Plastic Logic Private

Plug Power PLUG

PolyAn Private

Polyera Private

PolyIC Private

Polymer Vision Private

Polyphotonix Private

PolyPlus Battery Private

Polypore PPO

PolyRemedy Private

promeos Private

pSivida PSDV

pureNANO Private

QD Soleil (subsid. of Nanosys) Private

Company Symbol Country

QD Vision Private

QED Technologies Private

QinetiQ Group QQ

Qlight Nanotech Private

Qtech Nanosystems Private

QuantuMDx Group Private

Quantum Materials Private

Quantum Materials (QMC) Private

QuantumSphere (OM Group) OMG

QuNano Private

Raymor Industries Private

Reinste Nano Ventures Private

Retina Implant Private

RevolutionFibres Private

Rohm and Haas (part of DOW) DOW

Rolith Private

RUSNANO Private

SA Envitech Private

Saint-Gobain Glass Private

Samsung SDI 006400

sarastro Private

SCHOTT(owner:Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung) Private

SDCmaterials Private

Showa Denko Carbon Private

SICC-Coatings Private

Silanotex Private

nanotimesWatchlist V

12-09/10::September/October2012 11

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Silex Microsystems Private

SiMPore Private

SiOnyx Private

SNS Nano Fiber Technology Private

Sol Chip Private

Solicore Private

Soligie Private

SolMateS Private

Sonics & Materials Private

SouthWest NanoTechnologies Private

Starpharma (Dendritic Nanotech) SPL

Spire SPIR

Steward Advanced Materials Private

Strategic Polymer Sciences Private

Strike Graphite Private

Surrey NanoSystems Private

Tagra (Efal Group) Private

TECNAN Private

Tecqua (liquidglass) Private

Tekna Plasma Systems Private

TerraPower Private

Tethis Private

ThalesNano Private

Thinfilm THIN

Thomas Swan Private

Toray Industries Private

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TraceDetect Private

Ubiquitous Energy Private

Ultratech UTEK

ULVAC Private

Unitika 3103

Universal Display PAL

US Global Nanospace USGA.PK

US Nanocorp Private

Vasasensor Private

Veeco Instruments VECO

Vistec Private

Vorbeck Materials Private

Vulvox Nanobiotechnology Private

Westaim WEDXF

Western Digital (Komag) WDC

XG Sciences Private

Xidex Private

YashNanotech Private

Zhuhai Jetcolour Nanotech Private

Ziptronix Private

zNano Private

Zoz Group Private

Zygo ZIGO

Zyomix Private

Zyvex Instruments Private

Zyvex Technologies Private

nanotimesWatchlist VI

12-09/10::September/October201212 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

Companies – Summaries

FiltreteBrandfrom3M,knownforitsairfiltrati-onproductsforheatingandcoolingsystems,isintroducinganewlineofdo-it-yourself,plumbed-inFiltreteWaterFiltrationProducts.TherearethreedifferenttypesofFiltreteWaterFiltrationinstallationsystems,includingDrinkingWaterSystemsusedwithExistingorDedicatedFaucets,HighPerformanceandSumpStyleWholeHouseSystems,andUniver-salIn-LineRefrigeratorFilters.Thenewplumbed-insystemsarecurrentlyavailableatWalmartstoresna-tionwideandcanalsobepurchasedonline.Filtretereplacementfiltersandotheraccessoriesarealsoavailable.

http://FiltreteWater.com

3Malsointroducedaninnovative new coating for photovoltaic (PV) modules and concentrated solar power (CSP) mirrorsatSolar Power International.3M™Anti-SoilingLiquidisaneasy-to-applycoatingdesignedforaftermarketusethathelpssolarmodulesstaycleaner,longer.TheCompanyalsoannouncedthatWIELAND Dental + Technik GmbH & Co. enteredalicensingagreementwith3Mforuseof3M‘sprocessedzirconiacoloringtechnology.

3Mreportedrecordthird-quarterearningsof$1.65pershare,anincreaseof8.6%versusthethirdquarterof2011.Operatingincomewas$1.7billionandoperatingincomemarginsforthequarterwere22.4%.Third-quarternetincomewas$1.2billionandearningswere$1.65pershare.

http://www.3M.com

OnOctober16,2012,A123 Systems, Inc.hasenteredintoanassetpurchaseagreement

with Johnson Controls, Inc.,whichplanstoacquireA123’sautomotivebusinessassets,includingallofitsautomotivetechnology,productsandcustomercontracts,itsfacilitiesinLivoniaandRomulus,Mich.,itscathodepowdermanufacturingfacilitiesinChina,andA123‘sequityinterestinShanghaiAdvancedTractionBatterySystemsCo.,Alpha’sjointventurewithShanghaiAutomotive.Theassetpurchaseagree-mentalsoincludesprovisionsthroughwhichJohnsonControlsintendstolicensebacktoA123certaintechnologyforitsgrid,commercialandgovernmentbusinesses.A123alsocontinuestoengageinactivediscussionsregardingstrategicalternativesforitsgrid,commercial,governmentandotheroperations,andhasreceivedseveralindicationsofinterestforthesebusinesses.

To facilitate the transaction process, A123 and all of its US subsidiaries have filed voluntary peti-tions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.A123’snon-USsub-sidiarieswerenotincludedinthefiling.ThisactionisexpectedtoallowA123toprovideforanorderlysaleofitsautomotivebusinessassetsandallotherassetsandbusinessunitsunderSection363oftheBankruptcyCodeandhelpmaximizethevalueofitsassetsforitsstakeholders.

Inconjunctionwiththeproposedassetpurchaseagreement,A123hasreceivedacommitmentfrom

12-09/10::September/October2012 13nanotimesCompanies

Facts

JohnsonControlsfor$72.5millionindebtorinpossessionfinancingtosupportA123’scontinuedoperationsduringthependencyofthesaleprocess.

http://www.a123systems.com

ABSMaterials,Inc.hasbeenchosenforthe2012ArtemisProjectTop 50 Water Tech Listing™for

thesecondyearinarow.TheTop50identifiesthemostpromisingcompaniesthatareapplyinginno-vationinthemarkettoaddresstoday’sdirewaterchallenges.TheprincipalproductofthecompanyisOsorb®,aglassmaterialthatrapidlyswellstopullsmall,organictoxinsintoitsmatrix.Itrepelswater,makingitidealforwatertreatment.

ABSMaterialsiscreatingformulastoaddressvariouscontaminants,includinghydrocarbons,pharmaceuti-cals,pesticides,herbicides,chlorinatedsolventsandendocrinedisruptors.Edmiston,achemistrypro-fessorattheCollegeofWoosterinWooster,Ohio,USA,andinventorofOsorb®,becamethecompany‘schiefscientist.

http://www.absmaterials.com

Accelrys,Inc.(NASDAQ:ACCL),aleadingpro-viderofscientificinnovationlifecyclemanage-

mentsoftware,hasannouncedthatthelatestreleaseofthecompany‘senterpriseelectroniclaboratorynotebook(ELN),SymyxNotebookbyAccelrys,offersanewmultidimensionalscientificspreadsheetforuseinplanning,executingandtrackingawiderangeofbiologicalexperiments.Inaddition,powerfulnewprojecttrackingandoptimizationsoftwareprovidesa

morecompletebiologysolution,fromefficientstudyorchestrationtostudyexecutioninthelab.

AccelrysalsoreportedfinancialresultsforthefiscalquarterendedSeptember30,2012,includinga14%year-over-yearincreaseinNon-GAAPrevenue.Non-GAAPrevenueforthequarterendedSeptember30,2012increased$5.4millionto$43.4millionfrom$38.0millionforthesamequarterofthepreviousyear,oranincreaseof14%.Non-GAAPrevenuefortheninemonthsendedSeptember30,2012,incre-ased$12.6millionto$126.8millionfrom$114.1millionforthesameperiodofthepreviousyear,oranincreaseof11%.

FortheyearendingDecember31,2012,theCom-panyexpectsnon-GAAPrevenuetobebetween$169and$171million,andnon-GAAPdilutedearningspersharetobebetween$0.32and$0.33perdilutedshareonfullydilutedweightedaveragesharesoutstandingof56millionandusinganeffec-tivetaxrateof40%.

http://www.accelrys.com

AMCOLInternationalCorporation(NYSE:ACO)reportsthattheBoardofDirectorshasdeclared

aquarterlydividendof$0.20pershare,payableonOctober9,2012toshareholdersofrecordasofAugust29,2012.AMCOLalsoreportsthatithasfiledaForm12b-25toreportthedelayinfilingitsQuarterlyReportonForm10-Qforthe2012se-condquarterendedJune30,2012.FollowingthereleaseofAMCOL‘searningsforthesecondquar-terinapressreleasedatedJuly27,2012,AMCOLdeterminedthatitmayneedtoreducethevalueof

12-09/10::September/October201214 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

inventoryrecordedinitsEnvironmentalsegment‘soperationsinSpain.AMCOLmanagementandtheirAuditCommitteeareworkingtogethertodeterminetheamountofthereductionrequiredandtoidentifythefinancialreportingperiodsimpacted.Atthistime,theCompanybelievesthattherelevantperiodsmayincludeoneormoreperiodsdatingbacktoasearlyas2010.Currently,neitherAMCOLmanagementnortheirAuditCommitteeisabletodeterminewhetheranyfinancialstatementswillneedtoberestatedorwhetherthefinancialresultspresentedintheJuly27,2012pressreleasewillneedtoberevised.

http://www.amcol.com

APITechnologiesCorp.(NASDAQ:ATNY)announcedtheadditionofhighreliabilityMIL

gradeSMPSceramiccapacitorstoitsSpectrumControlproductline.Thesehigh-speedswitchmodepowersupply(SMPS)capacitorsfeatureextremelylowequivalentseriesresistance(ESR)andequivalentseriesinductance(ESL),aswellaspredictableperfor-mancecharacteristicswithchangesintemperature,voltageandfrequency.Theyareidealforhighrelia-bilityandhighfrequencyapplications.Acommercialindustrialgradealternativeinanon-militarypackageconfigurationisalsoavailable.

Thecompanyhasalsoreceiveda$8.1millionorderforitsElectronicsManufacturingServices(EMS)busi-nessunittoprovideelectronicssolutionsfortacticalsurveillancesystems.TheorderwasplacedbyaFor-tune100companyrepeatcustomerandisscheduledtobedeliveredoverthenextninemonths.

http://www.apitech.com

AttolightannouncesthatithasraisedCHF1.5mfrombothinstitutionalandprivateinvestors:

theseincludeAargauische Kantonalbank,Zürcher Kantonalbank,StartAngels Network and Verve Capital Partners.Theactiveparticipationoftheexi-stinginvestorsinthis2ndfinancingroundreinforcestheirconfidenceinAttolight.

LetiisannouncinganewcollaborationwiththeSwisscompanyAttolighttodevelopcathodolumine-scencetechnologyformoreapplications.Attolight’sinnovativetechnologycombineselectronandlightmicroscopytorevealultra-traceimpuritiesandcry-stallographicdefectsthatarenotvisibleusingotherimagingtechniques.

http://www.leti.fr

http://www.attolight.com/

ArrowheadResearchCorporation(NASDAQ:ARWR)receivedaNoticeofAllowancefrom

theUSPatentandTrademarkOffice(USPTO)forpatentapplicationUS13/032,029entitled,“Compo-sitionsforTargetedDeliveryofsiRNA.”Thepatentbroadlycoverscompositions,methods,andusesforanewformulationofArrowhead’sDynamicPolycon-jugate(DPC)siRNAdeliveryplatform,whereattach-mentofsiRNAanddeliveryvehicleisnotrequiredtoproducehigh-level,efficientknockdownoftargetgenes.ThenewIPexpandstheDPCplatformandisusedinArrowhead’sARC-520candidateindevelop-mentforchronichepatitisBvirus(HBV)infection.

http://www.arrowheadresearch.com

12-09/10::September/October2012 15nanotimesCompanies

Facts

ResearcheratAnasys Instruments, United States, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,

United States,presentinACS Nanoananofabrica-tion,chemicalidentification,andnanometer-scalechemicalimagingofpolymernanostructureswithbetterthan100nmspatialresolution.Thenewdiagnostictoolsthatcansupportcutting-edgenano-manufacturing.

Jonathan R. Felts, Kevin Kjoller, Michael Lo, Craig B.

Prater, and William P. King: Nanometer-Scale Infrared

Spectroscopy of Heterogeneous Polymer Nanostructures

FabricatedbyTip-BasedNanofabrication, In:ACS Nano,

Volume6,Issue9,September25,2012,Pages8015-8021,

DOI:10.1021/nn302620f:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nn302620f

http://www.anasysinstruments.com/

B.E.S.S. Technologies (B.E.S.S.),andCNSEofthe University at Albany (US)hasenteredinto

alicensingagreementwithitsfirststudentspin-offcompany,whichwillallowB.E.S.S.tocommer-cializeandbeginscale-upofitsinnovativebatterystoragetechnology,enablinghomegrownhigh-techgrowthinupstateNewYork.B.E.S.S.,whichstandsforBatteryEnergyStorageSystems,isacomponentdesignandengineeringfirmstartedbyagroupofCNSEgraduatestudentsin2010.WorkingatCNSE’sAlbanyNanoTechComplex,B.E.S.S.developedaninnovativeprocesstobuildnanostructureswhichoffersignificantlyincreasedenergystoragecapacity,fasterchargingrates,andalongerlifetimeforlithi-um-ionbatteries.CNSEhasalreadyassistedB.E.S.S.inobtainingmorethan$800,000infundingthrough

technologyprogramsofferedbytheNewYorkStateEnergyResearchandDevelopmentAuthority(NY-SERDA)andtheNationalScienceFoundation’s(NSF)PartnershipsforInnovationprogram.

http://www.cnse.albany.edu

BINDBiosciences,aclinical-stagebiopharmaceu-ticalcompanydevelopinganewclassofhighly

selectivetargetedandprogrammabletherapeuticscalledAccurins™,announcedthattheUnitedStatesPatentandTrademarkOfficehasrecentlyissuedfiveUSpatentstothecompany.ThepatentscoverBIND-014,thecompany’sleadAccurinproductcandidateforsolidcancertumors,anditsMedicinalNanoengi-neering™platformwhichenablesthedesign,engi-neeringandmanufacturingofAccurinswithunpre-cedentedcontroloverdrugpropertiestomaximizetraffickingtodiseasesites.Thenewly-issuedpatentsinclude:

•USPatent8,246,968andUSPatent8,236,330:BothofthesepatentsrelatetoBIND-014anditstargetingligand.•US8,206,747relatestothepolymercompositionofBIND-014andUSPatent8,211,473relatestoalyophilizedcompositionofBIND-014.BothofthesepatentscoverBIND-014andBIND’sMedicinalNanoengineeringplatform.•USPatent8,193,334relatestoBIND’sMedicinalNanoengineeringplatform.

http://www.bindbio.com

12-09/10::September/October201216 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

merelectronics,EVs,andgrid-scaleenergystorage,”saidCalBatteryCEOPhil Roberts.

ThekeytothisnewGEN3batterymaterialistheuseofabreakthroughArgonnesilicongrapheneprocesswhichstabilizestheuseofsiliconinalithiumbatteryanode.AlthoughSiliconabsorbslithiumtentimesbetterthananyotheranodematerialsitrapidlyde-terioratesduringcharge/dischargecycles.CalBatteryhasworkedatArgonneandotherfacilitiesoverthepastyeartodevelopthisnewanodematerialtoworkinafullLIBcellwithmultiplecathodeandelectro-lytematerials.Thesuperiorresultsofthedevelop-mentprogramatANLleadstheCompanytobelievethatthisadvancedanodematerialcouldeventuallyreplaceconventionalgraphitebasedanodematerialsusedinmostLIBsmanufacturedtoday.Thisnovelcompositeanodematerialissuitableforuseincom-binationwithavarietyofexistingandnewLIBcatho-deandelectrolytematerialsthatwillhelpdramati-callyimproveoverallbatteryperformanceandlowerLIBcyclecost–effectivelystoringelectricityatacostcompetitivewithenergyproducedfromfossilfuels.

CalBatteryisnowintheprocessoffast-trackingthecommercializationofitsGEN3breakthroughbatteryanodematerial.OverthenexttwoyearstheCom-panyplans:(1)toproduceandsellitssi-grapheneanodematerialtoglobalbatteryandEVOEMs,and(2)USproductionofalimitedquantityofspecializedbatteriesforhigh-endapplications.“Webelievethatournewadvancedsilicongrapheneanodecompo-sitematerialissogoodintermsofspecificcapacityandextendedcyclelifethatitwillbecomeagraphiteanode‘drop-in’replacementmaterialforanodesinmostlithiumionbatteriesoverthenext2-3years,”saidRoberts.TheCompanybelievesthistransforma-

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CabotCorporation(NYSE:CBT)announcedresultsforitsfourthquarterandfullfiscalyear

2012.Forthefourthquarteroffiscal2012,netincomeattributabletoCabotCorporationwas$37million($0.58perdilutedcommonshare),whichincludesapersharechargeof$0.19,principallyforrestructuring,acquisitionrelatedexpensesandtaxrelatedcertainitems.AdjustedEPSforthefourthquarteroffiscal2012was$0.75pershare.

http://www.cabotcorp.com

CaliforniaLithiumBattery,afinalistinDOE’s2012 Start Up America’s Next Top Energy Inno-

vatorchallenge,hasannouncedtherecord-settingperformanceofitsnew“GEN3”silicongraphenecompositeanodematerialforlithium-ionbatteries(LIBs).IndependenttestresultsinfullcellLIBsindi-catethenewGEN3anodematerial,usedwithad-vancedcathodeandelectrolytematerials,increasesenergydensityby3timesandspecificanodecapaci-tyby4timesoverexistingLIBs.ForeightmonthsCalBatteryhasbeenworkingwithArgonne National Laboratory (ANL) tocommer-cializeanovellithiumbatteryanodematerialforusewithadvancedcathodeandelectrolytematerialstoachievenewlevelsofLIBperformance.Theworkisshowingextraordinaryresults.Independentfullcelltestsrevealunrivaledperformancecharacteristics,withanenergydensityof525WH/Kgandspecificanodecapacity1,250mAh/g.Incontrast,mostcommercialLIBshaveanenergydensityofbet-ween100-180WH/kgandaspecificanodecapacityof325mAh/g.“Thisequatestomorethana300%improvementinLIBcapacityandanestimated70%reductioninlifetimecostforbatteriesusedinconsu-

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12-09/10::September/October201218 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

tionaltechnologywillchangethewayLIBpowerisproduced,managed,andstored,especiallyifitcanleadtoLIBsbeingproducedforunder$175/kWhanddirectlycompetewiththecostofenergyfromfossilfueledpowergeneration.

http://www.clbattery.com

CambriosTechnologiesCorporation,andtheCEM(Chemical&ElectronicMaterial)divisionof LG

Electronics (LG),announcedtheworld‘sfirstClear-Ohm™material-based23”touchpanel.ThetouchpanelmadebyLGisusedintheLGV325,anewWindows8-certifiedAll-in-OnePCandLG-brandedmonitorsthatwillgoonsalestartingthismonth.

http://www.cambrios.com

CarlZeissMicroscopyisintroducingORION NanoFabattheEuropean Microscopy Congress

(EMC)inManchester,UK.Itisthefirstmulti-ion-be-amtoolbasedonGasFieldIonSource(GFIS)tech-nology.Asamajorenhancementtotheexistinghe-liumionmicroscope,ORIONNanoFabalsoutilizesneonions.Thesystemisthereforecapableofprovi-dingacompletesub-10nanometernanofabricationandsub-nanometerimagingsolutionforindustry,government,andacademicresearchlaboratories.Anoptionalgalliumfocusedionbeam(FIB)columncanalsobeintegrated.

Moreover,theMicroscopybusinessgroupatCarlZeissispresentinganewmicroscopytechnologyattheSociety for Neuroscience Annual MeetinginNewOrleans,Louisiana.Lightsheet Z.1providesbiologists

withanewmethodofimagingdynamicprocessesinlivingorganisms.

http://www.zeiss.de

CelluForce,theworldleaderinthecommercialdevelopmentofNanoCrystallineCellulose

(NCC),alsoreferredtoasCelluloseNanocrystals(CNC),isproudtoannouncethatitsVicePresident,ChiefTechnologyOfficer,Dr.RichardBerry,hasbeenselectedasoneofCanada’s Clean50honou-rees.Thisaward,nowinitssecondyear,recognizesthemostoutstandingleadersinsustainabledevelop-mentandcleancapitalisminCanada.CelluForceisajointventureofDomtar CorporationandFPInnova-tions.

http://www.celluforce.com

CRAICTechnologiesannouncedtheadditionofevenmorelaserwavelengthstoitsstate-of-

the-artCRAICApollo™Raman microspectrometer.

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Designedtobeaddedtomanydifferenttypesoflightmicroscopes,theCRAICApollo™enablesscientistsandengineerstomeasuretheRamanspectrafrommicroscopicsamplesormicroscopesamplingareasoflargesamples.

http://www.microspectra.com

CumminsFiltrationInc.,hasdebuteditsall-newNanoNet™lineoffuelfiltrationproductsthat

utilizenanotechnologyinthefiltrationmedia,pro-vidinganexceptionallevelofefficiencyandharm-fulparticulateremoval.NanoNet™marksthefirsttimethatananotechnology-basedfiltrationmediahasbeencommerciallydevelopedforfuelfiltrationproductswithintheindustry.Thenanotechnology-basedNanoNet™filtrationmediaisavailableonthefollowingCumminsFiltrationFleetGuard®products:FF5810;FF5811;FF5812;FF5813;FF5814;FF5815;FF5816;FF6817;FF5819;FF5823;FF53093;FS53001andFS53002.

DebutingexclusivelywithFleetGuardfuelfiltrationproducts,thecompany‘stechnologically-advancedNanoNet™filtrationmediawilleventuallymakeitswayintootherCumminsFiltrationproductsegmentsbeginninginearly2013.CumminsFiltration’sNano-Net™nanotechnology-basedfuelfiltrationmediahasbeendevelopedoverseveralyearsofcarefulandextensivereal-worldfield-testingtoensureanunriva-leddegreeofharmfulparticulateremovalfromfuelsystems.What’smore,NanoNet™fuelfiltrationpro-ductsexhibitbetween7-13timesgreaterretentionofharmfulparticleswithinthefuelfiltrationmediaduringenginevibrationandfuelsurgethanitsclosestcompetitor.Fuelsurgeresultsinafluctuationoffuel

flowwithinthesystemwhenevertheengine’soutputisincreasedordecreased(enginerevs/throttleinputareincreasedordecreased).

http://www.cumminsfiltration.com

DowElectronicMaterials,abusinessunitofTheDowChemicalCompany(NYSE:DOW),in-

troduceditsnewIKONIC™polishingpadplatform,bringingtomarketDow’smostadvancedpolishing

padsforchemicalmechanicalplanarization(CMP).TheIKONICplatformoffersaseriesofnewpadsde-signedtodeliverthehighestperformancelevelsforthebroadestrangeofCMPapplicationsatorbelowthe28nmtechnologynode.IKONICpolishingpadsarecurrentlyavailableforsampling,andcommer-cializationistargetedforearly2013.

http://www.dow.com

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MaterialsscientistsattheUSDepartmentofEnergy‘sAmesLaboratory,Etrema Products,

Inc. (EPI),andtheNavalSurfaceWarfareCenterCarderockDivisionhavedevelopednewwaystoformahightechmetalalloywhichpromisenewad-vancesinsensingandenergyharvestingtechnologies.

Tolookatit,alengthofwirefabricatedintheAmesLaboratorylooksmuchlikethekindofsteelwireado-it-yourselfercouldpickupatthelocalhardwarestore.Asheetformofthematerial,fabricatedbyEPI,looksequallyunassuming.ButthesematerialsaremadeofahightechalloycalledGalfenol,andthenewformsofthis“smartmaterial”maybethekeytofuturemanufacturingbreakthroughslikethecreationofvibrationfree,quietermotors.

Galfenol,composedprimarilyofgalliumandiron,wasco-discoveredin1999bytheAmesLaboratoryandtheNavalSurfaceWarfareCenterCarderockDi-vision.Galfenol’suniquepropertiesmakeitchangeshapewhensubjectedtoamagneticfield,andflexi-bleenoughforavarietyofmanufacturingprocesses.

http://www.etrema-usa.com/

FEI(NASDAQ:FEIC)announcednewHeliosNano-Lab™DualBeam™systemsforengineersthatneedtomakevitalprocessimprovementdecisions.The450HPand1200HPDualBeamsystemsincludenewcapabilitythatmeetsthecriticalrequirementsforsemiconductorprocessdevelopmentatthe28nmdevicegeometrynodeandbelow.

Moreover,theCompanyhasapprovedpaymentofaquarterlydividendof$0.08pershareofcommon

stock.ThisisthesecondquarterlydividendpaidbyFEI.Theinitial$0.08dividendwaspaidonJuly24toshareholdersofrecordasofthecloseofbusinessonJuly11.ThetimingandamountsoffuturedividendsaresubjecttodeterminationandapprovalbyFEI‘sboard.

The University of ManchesterandFEIarealsopleasedtoannouncetheinstallationofoneoftheworld‘smostpowerfulhigh-resolutionmicroscopes–theTitan™ G2 80-200scanningtransmissionelec-tronmicroscope(S/TEM)–attheUniversity‘sSchoolofMaterials.TheprocurementofthenewS/TEMfromFEIwasfundedaspartofan£8million($12.8millionUSD)UKgovernmentinvestmentfornuclearmaterialsresearchatManchester‘sDaltonNuclearInstitute.

TheTitan™ G2 80-200 S/TEMwillenableresearcherstostudythestructureandelementalcompositionofmaterialsattheatomiclevel,assistingtheminbuil-dingagreaterunderstandingoftheirbehaviorandmodificationundercertainconditions.

http://www.FEI.com/TemPrep

ForthDimensionDisplays(FDD),aleadingprovi-derofhigh-resolutionmicrodisplaysandasubsidi-aryofKopinCorporation(NASDAQ:KOPN),intro-duceditsnew0.83”QXGAmicrodisplay,theworld’shighestresolution,fullcolormicrodisplay,attheSPIE Security + Defence ExhibitioninEdinburgh,UnitedKingdom.Offering2048x1536pixels,thenew0.83”QXGAmicrodisplayisidealfortheworld’shighestperformancenear-to-eyeapplicationssuchasultra-widefieldofviewheadmounteddisplaysfor

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immersivegamingandmilitarytrainingapplicationsandelectronicviewfindersformedicalimagingandcinematographycameras.

http://www.forthdd.com

ArecentpublicationinNano LettersbynewcompanyCrayoNanodemonstratesatechno-

logythatenablesgrowthofverticallyalignedandself-catalyzednanowiresongrapheneandgraphite.SomeworkwasdoneongrapheneonSiCsuppliedbyGraphensic AB.

http://www.graphensic.com/

Headwaters’fourthquarter2012revenueincreasedby7%to$190.1millionfrom$178.3

millionforthefourthquarterof2011.Grossprofitin-creasedby16%to$56.7millioninthefourthquar-terof2012,comparedto$49.0millioninthefourthquarterof2011.Operatingincomeimprovedfrom$7.2min2011to$15.9min2012,andAdjustedEBITDAdeclinedby$4.1millionto$28.8m.

http://www.headwaters.com

HeidelbergInstrumentsannouncedthesaleofaDWL 2000 masklesslaserlithographysystem

totheChinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Microelectronics Research (IMECAS).

http://www.himt.de

HolomicLLC,astartupcompanyseekingtocommercializeagroundbreakingtechnology

developedatUCLA,USA,thatturnssimplecellphonesintopowerfulmicroscopeshasjoinedUCLA‘son-campustechnologyincubatorprogramattheCalifornia NanoSystems Institute.

Thenovelmedical-diagnosticimagingtechnology–inventedbyAydoganOzcan,anassociateprofessorofelectricalengineeringatUCLA‘sHenrySamueliSchoolofEngineeringandAppliedScience,andhisstudents–hasthepotentialtobringbetterhealthcareandmonitoringtoimpoverishedandunderser-vedareasoftheglobe.

Thetechnology,knownasLUCAS – Ultra–wide-field Cell monitoring Array platform based on Shadow imaging–wasrankedNo.1amongafieldofmorethan65entriesjudgedbythemagazineaspartofitsannual“Top10Innovations”contest.Otherwinnersinthetop10includedanewhigh-poweredDNAse-quencer,amini-MRIsystem,awatch-likedevicethatmeasuresthebody‘scircadianrhythm,andafirst-of-its-kind360-degreeopticalimager.

HolomicobtainedanexclusivelicenseforthistechnologyfromUCLAbeforejoiningtheincubatorprogram,whichwassetupthreeyearsagotonurtureearly-stageresearchandhelpspeedthecommercialtranslationofnewtechnologiesdevelopedatUCLA.

Attheincubator,Holomichasaccesstotheworld-classequipmentintheCNSI‘scorelabfacilitiestopursueresearch-and-developmentwork.

“Cellphoneshavepenetratedallcornersofthepla-net,”saidHolomicCEONevenKarlovac.“Weplan

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reagentsforconductingwholegenomeanalysisonproduceandproduce-relatedenvironmentalSalmo-nellaandshigatoxigenicE.coliisolates.Thecontractisworthupto$17millionoveraperiodoffiveyears.IlluminaalsoannouncedfiveinitialTruSightcontentsetsforuseinnext-generationsequencing(NGS)inlaboratorysettings.Customerscanimmediatelyleve-ragethiscontenttodeveloptheirowntests,andinthefirsthalfof2013willhavetheadditionalcapabi-litytoaugmentthesetswithcustomcontent.Illumi-naalsolaunchedtheInfiniumHumanCoreBeadChipfamilyofproducts.

IlluminaalsoannouncedthatMagistrateJudgeEli-zabethD.LaPorteoftheUSDistrictCourtfortheNorthernDistrictofCaliforniagrantedamotionforsummaryjudgmentofinvalidityfiledbyCompleteGenomics,Inc.againstcertainclaimsofIllumina‘sUSPatentNo.6,306,597.

http://www.illumina.com

InfineonTechnologiesAG(OTCQX:IFNNY)introduceditsfirstsingle-chipradarsolutionsforapplicationsinindustrialandcommercialsensing.BasedonaSiGeprocesstechnologyandoperatinginthe24GHzISMband(24.0to24.25GHz),thenewproductfamilyfeaturesthehighest integration ra-dar system-on-chip transceivers in the market andacompanionreceiveonlychip,whichcollectivelyprovidesystemdesignerswiththeflexibilitytoachie-vecostandperformancetargetsinadiverserangeofapplications.

ThethreedevicesinthenewfamilyaretheBGT-24MTR11(singletransmitandsinglereceivechan-

totakeadvantageoftheirglobalreachtoprovideaproductthatwillmeetarealmedicalneed.”

http://www1.cnsi.ucla.edu/index

http://youtu.be/ZI2BPhRCfAo

http://innovate.ee.ucla.edu/

IdaTechLtd(IdaTech)hascloseditstransactionwith Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP).Inthattransaction,IdaTechgrantedanon-exclusivetechnologylicenseandsoldkeyassetsofitsTelecomBackupPowerbusinesstoBallard,includingIdaTech’snameandtrademarks.Consequently,thecompanywillannounceachangetoitsname.Signi-fyingalongtermcommitmenttothesuccessofthetransaction,paymentwillbemadethroughtheissuanceofBallardcommonshares,whichwillbetransferredtoInvestec,IdaTech’sprincipalfunder.BallardhasworkedcloselywithIdaTechoverthepastseveralyears,supplyingfuelcellstacksforitssystems.

http://www.idatech.com/

Illumina,Inc.(NASDAQ:ILMN)hasacquiredCam-bridge,UK-basedBlueGnome Ltd.foranundisc-losedsum.BlueGnome,nowawhollyownedsub-sidiaryofIllumina,isaleadingproviderofsolutionsforthescreeningofgeneticabnormalitiesassociatedwithdevelopmentaldelay,cancer,andinfertility.Moreover,lluminawasawardedacontractfromtheUSFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)toprovi-detheagencywithMiSeqsequencingsystemsand

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nel),BGT24MTR12(singletransmitandtworeceivechannels)andBGTMR2(twinreceiver).Movingfromonesinglereceivertotwoormorereceivechannelsallowsimplementationofsystemsthatdetectobjectsmorepreciselyandatwiderangles.

Infineonalsolaunchedtheworld’ssmallestenginemanagementICs,savinguptotwo-thirdsofboardspaceincontrolsystemsfortwo-andthree-wheelerscomparedtotoday’ssolutions.ThenewTLE808x

devicefamilyprovidesallthefunctionalityrequiredforstate-of-the-artelectronicfuelinjection(EFI)inone-cylindercombustionengines.

Infineonalsointroducedthenew600VCoolMOS™ P6 MOSFETproductfamily,designedtoenablehighersystemefficiencywhilebeingeasytouse,thenewproductsaddressthegapbetweentechnologiesthatfocusondeliveringultimateperformance(Cool-MOS™CP),andthosethatconcentratemoreoneaseofuse(e.g.CoolMOS™C6orE6).

http://www.infineon.com/p6

http://www.infineon.com

TorontobasedIntegran Technologies Inc. announcedthecommerciallaunchofitsnovel

nanostructuredmultilayercoatingtechnologywhichprovidesunprecedenteddesignflexibilityinapplyinguniquestructuralandfunctionalenhancementstoawidevarietyoffinishedandsemi-finishedcom-ponentsincludingmetals,polymersandpolymercomposites.UnderdevelopmentforseveralyearswiththesupportoftheCanadianGovernmentandtheUSDepartmentofDefense,Integran’spropri-etarygraded,multi-layerandnanolaminatetech-nologyiscoveredbyanumberofspecificUSandforeignpatentfilingsincludingtherecentlyissuedUS8,129,034whichappliestolightweightarticles,pre-cisionmolds,sportinggoodsandautomotiveparts,andcoversspecificfine-grainedmetalliccoatingsandnanolaminatescontainingNi,Cu,Co,Fe,Mo,W,Zn,P,BandC.

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Moreover,IntegranhasreachedanagreementwithEnduro Industries LLC (Enduro) toextendEnduro’slicenseexclusivitytermforIntegran’snanocrystal-lineCobaltelectroplatingprocess,Nanovate™CoP,intheUSfluidpowermarketbyfiveyears.EnduroIndustriesLLCofHannibal,Missouri,asubsidiaryofPTCAlliance,hassuccessfullymarketedacorrosionandwearresistantNano-Cobalt™alternativealong-sideitsconventionalengineeredhardchrome(EHC)Chromerod™andChromrodExtreme™productlines.

http://www.integran.com/pages/news.html

IonscopemanufacturesScanningIonConductanceMicroscopes,usingpatentedtechnologyoriginallydevelopedbyateamofscientistsfrom Imperial Col-lege LondonandThe University of Cambridge, UK.

http://www.ionscope.com

http://www.imagemet.com

KLA-TencorCorporation(NASDAQ:KLAC)announcedtwonewadditionstothecompany‘s

ICfab-basedreticleinspectionportfolio:theX5.2™andTeron™ 611 systems.Asthelatestofferinginthesuccessful5XXproductline,thenewX5.2appliesitshighperformancetocapturedefectsandpatterndegradationonmaskscurrentlyinproduction,withextendedcapabilityfortheupcoming20nmnode.TheTeron™ 611isdesignedforthe20nmnodeandbeyond,offeringtechnology-enablingsensitivitytoinspectmasksattheleadingedgeofICproduction.

http://www.kla-tencor.com

KopinCorporation(NASDAQ:KOPN),announcedfinancialresultsforthethirdquarterended

September29,2012.RevenuesforthethreemonthsendedSeptember29,2012were$21.9million,comparedwith$29.6millioninthethirdquarterof2011.III-Vproductrevenueswere$13.7million,comparedwith$15.5millionforthethirdquarterof2011,reflectingslowergrowthinmobilephonede-mandinthe2012period.Displayproductrevenuesdecreasedto$8.2millionfrom$14.1millionforthesameperiodoflastyearduetolowerrevenuefromtheCompany’smilitarydisplayproductsinthe2012period.

Thenetlossforthethirdquarterof2012was$6.7million,or$0.11pershare,comparedwithnetincomeof$0.2million,or$0.00pershare,forthethirdquarterof2011.Resultsforthethree-monthperiodsof2012and2011includeda$0.5millionlossanda$1.0milliongain,respectively,relatedtoforeigncurrencyfluctuations.Non-cashstockcom-pensationexpenseincreased$0.8millionto$1.5

12-09/10::September/October2012 25nanotimesCompanies

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12-09/10::September/October201226 nanotimesCompanies

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millioninthethirdquarterof2012,comparedwith$0.7millioninthethirdquarterof2011.Additionally,duringthethirdquarterof2012KopinincreaseditsinvestmentinIkanos Consulting, Ltd.to51%ofout-standingcommonstockandrecordedanon-cashlossof$0.6millionrelatedtoitsstepped-upinvestment.

KopinachievedakeymilestoneinOctober,asMo-torolaSolutionsintroducedtheHC1,thefirstcom-merciallyavailableheadsetcomputerpoweredbytheCompany’sGolden-iplatform.Voicerecognition,hands-freeoperationandgesturecontrolareintegra-tedintotheGolden-ioperatingsystem.

AvideodemonstratingGolden-itechnology‘scapabi-litiesisavailableat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzUwvW6zcNY

Liquidmetal®Technologies,Inc.formallyintrodu-cedNomadSalesastheCompany‘ssalesrepre-sentativefirmintheMidwestregionoftheUS.No-madSaleswillbepromotingLiquidmetalamorphousalloysforcommercialmarketssuchasaerospace,medicalandindustrialproducts.

Liquidmetal®TechnologieshasalsoengagedLiolios Group toleadanewinvestorrelationsandfinancialcommunicationsprogram.

http://www.liquidmetal.com

MagForceAG(MF6.FSE)announcedadditionstothemanagementboardandfurthermeasures

toenforcecommercializationofNanoTherm®thera-py.Thus,focussingonestablishingtheNanoTherm®

therapyintheoncologymarketaswellasonitscom-mercializationfornear-termvaluegeneration.

Intheshorttomidterm,MagForcewilldedicateitsfinancialresourcestothepostmarketingtrialinglioblastoma,whichisexpectedtostartinearly2013andissupposedtomakeasignificantcontributiontoitsstrategicsetup.Simultaneously,theCompanywillalsofocusonthecommercializationofitsNano-Therm®therapywithitsdistributionpartnersinclu-dingDELRUSandTekGrup,developmentpartnerssuchastheMayoClinicforgastro-intestinalcancerandtheDepartmentofUrologyatDuesseldorfUni-versityforprostatecancer,aswellastheproductionofnanoparticles.

Inlinewiththisstrategy,theCompany’scorefunc-tions,includingclinicalandbusinessdevelopment,medicalaffairspluslegal&IPwillbeconcentratedattheMagForcesiteinMunichwheretheseteamsarealreadylocated.Productionofnanoparticles,NanoActivators™,softwareengineeringaswellasthefinancedepartmentwillremainattheCompany’sregisteredofficeinBerlin.Moreover,MagForceannouncedthefinancialresultsforthefirsthalfofthe2012fiscalyear,endingJune30,2012.Inthefirsthalfoftheyear,MagForcewasabletosuccess-fullyfinalizedistributionpartnershipswithDELRUS(Russia)andTekGrup(Turkey),aswellasadevelop-mentpartnershipwiththeMayoClinic(USA).Duringthereportingperiod,thecompanyrecordedalossofEUR3.6million/USD4.65million(prioryearperiod:EUR4.6million/USD5.94million).Thedeclineisessentiallyaresultoftherestructuringmeasuresin-troducedattheendof2011andtheaccompanying

Die Nanotechnologie ist die die Schlüsseltechnologie des 21. Jahrhunderts. Ihr wirtschaftliches Potenzi-al ist immens. Als eine führende Nanotechnologie-Beteiligungsgesellschaft investiert die Nanostart AG Venture Capital in junge Nanotechnologie-Unterneh-men weltweit. Sie unterstützt die Unternehmen mit Kommerzialisierungs-Know-how und bindet sie in ein

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strategicchange.Personnelexpensesdecreasedduetothereductioninstaff,particularlyinthesecondmanagementlevel,aswellasincommercialfunc-tions.

“Inthefirsthalfoftheyear,welaidoutthebasicrequirementsfortheacceptanceandfuturecom-mercializationofourNanoTherm®therapy,andforthefuturedevelopmentofourcompany.Todayweareconcludingthisphaseofstrategicfocuswiththeintroductionofvitalmeasuresandadditionstothemanagementteam.Overtheshortterm,weareconcentratingalloureffortsandfinancialresourcesonestablishingNanoTherm®therapyintheareaofoncologyandconsequentiallyonthepost-marketingclinicaltrialinglioblastoma.Togetherwithstrategicanddistributionpartners,wewanttoreinforcethecommercializationofNanoTherm®therapy,ensuringsufficientfunding.”commentedChristianvonVolk-mann,CFO.

http://www.magforce.de

Merckand Seiko Epson Corporationannouncedacooperationandlicensingagreementfor

inkjetinksusedinthemanufactureoforganiclight-emittingdiode(OLED)displays.Accordingtotheag-reement,EpsonwillsupplyMerckwithinktechnologythatdissolvesMerck’sOLEDmaterialssothattheycanbeusedfortheproductionofprintabledisplaysusedinOLEDtelevisionscreens.Financialtermsofthebusinessagreementwerenotdisclosed.

http://www.merck.de

mPhaseTechnologies,Inc.(OTCBB:XDSL)hasreceivedaNoticeofAllowancefromtheUS

Patent&TrademarkOffice(USPTO)foraModularDevicepatent.Theinventiongenerallyrelatestoahandheld,powereddevicecontainingatleastonepowermodulehavingatleastonebattery,whereinthepowermoduleisremovableandseparatelyconnectstoeachoftheloadmodules.Moreover,mPhaseTechnologiesiscompletingarrangements,incooperationwithInvest In France,anagencyoftheFrenchgovernment,forasecondroundofmee-tingsattheGrenobleTechnologyClusterknownasMinalogic.TheCompanyfirstvisitedtheClusterinMarchof2012aftertherelevantagenciesreviewedmPhase‘spatentportfolioandrecentvaluation.ThepurposeofthesecondvisitistocontinuediscussionswithpotentiallargestrategicpartnersseekingtousetheCompany‘sSmart NanoBattery.

mPhaseTechnologiesreleasedamulti-purposevideoofitsnewproducttargetedtowardtheautomotiveandmarineindustryendofOctober2012.Thepro-duct,whichfeaturesadvancedbatterytechnology,wascreatedunderaDesignDevelopmentAgreementwithPorsche Design StudioofZellAmSee,Austria.

http://www.mpowertech.com

http://www.mPhaseTech.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsZYhLURQ-

o&feature=youtu.be

MurataManufacturingCo.,Ltd.(TOKYO:6981,(ISIN:JP3914400001)willstartmasspro-

ductionoftheworld‘sthinnestelectricdouble-layercapacitors(DMFSeries)featuringlowresistanceandthehighestlevelsofpowerdensitythroughoutthe

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industry,abenefitwhenusedasanauxiliarypowersupplyforLEDflashunits.

Electricdouble-layercapacitorsarecapableofstoringenergywithphysicaladsorptionoftheiononthesurfaceofactivecarbonwithoutusingche-micalreactions,whichmakesthemdevicesthatarenotonlyabletosemi-permanentlyrepeatelectricalcharginganddischargingincomparisonwithnormalrechargeablebatteries,butalsoabletobechargedanddischargedrapidly.Theyalsodonotuseleadoranyothertoxicsubstances,andbecauseofthistheyareattractingmuchattentionasstoragedevicesthatconformtotheRestrictionofHazardousSubstancesDirective(RoHS)coveringelectricandelectronicequipmentestablishedbytheEuropeanUnion,etc.,therebyplacingminimalburdenontheenvironment.

MurataacquiredthistechnologyfromAustralia‘sCAP-XX Ltd.;thebusinesspartnershipestablishedin2008hasresultedinMuratamanufacturingtheDMEseriesofelectricdouble-layercapacitorssinceDe-cember2010.TheDMFseriesfeaturesanoptimizedinternalconfigurationtorealizeadesignapproxima-tely30%morecompactthantheDMEseries,making

theDMFitthethinnestofitstypeintheworld.TheDMFalsofeaturesthehighestlevelsofpowerdensityintheindustryandthesamelowresistanceofafewdozenmilliohmsandstabletemperaturecharacteri-sticsastheDMEseries,enablingittobechargedanddischargedflexiblythroughhigh-outputandlow-outputareasinawidevarietyoftemperatureranges.Thecapacitorscanbeusedasthepowersuppliesforcameraflashlightsutilizinghigh-intensityLEDs,andwillcontributetoimprovingthebrightnessofLEDflashlightsonnotonlydigitalcameras,butalsoonsmartphones.

http://www.murata.com

NANIUM,aleadingproviderofsemiconductorpackaging,testandengineeringservices,has

extendeditsofferingtoincludefan-inWLPvolumeproductionon300mmwafers.NANIUMearlierthisyearlicensedFlipChipInternational’s(FCI)Spheron®PlatedCuRedistri-butiontechnologytoprovidesolutionsfor300mmwafer-levelchipscalepackaging(WLCSP)usingfan-

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inWLPprocesses.Aftercompletinglinesetupandqualificationforthattechnology,thecompanyaddedthecapabilitytomanufacturefan-inWLPproducts,whichextendsitsserviceportfoliousingthelatesttechnologyon300mmwafers.

http://www.nanium.com

NANOBIOTIX,aFrenchcompanyandnanomedi-cinepioneerdevelopingNanoXray,arevolutio-

narytherapeuticapproachtolocalcancertreatment,announcedtheregistrationofitsdocumentdebasebytheAutoritedesMarcheFinanciers(AMF),theFrenchstockmarketauthority,inpreparationofitsplannedIPOontheregulatedmarketofNYSEEuronextinParis.

http://www.nanobiotix.eu

NanoGuardian™,adivisionofNanoInk®,Inc.thatdeliverson-dosebrandprotectionsolutionsto

thepharmaceuticalindustrytofightcounterfeitingandillegaldiversion,gaveaposterpresentationattheAmerican Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and ExhibitioninChicago(Abstract:“CanNanofabricationbeusedtoCombatCounterfeitMedicinesbyApplyingOn-doseAuthen-ticationFeatureswithoutDisruptingtheIntegrityoftheMedicine?”).

http://www.nanoguardian.net

NanoInkannouncedthatitisoneofthetop75finalistsfortheprestigious2012 Chicago Inno-

vation AwardsreflectingacrosssectionoftheChica-goandsurroundingregions’businesscommunities.NanoInkwasrecognizedforitsProteinNanoarrayAssay,whichprovidesacompletesolutionforthedetection,identificationandquantificationofclini-callyandbiologicallyrelevant,lowabundanceprote-insfromawidevarietyofsampletypes.

Moreover,NanoInkwasrecognizedasoneoftheTop Emerging Nanotech Innovators of 2012attheNanoBusinessCommercializationAssociation’s11th Annual NanoBusiness/Nanomanufacturing Summit onSeptember4to6inBoston.Thisawardwaspre-sentedtoNanoInkforitscontributiontodiagnostictesting.TheNanoFabricationSystemsDivisionofNanoInkisalsopleasedtoannounce E-Hong Instru-ments Co., Ltd. willserveasitsdistributorinTaiwanforitsdesktopnanofabricationequipmentincludingthe NLP 2000 System,the DPN 5000 System,andMEMs-fabricatedconsumables.

TheNanoFabricationSystemsDivisionofNanoInkalsoannouncedE-Hong Instruments Co., Ltd.willserveasitsdistributorinTaiwanforitsdesktopnanofabricationequipmentincludingtheNLP 2000 System,theDPN 5000 System,andMEMs-fabricatedconsumables.

http://www.nanoink.net

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NanologicaABannouncedthatSörenGyll,GiselaSitbonandToddAshtonhavejoined

thecompany’sboardafteravoteduringtheannualshareholder’smeeting.SörenGyllisoneofSweden’smostrenownedbusinessleadersandhas,amongotherthings,beenCEOatVolvo.ThelonglistofboardmemberassignmentshehasheldincludesthoseatPharmacia&Upjohn,Skanska,SvenskaCellulosaAktiebolaget,IndustriförbundetandSvensktNäringsliv.Nanologicacustomizesmaterialproper-tiestotackleissuespertainingsolubility,stabilityandcontrolledreleaseprevalentinthepharmaceuticalandcosmeticssector,amongstothers.

http://www.nanologica.com/

NanoMech,aninternationalmaterialsciencecompanyannouncedthattheNanoBusiness

Commercialization Association (NanoBCA) hasse-lecteditforthe 2012 Top Emerging Nano Innovators Award.

“Weareveryproudofthisrecognition,”saidJimPhillips,NanoMechChairmanandCEO.“Thebre-akthroughtechnologiestheNanoMechteamhasde-veloped,suchasnGlide®,TuffTek®,andTriboTuff®,haveledtothistremendoushonorforourfamilyofloyalemployeesandverysupportiveinvestors.Na-noMechisfocusedoninnovatingbyapplyingbreak-throughnovelscienceinto“must-have”productsbringingimmediateanddrasticimprovementinto

existingmajormarkets.”

TheNanoBCAistheindustry’stoptradeorganiza-tiondedicatedtopromotingtheadvancementandcommercializationofnanotechnologywhilehelpingcompaniesbringaffordable,life-improvingnanotechproductstothemarket.

NanoMechalsoannouncedapartnershipwithKDH Defense Systems, Inc.todeploytechnologythatwillkeepsoldiersandlawenforcementprofessio-nalshealthierandmorecomfortablethroughKDH’sawardwinningbodyarmor.

http://www.nanomech.biz

Nanosphere,Inc.,(NASDAQ:NSPH)announcedtheappointmentofRoy N. DavistotheBoard

ofDirectors.Mr.DavishadbeenwithJohnson&Johnsonfornearlythreedecadespriortohisretire-mentthispastJanuary.

Moreover,Nanosphere‘sVerigeneGram-PositiveBloodCultureNucleicAcidTest(BC-GP)(IUO),ba-sedonthecompany‘sproprietaryarray-basednano-particletechnology,demonstratedoverallsensitivityandspecificityof99%,respectively,forthedetec-tionofabroadpanelofgram-positivebacteriafrompositivebloodcultures,accordingtoarecentstudy.TheBC-GPTestalsocorrectlydetectedthepresenceorabsenceofgenesencodingvancomycinresistanceinEnterococcusspp.andmethicillinresistanceinStaphylococcusaureusorS.epidermidis.Researchersconcludedthatthetest,whichrequiredlessthan5minutesofuserhands-ontime,providedaccurateorganismidentificationanddetectionofresistance

12-09/10::September/October201232 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

StaphylococcusaureusorS.epidermidis.Researchersconcludedthatthetest,whichrequiredlessthan5minutesofuserhands-ontime,providedaccurateorganismidentificationanddetectionofresistancegenescomparedtoroutinelaboratorymethods.

http://www.nanosphere.us/

NanostartAsiaPacificispreparinganadditionalfundraisingofupto4millionSGDforitsfurther

expansion.Alargepartoftheamounthasalreadybeencommitted.AsinthepreviousfundinginFebruary2012,themoneycomesfromtheexistingshareholdersandnewinvestorsbasedintheregion.Itshallbeusedforfollowupfundingtheexistingportfolio.FurthermoreNanostartAsiaPacificisalreadyworkingonnewinvestmentopportunities.

Inadditionthecompanyhasformedanadvisoryboardwithrenownedexpertsinordertosupportthefurtherdevelopmentofthecompany.TheboardwillinitiallycompriseofHarryDeWit,PresidentAsiawithCovidien,Prof.Dr.UweKlima,HeadofCar-diosurgeryattheAmericanHospitalDubai,GünterMayer,SeniorManagerwithInfineon,JürgenBinzer,EntrepreneurandVicePresidentwithHollingsworth&VoseinGermanyandChuaHongMoh,Entrepre-neurfromSingapore.Theadvisorswillsupportthecompany’sfurtherdevelopmentanditsexpansioninAsiabyprovidingtheirexpertiseaswellastheirbroadnetwork.

Theannouncementismadeduringtheevent“In-vestinginSingaporeNanotechnology”atSingaporePolytechnic,whereNanostartAsiaPacificandSin-gaporePolytechnicjointlyfeaturetheiractivitiesin

thenano-andhigh-techspacetotheinvestmentandbusinesscommunity.

Nanostart-holding ItN Nanovation AGhassuccess-fullycompletedthecapitalincreaseannouncedonSeptember12.Byplacing838,964newsharesamongexistingshareholders,anetvalueofnearly1.2millioneuroswillflowintothecompany.Theissuepricewasdeterminedindirectjuxtapositiontothestockmarketprice,asthelegalrighttopurchasewasexcluded.ThecapitalincreaseraisesthesharecapitalofItNNanovationto11,832,766euros.Theincomingfundswillservetostrengthentheequitycapitalofthecompany.

http.//www.itn-nanovation.de

http://nanostart.de/

NanoStringTechnologies,Inc.,hasobtainedtheCEMarkforitsPAM50-basedgeneexpression

testforbreastcancer,clearingthecompanytosellitstestintheEuropeanUnionandothercountriesrecognizingtheCEMark.NanoString’stestprovidesasubtypeclassificationbasedonthefundamentalbiologyofanindividual’sbreasttumor(referredtoasintrinsicsubtyping),aswellasaprognosticscorethatpredictstheprobabilityofcancerrecurrenceover10yearsinpost-menopausalwomenwithhormonereceptor-positive,earlystagebreastcancer(ESBC)whohavebeentreatedwithhormonaltherapy.

http://www.NanoString.com

http://www.nanostart.de

12-09/10::September/October2012 33nanotimesCompanies

Facts

Nantero,Inc.,andimechaveannouncedajointdevelopmentprogram.Thecollaborationwill

focusonthecarbon-nanotube-basedmemorydeve-lopedbyNantero,NRAM™,anditsapplicationinhigh-densitynext-generationmemorieswithasizeunder20nm.NRAMarrayswillbemanufactured,testedandcharacterizedinimec’sadvancednanoe-lectronicsfacilities.

http://www.nantero.com

NeoPhotonicsannouncedtheappointmentofMr.CharlesJ.(“Jay”)Abbetothecompany’s

BoardofDirectors.Mr.Abbeservedaspresident,chiefoperatingofficeranddirectorofJDSUniphaseCorporationfromFebruary2000untilhisretirementinJune2001.

http://www.neophotonics.com

Norwegiantitaniumcompanieshavebeengrantedfundingtodevelopabrand-newpro-

ductiontechnology,whichmaymarkthebeginningofarevolutioninindustryworthbillions.Withfun-dingfromtheUser-drivenResearchbasedInnovation(BIA)programmeattheResearchCouncilofNorway,NorskTitaniumComponents(NTiC)hasdevelopedanentirelynewmethodofproducingtitaniumcom-ponents,makingitcheaperandeasiertocapitaliseonthismaterialoftomorrow.Titaniumisamaterialthatisinhighdemandintheoilandgas,aerospaceanddefenceindustries.Norwayhaslargereservesofthisrawmaterial,butproducingend-productsmadeoftitaniumiscurrentlybothexpensiveanddifficult.

http://www.forskningsradet.no/en/Newsarticle/Revolu-

tionised_production_of_titanium_components_may_re-

vamp_industry/1253979913312?lang=en

Novaled,aleaderintheOrganicLight-EmittingDiode(OLEDs)field,announceditisnamed

intheprestigious2012 Global Cleantech 100list,producedbyCleantechGroup.ThelistingandtheadditionalawardrecognizeNovaled’sinnovativeap-proachtocleantechnologyandenergyefficiencybydevelopingtechnologiesandmaterialsthatenhancetheperformanceofOLEDs.

http://www.novaled.com

TheNetzschAnalyzing&TestingdivisionhasacquiredBruker’sThermalAnalysisinstruments

businessinJapan.Togetherwiththewell-establishedinternationalNetzschgroup,NetzschJapanwillfur-therdevelop,produce,distributeandservicetheexi-stingandnewThermalAnalysisproductlines.Finan-cialdetailsofthetransactionwerenotdisclosed.

http://www.netzsch.com

12-09/10::September/October201234 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

PicosunOy,aleadingatomiclayerdeposition(ALD)equipmentmanufacturerhasco-organized

the1st International Conference on ALD Applica-tionsand 2nd China ALD ConferenceincooperationwithFudanUniversity,oneofChina’stopuniver-sities.TheeventtookplaceinShanghaiatFudanUniversity’spremises.

Theconferenceattractedapproximately100parti-cipantsandhighqualitypresentationsandposterswerepresentedbytopALDresearchersaroundtheworld.Thetopicscoveredawiderangeofapplica-tions,ALDfundamentals,aswellasthemostad-vancedresearchresultsinmicroelectronicdevices,integration,andnanosciences.

“ChinaisoneofthefastestgrowingALDcommu-nitieswithmanytopresearchinstitutesandindus-triesworkingonexcitingapplications.Thankstotheorganizingcommitteeandexcellentspeakers,wehaveseensomeoftheworld’smostadvancedresearchbeingactivelydevelopedanddiscussedduringthisevent.ThealreadysecondChinaALDconferencehasbecomeacentraleventtobroadenthecooperationbetweenresearchgroupsinChinaandthroughouttheworld”,statesDr.Wei-MinLi,ApplicationsDirectorofPicosun.

PicosunOyisalsojoiningtheChina-FinlandNanoInnovationCenter,openedNovember02,2012.Thecenter,locatedinthecityofSuzhou,JiangsuProvinceintheEasternChina,wasinitiatedbyMini-stryofScienceandTechnology(MOST)ofChinaandMinistryofEmploymentandtheEconomy(TEM)ofFinland.

http://www.picosun.com

pSividaCorp.(NASDAQ:PSDV;ASX:PVA)announcedfinancialresultsforitsfourthquar-

terandfiscalyearendedJune30,2012.RevenuesforthefiscalyearendedJune30,2012totaled$3.5millioncomparedto$5.0millionforthepriorfis-calyear.RevenuesinbothyearsincludedroyaltyincomefromsalesofRetisert®byBausch & LombandrevenuerecognitionfromtheJune2011amend-mentandrestatementofthePfizer collaborationagreement.Inaddition,fiscal2012reflectedreve-nuerecognitionfromtheJuly2011terminationofthe Intrinsiqlicenseagreement.FortheyearendedJune30,2012,pSividareportedanetlossof$24.8million,or$1.19pershare,comparedtoanetlossof$8.6million,or$0.44pershare,forthepriorfiscalyear.Fiscalyear2012resultsincludeda$14.8millionimpairmentchargeforpSivida’sfinite-livedintangibleassetsarisingfromtheNovember2011completeresponseletterforILUVIENforDMEandtheresultingsignificantdecreaseinpSivida’sshareprice.Revenuesforthefiscal2012fourthquarterwere$699,000comparedto$3.7millionforthefourthquarterayearearlier.Thefiscal2011fourthquarterincluded$3.3millionofrevenuerecognitionfromtheamendedPfizercollaborationagreement.pSividareportedanetlossof$2.3million,or$0.11pershare,forthefourthquarterendedJune30,2012,comparedtoanetlossof$140,000,or$0.01pershare,forthefourthquarteroftheprioryear.

AtJune30,2012,cash,cashequivalentsandmar-ketablesecuritiestotaled$14.6million.InAugust2012,theCompanycompletedaregistereddirectofferingofsharesofcommonstockandwarrantsraisingnetproceedsof$4.7million.

http://www.psivida.com

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12-09/10::September/October201236 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

QueensgateInstruments–anElektron Techno- logybrand–unveileditsrevolutionarynew

DualSensorTechnology™atthisyear’sEuropean Microscopy Congress.

http://nanopositioning.com/news/queensgate-launch-

dual-sensor-technology-emc2012

RaymorIndustries,Inc.and NanoIntegris Tech-nologies, Inc.havecompletedabusinesscom-

binationtointegratetheworldleadingsingle-walledcarbonnanotubegrowthcompany(Raymor)withtheleaderincarbonnanotubepurificationandsepara-tion(NanoIntegris).Overthenextyear,RaymorandNanoIntegriswillintegratethecarbonnanotubesup-plychain,lowerthecostsofproduction,anddevelopapplicationswithstrategicpartners.

Thegroupwillinitiallyexpanditsproductmix,scaleupitsseparationprocess,anddevelopapplicationswithpartners.Raymor’s SWCNT production capa-city is approaching 1 ton per year at a price point of $10/gram.Lowcostintermediateandhighpuritygradeswillbelaunchedthisfall.Additionally,Nano-Integrisiscontinuingtoscaleupitsseparationpro-cesstolaunchnewsemiconductingandconductinginkswithsignificantpricereductions.

Throughitstwodivisions,AP&CandRaymorNano-tech,RaymorIndustriesInc.isaleadingmanufac-turerofsphericaltitanium(andotherhighmeltingpointmetal)powdersandofSWCNTs.NanoIntegrisTechnologies,Inc.,asubsidiaryofRaymorIndustriesInc.,isaleadingmanufacturerofhighpuritysemi-conductingandmetallicCNTmaterials.

http://www.raymor.com

http://www.nanointegris.com

RUSNANOand Lilliputian Systems, Inc. announcedtheclosingof$40millionofa

planned$60millionequityfinancinground,ledbya$25millioninvestmentfromRUSNANO,head-quarteredinMoscow.RUSNANO,whichfocusesonthedevelopmentoftheRussiannanotechnologyindustrythroughco-investmentsinnanotechnologyprojects,joinsLilliputian’scurrentbluechipinvestorsincludingIntelCorporation,KleinerPerkinsCaufield&Byers,AltiraGroup,StataVenturePartners,AtlasVenture,andFairhavenCapital.

http://www.lilliputiansystems.com

http://www.rusnano.com

ScientistsatCRANN,theScienceFoundationIre-land-fundednanoscienceinstitutebasedatTrinityCollegeDublin,havepartneredwithworld-leadingbrewingcompanySABMiller onaprojecttoincreasetheshelflifeofbottledbeerinplasticbottles.ThenewdealwillseeSABMillerinvestintheprojectoveratwoyearperiod.

ProfessorJonathanColemanandhisteaminCRANNareusingnanoscienceresearchmethodstodeve-lopanewmaterialthatwillprolongtheshelf-lifeofbeerinplasticbottles.Currentplasticbottleshavearelativelyshortshelflife,asbothoxygenandcarbondioxidecanpermeatetheplasticanddiminishtheflavour.

12-09/10::September/October2012 37nanotimesCompanies

Facts

Thenewmaterial,whenaddedtoplasticbottleswillmakethemextremelyimpervious,meaningthatoxy-gencannotenterandthatthecarbondioxidecannotescape,thuspreservingthetasteand‘fizz’.

Theteamwillexfoliatenano-sheetsofboronnitride,eachwithathicknessofapprox.50,000timesthin-nerthanonehumanhair.Thesenano-sheetswillbemixedwithplastic,whichwillresultinamaterialthatisextremelyimpervioustogasmolecules.Themole-culeswillbeunabletodiffusethroughthematerialandshelflifewillbeincreased.

Aswellasincreasingtheshelflifeofthebeeritself,lessmaterialisrequiredinproduction,reducingcostandenvironmentalimpact.

Dr.DiarmuidO’Brien,ExecutiveDirector,CRANNsaid,“ThispartnershipwithSABMillerhighlightstheapplicabilityofnanoscienceanditsrelevancetoeve-rydayproducts.Improvingeveryconsumablefromourlighting,ourcars,ourelectronicdevices,medici-nes,clothingandfoodanddrinkisbeingresearchedbynanoscientistsworldwide.Irelandisamongsttheworldleadersinthisarea,ranked6thgloballyformaterialsscience.BecauseoftheworklikethatofProfessorColemanandhispeers,lastyearCRANNreceivedoverEUR5millioninnon-Exchequerfundingtoprogressresearchprojects.Companiesworldwide,likeSABMiller,aretakingnotice.Wearedelightedtopartneronthisexcitingprojectandlookforwardtoitsresults.”

http://www.sabmiller.com

SamsungElectronics,Co.,Ltd.,announcedfoundryproductionofSTMicroelectronics’leadingpro-ductsusing32/28nmHigh-KMetalGate(HKMG)processtechnology.SamsungElectronics’foundrybusinesshasbeenselectedbySTMicroelectronicstoprovideitwithproductsatthe32/28nmprocessnode.Therelationshiphasalreadyresultedintaping-outofadozenSTadvancedsystem-on-chip(SoC)devicesformobile,consumerandnetworkapplica-tions.

SamsungandSTMicroelectronicshavedeveloped32/28nmHigh-KMetalGate(HKMG)technologythroughparticipationintheInternationalSemicon-ductorDevelopmentAlliance(ISDA).Samsung’sfoundrybusinesshasofferedaccessto32nmHKMGprocesstechnologyforearlymarketleadersand28nmHKMGprocesstechnologyforcustomersloo-kingfortraditionalmigrationbenefits.

http://www.samsung.com

Sand9,Inc.,apioneerinprecisionMEMStimingproductsforwirelessandwiredapplications,announcedthatEricsson (NASDAQ: ERIC),aworld-leadingprovideroftelecommunicationsequipmentandservicestomobileandfixednetworkoperators,hasinvested$3millioninthecompany.

Sand9’smicro-electromechanicalsystems(MEMS)timingproductsoffersignificantadvantagesoverlegacyquartzcrystalsolutions,whichcurrentlydo-minatethismarket.Sand9’stimingproductsoffergreaterimmunitytoelectromagneticinterference(EMI)andvibrationincombinationwithlownoiseandhighstability,whichensuresprecisiontiming–

12-09/10::September/October201238 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

eveninruggedizedenvironments.Foundedin2007inCambridge,MA,Sand9isapioneerinadvancedMEMStimingtechnology.

http://www.sand9.com

Solarmer Energy, Inc.,andPhillips66(NYSE:PSX)South China University of Technology (SCUT),

andhavesuccessfullysetanewworldrecordinpo-werconversionefficiencyforpolymer-basedorganicphotovoltaic(OPV)cells.The9.31percentefficiencywascertifiedbytheNewportTechnology&Applica-tionCenter’sPhotovoltaicLabinLongBeach,Calif.Solarmerisdevelopingtransparent,lightweight,flexi-ble,plasticsolarpanels,whichareexpectedtocostafractionofwhatsiliconsolarpanelscost.Thesesolarpanelswillcreatenewmarketsthatarecurrentlynotaddressablewithconventionalsiliconsolarpaneltechnology.

Thecompanywasfoundedin2006tocommercializetechnologydevelopedatUCLA.ItnowisbasedinElMonte,Calif.,USA.

http://www.solarmer.com

http://www.phillips66.com

StarpharmaHoldingsLtd(OTCQX:SPHRY)announcedthesigningofanagreementwithglobalpharmaceuticalcompanyAstraZenecagivingAstraZenecatherighttotestcertainproprietaryStar-pharmaoncologymoleculesbasedonStarpharma’sdendrimertechnology.UndertheagreementAstra-Zenecawillundertakeoncologystudiesusingspecific

Starpharmadrug-dendrimerconjugatemolecules.Theprimaryobjectiveoftheprogramistoassessthesuitabilityofthedendrimerconstructsforparticularapplicationswithinthecancerfield.

StarpharmaHoldingsalsoannouncedcompletionofrecruitmentinitstwoPhase3trialsinvestigatingVi-vaGel®asatreatmentforbacterialvaginosis(BV).ThePhase3treatmenttrialswereconductedacrossmorethan30internationalsites,andrecruited250pati-entspertrial.TheresultsofthetrialsareexpectedtobeavailablebyearlyDecember2012–followingthecompletionofpatientfollow-up,datacollectionandthenecessarystatisticalanalyses.

StarpharmaalsoreleaseditsAppendix4C–QuarterlyCashflowreportfortheperiodendedSeptember2012.Thecashbalanceat30September2012was$37.6million.Totaloperatingandinvestingcashout-flowsforthequarterwere$5.9million;withnetpro-ceedsfromtheissueofsharestotaling$0.8million,resultinginanetdecreaseincashof$5.1million.Thecashburnforthequarterisinlinewithbudget.

http://www.starpharma.com

StellaSpecialtyChemicals,aholdingofNanostart Asia Pacific,startsmarketingofitsproductsin

Asia.ThecompanyhassetupitsmanufacturingsiteinSingaporeandallnecessarylicensesforthepro-ductionofspecialtychemicalshavebeengrantedbytheauthorities.Themarketingstrategyofthecom-panyconsiderssalesviadistributorsalloverAsiaaswellasdirectsalestoOEMsintheregion.Anumberofwellknownelectroniccomponentmanufacturershavebeenservedwithtrialshipmentsaspotential

12-09/10::September/October2012 39nanotimesCompanies

Facts

   

ALIO  Industries  the  world’s  leading  True  Nano  ®  motion  system  manufacturer  was  founded  in  2001  with  

the  focus  of  producing  high  quality,  ultra  precise  motion  products  with  novel  new  ways  of  designing  and  building  6-­‐D  Nano  Precision®  motion  platforms.  In  2012  ALIO  incorporated  in  Bavaria  with  the  focus  of  supporting  current  and  future  customers  with  ALIO  factory  trained  engineers.      ALIO  GmbH  located    with  

our  sales  partner,  Laser  2000  to  give  our  customers  improved  application  development  to  long  term  field  support.  

In  the  past  5  years  nano  precision  motion  has  become  main  stream  for  nano  and  micro  machines  of  all  industries  that  move  to  miniaturize,  machine,  manufacture  and  inspect  components,  especially  in  the  

nano  machine  tools,  PV,  photonics,  metrology  and  laser  processing  at  the  True  Nano®  level.  

With  over  300  standard  products  from  hexapods  to  planar  air  bearing  systems  all  build  to  ALIO’s  exacting  precision  and  quality.  ALIO  has  perfected  the  monolithic  XY  stages  to  outperform  other  

commercially  available  mechanical  stages  by  an  order  of  magnitude  and  5  times  more  precise  than  legacy  air  bearing  designs  on  the  market  making  these  motion  platforms  the  standard  for  metrology  and  laser  processing.  

ALIO  is  the  world’s  leading  manufacturer  of  6-­‐D  Nano  Precision®  motion  systems.  

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12-09/10::September/October201240 nanotimesCompanies

Facts

customers.Simultaneously,negotiationsareongoingwithvariousdistributorscoveringtheAsiaPacificre-gion.Theideaistochoose4-5keypartnerstocovertheregionandthevariousbusinessfields.However,anidentifiedrangeofbusinessfieldswillstillbehandledbyStella’sownsalesforce.

Stellahasaproductportfolioofmorethan40diffe-rentspecialtychemicals.Thehiringprocessofexpe-riencedsalesandtechnicalsupportstaffisongoing.

http://www.stellachem.com

http://www.nanostart.de

Ultratech,Inc.(NASDAQ:UTEK)announcedunauditedresultsforthethree-monthperiod

endedSeptember29,2012.Forthethirdquarteroffiscal2012,Ultratechreportednetsalesof$60.5millionascomparedto$54.9millionduringthethirdquarteroffiscal2011.Ultratech‘snetincomeforthethirdquarterof2012was$12.4million,or$0.45pershare(diluted),ascomparedtonetincomeof$10.5million,or$0.39pershare(diluted)forthesamequarterlastyear.

ArthurW.Zafiropoulo,ChairmanandChiefExecuti-veOfficer,stated,“Weachievedanotherquarterofstrongfinancialresults,andwebelievetheoutlookforUltratechremainsbright.Wehavetakenadvan-tageofourstrongfinancialpositiontoinvestinnewandcomplementaryproductsthatfurtherenhanceourmarketleadingpositioninadvancedpackaging,laserspikeannealingandhigh-brightnessLEDs.Webelievethatourhighlyfocusedbusinessstrategy,leadingtechnologycapabilities,andstrongcustomer

relationshipspositionuswelltocontinueourtrackrecordofsuccess.”

AtSeptember29,2012,Ultratechhad$280.9millionincash,cashequivalentsandshort-terminvestments.Workingcapitalwas$331.5millionandstockholders‘equitywas$12.93persharebasedon27,021,299totalsharesoutstandingasofSeptember29,2012.

http://www.ultratech.com

VeecoInstrumentsInc.(Nasdaq:VECO)an-nouncedthatNantongTongfangSemiconductor

Co.,Ltd.hasreceivedshipmentofVeeco‘sTurbo-Disc®K465i™MOCVDSystemforresearchofGaN-on-Sihighbrightnesslightemittingdiodes(HBLEDs).ThesystemwasdeliveredtoTongfang’snewLEDTechnologyCenterinNantong,China.

http://www.thtf.com.cn

Moreover,VeecoInstrumentsannouncedthat SE-MATECH,aglobalsemiconductorconsortiumthatconductsresearchanddevelopmenttoadvancechipmanufacturing,hasrecentlyachievedamajorbreak-throughusingVeeco’sNEXUS®LowDefectDensityIonBeamDeposition(LDDIBD)Systemtosignifi-cantlyreducedefectsfrommulti-layerdepositionofmaskblanksusedforextremeultravioletlithography(EUVL).

VeecoInstrumentsalsoannounceditsfinancialresultsforthethirdquarterendedSeptember30,2012.JohnR.Peeler,Veeco’sChairmanandCEO,commented,“Veeco’sthirdquarterrevenuewas

12-09/10::September/October2012 41nanotimesCompanies

Facts

$127million,andadjustedEBITAandnon-GAAPearningspersharewere$17millionand$0.34,inlinewithourguidance.Veecogenerated$46millionincashflowfromoperations,endingthequarterwith$574millionincashandshortterminvestments.”

ThirdquarterLED&Solarrevenueswere$94milli-on:approximately$79millioninMOCVDand$15millioninMBE.DataStoragerevenueswere$33mil-lion.Veeco’sfourthquarter2012revenueiscurrentlyforecastedtobebetween$100millionand$115million.Earningspersharearecurrentlyforecastedtobebetween($0.09)to$0.03onaGAAPbasis,and$0.04to$0.16onanon-GAAPbasis.

http://www.veeco.com

ZiNIRpresentsanewconceptinspectroscopyusesaresonant-baseddetectiontechnique

wherelightisbothanalyzedanddetectedinasingle,completelymonolithiccomponentmanufacturedusingconventionalsemiconductorprocessingtech-niques.

http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/print/volu-

me-48/issue-10/features/spectrometers-chip-based-reso-

nant-spectroscopy-overcomes-traditional-challenges.html

http://www.zinir.com/

12-09/10::September/October201242 nanotimesNews in Brief

Sensors // US Researchers Create Thin-Film Polymer Metamaterial

©BasedonMaterialbyRiceUniversity,USA

Materials scientists at Rice University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

have created very thin color-changing films that may serve as part of inexpensive sensors for food spoilage or security, multiband optical elements in laser-driven systems and even as part of high-con-trast displays. The new work led by Rice materials scientist Ned Thomas.

Themicron-thickmaterialcalledaphotonicgelissoinexpensivetomakethat,Thomassaid,“Wecouldcoveranareathesizeofafootballfieldwiththisfilmforaboutahundreddollars.”Butforpracticalappli-cations,muchsmallerpieceswoulddo.

“Supposeyouwantafoodsensor,”saidThomas,theWilliamandStephanieSickDeanofRice’sGeorgeR.BrownSchoolofEngineeringandformerchairoftheDepartmentofMaterialsScienceandEngineeringatMIT.“Ifit’sinsideasealedpackageandtheenviron-mentinthatpackagechangesbecauseofcontamina-tionoragingorexposuretotemperature,aninspec-torwouldseethatsensorchangefrombluetoredandknowimmediatelythefoodisspoiled.”

Suchvisualcuesaregood,hesaid,“especiallywhenyouneedtolookatalotofthem.Andyoucanreadthesesensorswithlowtech,eitherwithyourowneyesoraspectrophotometertoscanthings.”Thefilmsaremadeofnanoscalelayersofhydrophobicpolystyreneandhydrophilicpoly(2-vinylpyridine).

Alternating,nano-sizedlayersofhydrophilicandhydrophobicmoleculesself-assembleintoablockcopolymercalledaphotonicgel,de-velopedatRiceUniversityandtheMassachu-settsInstituteofTechnology.

Itchangescolordependingontheamountofwaterabsorbedbythehydrophiliclayers,whichcanbetunedbythesolventused.©ThomasLab/RiceUniversity

Intheliquidsolution,thepolymermoleculesarediffused,butwhentheliquidisappliedtoasurfaceandthesolventevaporates,theblockcopolymermoleculesself-assembleintoalayeredstructure.Thepolystyrenemoleculesclumptogethertokeepwatermoleculesout,whilethepoly(2-vinylpyri-dine),P2VPforshort,formsitsownlayersbetween

12-09/10::September/October2012 43nanotimesNews in Brief

thepolystyrene.Onasubstrate,thelayersformintoatransparentstackofalternating“nano-pancakes.”“Thebeautyofself-assemblyisthatit’ssimultaneous,allthelayersformingatonce,”Thomassaid.TheresearchersexposedtheirfilmstovarioussolutionsandfounddifferentcolorsdependingonhowmuchsolventwastakenupbytheP2VPlayers.Forexa-mplewithachlorine/oxide/ironsolutionthatisnotreadilyabsorbedbytheP2VP,thefilmistransparent,Thomassaid.“Whenwetakethatout,washthefilmandbringinanewsolutionwithadifferention,thecolorchanges.”

Theresearchersprogressivelyturnedaclearfilmtoblue(withthiocyanate),togreen(iodine),toyellow(nitrate),toorange(bromine)andfinallytored(chlorine).Ineachcase,thechangeswerereversi-ble.ThomasexplainedthatthedirectexchangeofcounterionsfromthesolutiontotheP2VPexpandsthoselayersandcreatesaphotonicbandgap–thelightequivalentofasemiconductingbandgap–thatallowscolorinaspecificwavelengthtobereflected.“Thewavelengthsinthatphotonicbandgapareforbiddentopropagate,”hesaid,whichallowsthe

gelstobetunedtoreactinspecificways.“Imagineasolidinwhichyoucreateabandgapeverywherebutalonga3-Dpath,andlet’ssaythatpathisanarrowlydefinedregionyoucanfabricatewithinthisother-wisephotonicmaterial.Onceyouputlightinthatpath,itisforbiddentoleavebecauseitcan’tenterthematerial,duetothebandgap.Thisiscalledmol-dingtheflowoflight,”hesaid.

Cover:AphotonicgeldevelopedatRiceUniversityandtheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologyself-assemblesfromlongpolymermolecules.Polystyreneandpoly(2-vinylpyridine)aremixedinasolutionthat,whenevaporated,allowsthepolymerstoquicklyformintonanosizedlayers.Thelayerscanbetunedtoreflectspecificcolorswhenexposedtoparticularchemicals.©JosephWalish/MIT

Ho Sun Lim, Jae-Hwang Lee, Joseph J. Walish, and

EdwinL.Thomas:DynamicSwellingofTunableFull-Color

BlockCopolymerPhotonicGelsviaCounterionExchange,

In:ACS Nano ASAP,September28,2012,DOI:10.1021/

nn302949n:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nn302949n

Top:OnephotonicgeldevelopedatRiceUniversitywasputthroughaseriesofcolorchangeswhenrepeatedlywas-hedandexposedtonewcompounds.Thegelsshowpotentialforinexpensivesensorsandfilters.©ThomasLab/Rice

12-09/10::September/October201244 nanotimesNews in Brief

Medicine // Silver Is Damaging To Human Fibroblasts

©BasedonMaterialbyUDE,Germany

Silver, an element long favored by medicine for its antiseptic properties, turns out to be dama-

ging to human fibroblasts when used in the dosa-ges required to be effective. Furthermore, the pre-sence of albumin weakens silver’s ability to fight bacteria. These findings were recently made by a team of researchers working under the direction of Dr. Stephan Barcikowski, a professor with the Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE) at University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), Germany.

Theteamconductedaseriesoftestsexaminingtheantibacterialactivitiesofsilvernanoparticlesthattheresearchersproducedthemselvesusing lasertech-nology.Thescientistsboundthenanoparticlestovarioussyntheticmaterialssothattheywouldnotbeabsorbedbythebodybutwouldremaineffective,becausetheirlargesurfacesemitenoughsilverions.Itistheseionsthatare,infact,theactivesubstancesthat,forexample,killbacteriaatawound,reducingtheriskforinfection.Silveristhereforeasubstancewell-suitedforpreservingmedicalproductsorforcoveringburnwounds.

ExperimentsusingvariousbacteriaconductedincollaborationwiththeclinicattheHannoverMedi-calSchoolunderthedirectionofDr. Meike Stiesch confirmedsilver’sgermicidalproperties.Subsequentstudies,however,demonstratedthatattheconcen-trationsrequiredforkillingbacteria,thesilverionsalsodamagedfibroblaststoasignificantdegree.“We

hadn’texpectedthistobethecase,ofcourse,giventhatsilverisalreadywidelyusedthroughoutmedici-ne,”saidBarcikowski,ChairofTechnicalChemistryIattheUDEandeditor-in-chiefofthejournalBioN-anoMaterials.“Butfurthertestingprovedthatitwastheionsthemselvesthatweredamagingthecellsandnot,aswehadatfirstsuspected,thesyntheticma-terials.”Whenthescientiststhenmixedthesampleswithalbumin,silver’santibacterialeffectivenessdropped,butthedamagingeffectonthecellsre-mainedthesame.Thetherapeuticmarginistherefo-reextremelynarrowinthiscase,makingmedicalapplicationsrisky.

Furtherstudiesarecurrentlyinvestigatingwhetheritispossibletousethewound-healingpropertiesofnanomaterialsinatargetedmanner.Thestudy,“In-situconjugationofnanoparticlesusingultra-shortpulsedlaserablationinmonomersolutionforelec-trospinningatburnwoundsites,”whichispartoftheDFGPriorityProgram1327“Sub-100nmStruc-tures,”iscurrentlylookingintothis.IncollaborationwithRWTH Aachen University andtheHannover Medical School,ateamisresearchingwhethernanoparticlescomposedofmildersubstances,suchaszinc,iron,andmagnesium,canbeusedtohealburnwounds.Theresearcherswouldliketotestlessharmfulnanomaterialsandthenmakethemusablefor therapeuticpurposes.

12-09/10::September/October2012 45nanotimesNews in Brief

SebastianGrade,JörgEberhard,PhilippWagener,Andre-

asWinkel,CsabaLaszloSajti,StephanBarcikowski,Meike

Stiesch:TherapeuticWindowofLigand-FreeSilverNano-

particles inAgar-EmbeddedandColloidal State: InVitro

Bactericidal Effects and Cytotoxicity, In: Advanced Engi-

neering Materials,Volume14, Issue5,May2012,Pages

B231-B239,DOI:10.1002/adem.201180016:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adem.201180016

SebastianGrade,JörgEberhard,AnneNeumeister,Philipp

Wagener, Andreas Winkel, Meike Stiesch and Stephan

Barcikowski:Serumalbuminreducestheantibacterialand

cytotoxiceffectsofhydrogel-embeddedcolloidalsilverna-

noparticles,In:RSC Advances,Issue18,2012,Pages7190-

7196,DOI:10.1039/c2ra20546g:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c2ra20546g

AnneHahn,GudrunBrandes,PhilippWagener,Stephan

Barcikowski: Metal ion release kinetics from nanoparti-

clesiliconecomposites,In: Journal of Controlled Release,

Volume154,Issue2,5September2011,Pages164-170,

DOI:10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.05.023:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.05.023

PhilippNachev,DanielleD.van’T,VincentCoger,Philipp

Wagener, Kerstin Reimers, PeterM. Vogt, Stephan Bar-

cikowski, andAndrij Pich: Synthesis of hybridmicrogels

bycouplingoflaserablationandpolymerizationinaque-

ous medium, In: Journal of Laser Applications, Volume

24, Issue4, September2012,Article 042012 [7pages],

DOI:10.2351/1.4730803:

http://dx.doi.org/10.2351/1.4730803

12-09/10::September/October201246 nanotimesNews in Brief

AteamofKITresearchersdirectedbyProfessor Christian Kooshassucceededindeveloping

anovelopticalconnectionbetweensemiconductorchips.Theresearchersfirstfixthechipsandthenstructureapolymer-basedopticalwaveguideinaperfectlyfittingmanner.Toadapttheinterconnec-tiontothepositionandorientationofthechip,thescientistsdevelopedamethodforthethree-dimensi-onalstructuringofanopticalwaveguide.Theyusedso-calledtwo-photonpolymerizationwhichreachesahighresolution.Afemtosecondlaserwritesthefree-formwaveguidestructuredirectlyintoapolymerthatislocatedonthesurfaceofthechip.Forthispurpose,theKITresearchersusealaserlithographysystemmadebytheNanoscribecompany,aspinoffofKIT.

Prototypesofthephotonicwirebondsreachedverysmalllossesandaveryhightransmissionbandwidthintherangeofinfraredtelecommunicationwave-lengthsaround1.55micrometers.Infirstexperi-ments,theresearchersalreadydemonstrateddatatransmissionratesinexcessof5terabitspersecond.Potentialapplicationsofphotonicwirebondslieincomplexemitter-receiversystemsforopticaltele-communicationaswellasinsensorandmeasure-menttechnology.

N. Lindenmann, G. Balthasar, D. Hillerkuss, R. Schmo-

grow,M. Jordan, J. Leuthold,W. Freude, and C. Koos:

Photonicwirebonding:anovelconceptforchip-scalein-

terconnects,In:Optics Express,Vol.20,No.16,30July30,

2012,Pages17667-17677,DOI:10.1364/OE.20.017667:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.017667

Optics // Novel Optical Connection Between Semiconductor Chips

©BasedonMaterialbyKIT,Germany

Thewirebondisadaptedtothepositionandorientationofthechips.©N.LindenmannandG.Balthasar

12-09/10::September/October2012 47nanotimesNews in Brief

ResearchersatUCLA(US)haveturnedtheconventional“softlithography”processonits

head:Insteadofusingastamptotransfermoleculesontobaresurfaces,theyhaveused chemically trea-ted stamps to remove molecules already in place on gold substrates,essentiallypeelingawayselectmoleculesthroughchemicalbondstocreateprecisepatternsmeasuringjustafewmoleculesacross.Thenewprocess,calledChemical Lift-off Lithography (CLL),resultsinhigher-resolutionpatterningandavo-idstheblurringproblemsofearliertechniques.Thestampusedinthenewprocessismoldedbyusinga“master”madewithmoresophisticatedandexpen-sivetoolsthanthoseusedinmakingrubberstampsforofficesandchildren,butthestampscanbeusedoverandoveragain.Betweeneachuse,theyaresimplyreactivatedbyanoxygenplasma.

Thechemicalbondsformedatthestamp-substrateinterfacearesufficientlystrongtoremovenotonlymoleculesinthemonolayersbutalsoonelayerofgoldatomsfromthesubstrate.Thisobservationsettledalong-runningdiscussionoverwhether,forsuchmonolayers,gold-goldbondsbreakmoreeasilythanmolecule-goldbonds–theydo,theresearchersfound.

Theresearchteamwasabletofabricateavarietyofhigh-resolutionpatternedfeatures,andstampswerecleanedandreusedmanytimeswithlittlefeature

Lithography // New Stamping Process to Pattern Biomolecules

©BasedonMaterialbyUCLA,USA

deterioration.Theremainingmonolayer,theyfound,canactasaresistforetchingexposedgoldfeatures.Thebackfillingofnewmoleculesintothelifted-offareasenabledpatternedproteincapture,andsharp40nmchemicalpatternswereachieved.

Wei-SsuLiao,SarawutCheunkar,HuanH.Cao,HeidiR.

Bednar,PaulS.Weiss,andAnneM.Andrews:Subtractive

PatterningviaChemicalLift-OffLithography, In:Science,

Vol. 337,No. 6101, September 21, 2012, Pages 1517-

1521,DOI:10.1126/science.1221774:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1221774

12-09/10::September/October201248 nanotimesNews in Brief

Water // Heat-Conducting Composites for Seawater Desalination

©BasedonMaterialbyFHGIFAM,Germany

Desalination plants can convert seawater to drinking water. Yet these plants require pipe-

lines made of a special kind of steel or titanium – expensive material that is growing increasingly difficult to procure. Heat-conducting polymer composites may soon replace titanium altogether.

ResearchersattheFraunhofer Institute for Manuf-acturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Bremenarenowdevelopinganalternativetothetitaniumtubes:pipelinesmadeofpolymercomposi-tes.Thespecialthingaboutthismethod:thepolymercompositesareaplastic,andyettheyconductheat.Anotherbenefit:theycanbeproducedincontinuouslengthsandarecorrespondinglymoreeconomicalthantheirmetalcounterparts.Butwhatdidresear-chersdotomakeapolymerheat-conducting?“Weintroducedmetalparticlesintothematerial–ormoreprecisely,weaddupto50%coppermicrofi-bersbyvolume.Thisdoesnotchangetheproces-singpropertiesofthecomposite,anditcanstillbeprocessedasanyotherpolymerwould,“notesArneHaberkorn,ascientistatIFAM.

Theresearchershavealreadydevelopedthematerialitself;nowtheywanttooptimizeitsthermalcon-ductivity.Toaccomplishthis,theyareinstallingthepipinginapilotseawater-desalinationplant:here,theyaretestingitsthermalconductivity,checkingtoseehowmuchofamicroorganism-basedcoating

formsonthepipes,andhowheavilythematerialcorrodesinitssaltysurroundings.Theythenoptimizethecompositepropertiesbasedontheresults.Theresearchershavesettheevaporationprocesstorunatatemperatureof70°Celsius(158°F)–sothereishotgasheatedto70°pumpedthroughthepipelines.Thisoffersseveraladvantages:fewerdepositscon-gregateonthepipes,thematerialdoesn‘tcorrodeasquickly,andthepressuredifferentialbetweentheinsideandoutsideofthepipingisnotasdramatic.

Theusagesforthematerialarenotconfinedtoseawaterdesalination,either.

Arne Haberkorn, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing

TechnologyandAdvancedMaterialsIFAM

http://www.ifam.fraunhofer.de/

© FHG IFAM

12-09/10::September/October2012 49nanotimesNews in Brief

ConcretemaybeoneofthemostfamiliarbuildingmaterialsonEarth,butitsunderlyingstructure

remainsabitofamystery.Materialsscientistsandconcreteengineersstilldon’tfullyunderstandexactlyhowthecementpastethatworksasglueinconcretehardensduringthefirsthoursafterwaterandcementpowderaremixed.NewtechnologiesaremakingitpossibleforresearchersinMIT’sConcreteSustaina-bilityHubtomakesteadyprogresstowardsolvingthismystery.Firsttheydeterminedthatcementpasteisagranularmaterial,wheretheparticlesorbasicnanoscaleunitspacktogethermostdenselywhenarrangedorderly.Afewyearslatertheydiscoveredthatthecalcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) molecules thatmakeupthebasicnanoscaleunitofcementhaveadisorderlygeometricarrangement,ratherthantheorderlycrystallinestructurescientistshadlongassumed.Innewwork,theyfoundthatthesizeofC-S-Hparticlesthemselvesisalsosomewhatdisor-derly:Theparticlesformatverydiversesizesandthisdiversityinthesizeofthenanoscaleunitsleadstoadenser,disorderlypackingoftheparticles,whichcorrespondstostrongercementpaste.

TheresearchershopethisunderstandingwillallowmaterialsscientistsandconcreteengineerstoaltertheC-S-Hparticlesatthemolecularleveltodeve-

lopstronger,moredurableconcretethatwillhaveareducedenvironmentalfootprint.E.Masoero,E.DelGado,R.J.-M.Pellenq,F.-J.Ulm,and

S. Yip: Nanostructure and Nanomechanics of Cement:

Polydisperse Colloidal Packing, In: Physical Review Let-

ters, Volume 109, Issue 15, Article 155503 [4 pages],

DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.155503:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.155503

Engineering // Size Diversity in Cement Nanoparticles Optimizes

Packing Density to Give Concrete its Strength

©BasedonMaterialbyDeniseBrehm,MITCivilandEnvironmentalEngineering

Thisfigureillustrateshowthesizediversityofcementnano-particlesallowsthemtopacktogethertightly,increasingthestrengthofthecement.©EnricoMasoero

12-09/10::September/October201250 nanotimesNews in Brief

Hessisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landesentwicklungwww.hessen-nanotech.de

HA Hessen Agentur GmbHHessen-NanotechAbraham-Lincoln-Straße 38–4265189 WiesbadenFax 0611 774-8620 www.hessen-nanotech.de

Die Aktionslinie Hessen-Nanotech ist eine Wirt schaftsförde rungsmaß nahme des Hessischen Minis teriums für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landes ent wicklung. Projektträger ist die HA Hessen Agentur GmbH. Das Projekt wird kofinanziert aus Mitteln der Europäischen Union (EUROPÄISCHE UNION: Investition in Ihre Zukunft Europäischer Fonds für regionale Entwicklung)Hessen Nanotech

Hessisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landesentwicklung

www.hessen-nanotech.de

Einsatz von Nanotechnologienin Architektur und Bauwesen

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Nanotechnologien im AutomobilInnovationspotenziale in Hessen für die Automobil- und Zuliefer-Industrie

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Sichere Verwendung von Nano materialien in der Lack- und FarbenbrancheEin Betriebsleitfaden

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NanoAnalytikAnwendung in Forschung und Praxis

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Material formt ProduktInnovations- und Marktchancen erhöhen mit professionellen Kreativen

Hessisches Ministeriumfür Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landesentwicklung

www.hessen-nanotech.de

NanoProduktion Innovationspotenziale für hessische Unternehmendurch Nanotechnologien in Produktionsprozessen

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Advertisement

12-09/10::September/October2012 51nanotimesNews in Brief

Hessisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landesentwicklungwww.hessen-nanotech.de

HA Hessen Agentur GmbHHessen-NanotechAbraham-Lincoln-Straße 38–4265189 WiesbadenFax 0611 774-8620 www.hessen-nanotech.de

Die Aktionslinie Hessen-Nanotech ist eine Wirt schaftsförde rungsmaß nahme des Hessischen Minis teriums für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landes ent wicklung. Projektträger ist die HA Hessen Agentur GmbH. Das Projekt wird kofinanziert aus Mitteln der Europäischen Union (EUROPÄISCHE UNION: Investition in Ihre Zukunft Europäischer Fonds für regionale Entwicklung)Hessen Nanotech

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Sichere Verwendung von Nano materialien in der Lack- und FarbenbrancheEin Betriebsleitfaden

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12-09/10::September/October201252 nanotimesNews in Brief

Testing // Fast Toothpaste Check

©BasedonMaterialbyFHG,Germany

ResearcheratFraunhoferInstituteforMechanicsofMaterialsIWMinHallehavedevelopedanew

processfortestingtheabrasiveeffectoftoothpastes,allowingthis‘abrasivity’,asexpertscallit,tobecom-paredandevaluatedinthelab.TheyworkedcloselywiththeMicrotribologyCentreµTCinKarlsruheonanewevaluationmethod.

Theabrasiveeffectofaparticulartoothpasteontoothdentindependsonthehardness,amountandparticlesizeoftheabrasiveadditivesitcontains,suchassilicaoralumina.AbrasivityismeasuredastheRDAvalue(radioactivedentinabrasion),rangingfrom30toover200.Thisvalueisdeterminedviaacomplexprocessthatinvolvestestersbrushingoverradioactivelymarkeddentinsamples.Theabradedmaterialisthenmeasuredviatheresultantradiati-onintensityofthetoothpasteslurry.NotallexpertsagreeonthevalidityofRDAvalues,astestresultshavebeenknowntovarypartlyfromlabtolab.

TheresearchersattheIWMhavechosenanalter-nativemethodtothisradiotracersystem.“Ournewapproachenablesustodeterminerealisticabrasionratesandcharacterizetheinteractionbetweenbrush,enamelandtoothpaste.What’smore,ourtestsarelesslaboriousthanthetime-intensiveradiotracerpro-

cedurescarriedoutbyonlyahandfuloflaboratoriesworldwide”,saysDr.AndreasKiesow,teamleaderattheIWM.Thescientistandhisteamhavesuccess-fullymanagedtodeterminetheabrasionofvarioustoothpastesonamicroscopicscaleandtomeasurethefrictionvaluesusingmicrotribologicalexperi-ments.“Untilnow,tribologicalvaluessuchasfrictioncoefficient,didnotexist”saysKiesow.

Theresearchersusehumanteethaswellasdifferenttoothpastesmadebyindustrialpartnersfortheirexperiments.Thesetoothpastesweredilutedwithwaterandsalivainordertocreateasolutionwhoseconsistencycorrespondstothemixtureoftoothpasteandsalivathatispresentwhenpeoplebrushtheirteeth.Thefrictionandweartestswereeachcarriedoutwithasinglebristle–referredtoasamonofi-lament.Thisismountedinspecializedtribologicalinstruments,amicrotribometerandananoindenter,andmovedoverthesampleinbothstraightandcircularmotions,inthelattercaseupto8000times.Highlysensitiveinstrumentsthenmeasurethedepthoftheresultantmarksleftonthesurfaceofthetooth.“OurfindingsrevealthattheRDAvalueoftoothpa-stescorrelateswiththedepthofabrasion;thehigherthevalue,thegreatertheabrasion.Byanalyzingthefrictionvaluewealsoidentifiedaclearrelationship

12-09/10::September/October2012 53nanotimesNews in Brief

betweenthefrictionbehaviorsofthebristleonthedentalenamelandtheabrasivenessofthetoothpa-ste”,sumsupKiesow.Thenewprocessallowstheresearcherstonotonlycharacterizetheabrasionmorequicklyandsimply,butalsotodescribehowdifferentgeometriesoftoothbrushfilamentsactuponthesurfaceofthetoothandhowthebristleshapeshouldideallybedesigned.TheexpertsatIWMcanusetheirknowhowtosupportmanufacturersofden-talhygienewithproductdevelopment.Attheendofthedayitistheconsumerwhobenefitsmost.

Dr.AndreasKiesow.FraunhoferInstituteforMechanicsof

Materials,HallebranchoftheinstituiteIWMH:

http://www.en.iwm.fraunhofer.de/

12-09/10::September/October201254 nanotimesNews in Brief

Microscope // New Near-Field Scanning Microwave Microscope (NSMM)

©BasedonMaterialbyNIST,USA

NIST’s ability to determine the composition and physics of nanoscale materials and devices is

about to improve dramatically with the arrival of a new near-field scanning microwave microscope (NSMM).

“Basically,whatwe’redoingisusingtheveryfinespatialresolutionofscanningprobeinstrumentssuchasscanningtunnelingmicroscopesoratomicforcemicroscopes(AFM)andcombiningitwiththebroad-bandcompatibilityofmicrowavemeasurements,”saysMitchWallisoftheRadio-FrequencyElectronicsGroup.“Ourmotivationisthatwewanttolookatthingslikemagneticresonanceormechanicalreso-nanceonthenanoscaleusingmicrowaves.Ifyoulookatyourcellphoneoryourcomputer,they’realloperatingintherangeofafewgigahertz.Sowehavetomeasurethenanoscaleobjectsthatmakeupthosedevicestogetanunderstandingofhowtheyperformatthosefrequencies.Otherwise,it’sgoingtobemuchhardertointegratethemintousefulcom-mercialdevices.”

Inbroadoutline,aNSMMset-upconsistsofanato-micforcemicroscopecombinedwithacontinuousorpulsedmicrowavesignalappliedtotheAFMtip.Thetipscansacrossthesampleinasoftcontactoratadistanceofafewnanometersabovethesurface,emittingamicrowavesignalthatisscatteredbythe

material,alteringitsfrequency,amplitudeandotherproperties.Thenatureofthealteredsignalretur-ningtothetip–whichalsoservesasthereceivingantenna–dependscriticallyonvariablessuchaspermeability,permittivity,sheetresistance,dielec-tricconstant,impedance,orthemannerinwhichcapacitancechangeswithvoltage,whichinturnaredeterminedbythephysicalcompositionoftheobjectunderinvestigation.

“Bymeasuringthefrequency-dependentscatteredsignal,wehave,ineffect,anotherknobtoturn,”saysveteranresearcherPavel Kabos of the Advanced High-Frequency Devices Program.“Andveryrecen-tlywe’vebeenabletoexaminelocalpropertiesofsamplesinextremelysmalldimensions,veryclosetothesingle-moleculelevel.Thisisofintenseinterest,forexample,tomicrochipdesignersandfabricatorswhoneedtoknowthedopingprofilearoundatran-sistorgateorsourceordraininadynamicrandom-accessmemorychip.”

Spatialinformationrecordedbythescanningtipismergedwithdatafromthereturningmicrowavesignalateachpointinadesignatedarea(typicallyafewmicrometerssquare)tocreateacompositeimage.NSMMscanbetunedtoproduceimagesatdepthsrangingfromsub-micrometerto100µmbe-lowthesurface.“So,forexample,ifyouhaveathin

12-09/10::September/October2012 55nanotimesNews in Brief

metallayerontopofthesampleandapiezoelectricmaterialunderneath,youcanseewhat’shappeningtothepiezomaterialthroughthemetalsheet,”Kabossays.

Itmayseemcounterintuitivethatwavelengthsontheorderofacentimeterdowntoafewmillimeterscanprovidenanometer-scaleresolution.“It’ssomethingofaparadox,”Kabossays,“untilyoulookatthedi-mensionsinvolved.ThesharpAFMtipisonlyabout100nanometerswide,anditispositionedonlyafewnanometersfromthesurfaceorisinasoftcontactwiththesample.Itisthetipelevationthatgovernstheresolution.Thetipdistanceissomuchsmallerthanthesignalwavelengththat‘near-field’effectspredominate,permittingresolutioninnanometersandhighlyaccurate,quantitativemeasurements.”

Theresearcherscanalterboththetipvoltageandthemicrowavefrequencytoexaminedifferentaspectsofthesample.Forexample,inone2012paper,AtifImtiazandPMLcolleagues,alongwithresearchersatinstrument-makerAgilent Technologies, Inc.,showedhowchangingthetipbiasrevealsthelocalcarrierdensityinasemiconductor,andhencethedopantprofileofaregion.“Dependingonthesignoftheappliedbiastothetip,thechargecarriersinthesemiconductorareattractedordepletedfromthesurface,formingaspacechargeregion,”theauthorswrite.

Becausethewidthofthatregionisalsoafunctionofthecarrierdensity,itprovidesasensitivemeasureofdopantcomposition.“Veryrecently,”Kabossays,“wehavebeenabletolookintoa3µmwidearea

andseehowthedopingisdistributedattheP-Njunction,aswellaslocatethejunctionprecisely.”

Alternatively,changingthemicrowavefrequencyre-vealsotherproperties.“Thesamematerialmaylookverydifferentat5,7,or18GHz,”Kabossays.“Sowecannotonlydeterminethedopingprofilelocally,butalsolookatperformanceforagivenfrequencyinagivenregion.”

Thenewdevice,slatedforafallarrival,willprovidemanynewcapabilities.Theexistinginstrumentshaveasingletipthatisopentotheair.ThenewNSMMhasfourtips,permittingsimultaneouscomparisonsofmaterials,anditisenclosedinanultra-highvacuumchambertominimizesignalinterferenceandsamplecontamination.Italsofeaturesavacuumsample-preparationchamberandtemperaturecontrolfromabout30Ktoroomtemperature.

Amongotheruses,thenewinstrumentwillallowtheresearcherstoexploreinmuchgreaterdetailthepropertiesthataffectthesuitabilityofvariousmate-rials,operatingatmicrowavefrequencies,foruseinnanoscaleelectronicsandbioelectronics,aswellasemergingtechnologiesforspintronicorphasetronicapplicationsinsingle-andmulti-layerconfigurations.

Background:PML“home-made”NSMM,shownwithtippoisedabovethesurfaceofa2cmwidesample.©NISTCover:SchematicdiagramofNSMMapparatus.©NIST

http://www.nist.gov/

12-09/10::September/October201256 nanotimesNews in Brief

Materials // Vanadium Oxide Bronze: A New Material

for the Computing Industry?

Scientists create a nanomaterial whose unusual electrical properties could be exploited to in-

crease computer chips‘ switching speed.

UniversityatBuffaloresearchersareamongscien-tistsworkingtoidentifymaterialsthatcouldonedayreplacesilicontomakecomputingfaster.Theirlatestfind:Avanadium oxide bronze whoseunusualelec-tricalpropertiescouldincreasethespeedatwhichinformationistransferredandstored.

InAdvanced Functional Materials,theresearchteamreportsthattheyhavesynthesizednanowires made from vanadium oxide and lead.

Thereasonthatthesenanowiresaresospecialisthattheyperformararetrick:Whenexposedtoanappliedvoltagenearroomtemperature,thewirestransformfrominsulatorsthatareresistanttocar-ryingelectricitytometalsthatmorereadilyconductelectricity.Eachofthesetwostates–insulatorandmetal–couldstandfora0or1inthebinarycodethatcomputersusetoencodeinformation,orforthe“on”and“off”statesthatthemachinesusetomakecalculations.

“Theabilitytoelectricallyswitchthesenanomaterialsbetweentheonandoffstaterepeatedlyandatfasterspeedsmakesthemusefulforcomputing,”saidstudyco-authorSambandamurthyGanapathy,aUBassoci-ateprofessorsofphysics.

Whenexposedtoanappliedvoltagenearroomtempe-rature,thesenanowirestransformfromelectricalinsu-latorstoelectricalconductors.Eachwireisabout180nanometerswide.©PeterMarley,withcoloradded

12-09/10::September/October2012 57nanotimesNews in Brief

“Siliconcomputingtechnologyisrunningupagainstsomefundamentalroadblocks,includingswitchingspeeds,”addedSarbajitBanerjee,anotherco-authorandaUBassociateprofessorofchemistry.“Thevoltage-inducedphasetransitioninthematerialwecreatedprovidesawaytomakethatswitchatahig-herspeed.”

Aswithothernanomaterials,thehealthandenviron-mentalimpactsofthenanowireswouldhavetobeinvestigatedbeforetheirwidespreaduse,especiallysincetheycontainlead,Banerjeecautioned.

BanerjeeandGanapathyoversawthestudy,whichappearedonlineAug.17inthejournalAdvanced Functional Materials.UBchemistryPhDstudentPeterMarleywasleadauthor.Othercontributorsinclude

PeihongZhang,aUBassociateprofessorofphysics,andstudentsfromGanapathy‘sresearchgroup.

Oneintriguingcharacteristicofthematerialtheysynthesizedisthatitonlyexhibitsvaluableelectricalpropertiesinnano-form.That‘sbecausenanomateri-alsoftenhavefewerdefectsthantheirbulkiercoun-terparts,BanerjeeandMarleyexplained.

Inthecaseoftheleadvanadiumoxidenanowires,thewires‘distinctivestructureiscrucialtotheirabili-tytoswitchfromaninsulatortoametal.

Specifically,intheinsulatorphase,thepositionoftheleadinthenanowires‘crystallinestructureinducespoolsofelectronstogatheratdesignatedlocations.Uponapplyingavoltage,thesepoolsjointogether,allowingelectricitytoflowfreelythroughthemallandtransformingthematerialintoametal.

“Whenmaterialsaregrowninbulk,there‘salotofdefectsinthecrystals,andyoudon‘tseetheseinterestingproperties,”Marleysaid.“Butwhenyougrowthemonananoscale,you‘releftwithamorepristinematerial.”

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/13667

PeterM.Marley,AdamA.Stabile,ChunPuiKwan,Sujay

Singh,PeihongZhang,G.Sambandamurthy,SarbajitBa-

nerjee: Charge Disproportionation and Voltage-Induced

Metal-InsulatorTransitionsEvidenced inβ-PbxV2O5Na-nowires, In: Advanced Functional Materials, Early View,

August17,2012,DOI:10.1002/adfm.201201513:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201201513

Nanowirescraftedfromvanadiumoxideandlead.The-sewires‘uniqueelectricalpropertiescouldmakethemidealforuseinswitchingcomponentsofcomputers.©PeterMarley,withcoloredadded

12-09/10::September/October201258 nanotimesNews in Brief

UniversityofIllinoisresearchershaveanewlow-costmethodtocarvedelicatefeaturesonto

semiconductorwafersusinglight–andwatchasithappens.Chipmakersandsemiconductorresear-chersneedtoverypreciselycontrolthedimensionsoftheirdevices.Thedimensionsofthecomponentsaffectperformance,speed,errorrateandtimetofailure.

TheIllinoisresearchers’newtechniquecanmonitorasemiconductor’ssurfaceasitisetched,inrealtime,withnanometerresolution.Itusesaspecialtypeofmicroscopethatusestwobeamsoflighttoverypre-ciselymeasuretopography.

ChrisEdwards,AmirArbabi,GabrielPopescuandLynford

LGoddard:Opticallymonitoringandcontrollingnanosca-

letopographyduringsemiconductoretching,In:Light: Sci-

ence & Applications,Volume1,September28,2012,e30,

DOI:10.1038/lsa.2012.30:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/lsa.2012.30

Athree-dimensionalimageofanetchedgallium-arsenidesemiconductor,takenduringetchingwithanewmicro-scopytechniquethatmonitorstheetchingprocessonthenanometerscale.Theheightdifferencebetweentheorangeandpurpleregionsisapproximately250nanome-ters.©ChrisEdwards,AmirArbabi,GabrielPopescu,andLynfordGoddard

Semiconductor Etching // Optically Monitoring and Controlling

Nanoscale Topography©BasedonMaterialbyUniversityofIllinois,USA

12-09/10::September/October2012 59nanotimesNews in Brief

ResearchbyscientistsattheUniversity of Bath (UK) ischallengingclaimsthatnanoparticlesinmedica-tedandcosmeticcreamsareabletotransportanddeliveractiveingredientsdeepinsidetheskin.

Christopher S.J. Campbell, L. Rodrigo Contreras-Rojas,

M.BegoñaDelgado-Charro,RichardH.Guy:Objective

assessmentofnanoparticledispositioninmammalianskin

aftertopicalexposure,In: Journal of Controlled Release,

Volume162,Issue1,August20,2012,Pages201-207,

DOI:10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.06.024:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.06.024

http://www.bath.ac.uk/pharmacy/

EPFL’s Institute of Microengineering(CH)presen-tedinFrankfurt“hybrid” photovoltaic cells with an energy conversion efficiency of 21.4%,thehighestobtainedforthetypeofsubstratetheyused.Thisbreakthroughwillcontributetolowerthecostofsolarcellbasedinstallations.

ThePVlabspecializesinthinfilmsolarcellsandhasbeeninterestedforseveralyearsin“hybrid”techno-logies,betterknownasheterojunctiontechnologies,designedtoenhancesolarcaptors’performance.

“Weapplyaninfinitesimallayer–onehundredthofamicron–ofamorphoussilicononbothsidesofacrystallinesiliconwafer,”explainsChristophe Ballif.This“sandwich”conceptioncontributestoincreasethesensors’effectiveness.Tobringtheseinnovationstoastageofindustrializationmayonlytakeafewyears.ThisresearchwaspartlyfinancedasacommissionforRoth & Rau Switzerland,who-

separentcompany,Meyer Burger,hasalreadystartedthecommercializationofmachinesbuiltforassemblingthistypeofheterojunctionsensors.

“Withinthreetofiveyears,weexpecttoreachaproductioncostof100francspersquaremeterofsensors,estimatesStefaan DeWolf.InSwitzerland,withtheconversionefficiencyachieved,suchasur-facewillbeabletoproducebetween200and300kWhofelectricityperyear.”

A.Descoeudres,Z.C.Holman,L.Barraud,S.Morel,S.

DeWolf,C.Ballif:>21%EfficientSiliconHeterojunction

SolarCellsonn-andp-TypeWafersCompared,In:IEEE

Journal of Photovoltaics, Early Access Articles,August08,

2012,DOI:10.1109/JPHOTOV.2012.2209407:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2012.2209407

Acollaborativeconsortiumhopestobuildtheworld’s first fully functioning nano-electro-me-chanical (NEM) relay-based processor targetinganenergyefficiencythatcannotbematchedbytran-sistorimplementationsthankstoaEUR2.44million(USD3.14m)grantbytheEuropeanCommission.

TheNEMIAC project (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Integration and Computation) willinvestigatethisnewtechnologytobuilddigitalintegratedcircuitsforultra-lowpowercomputingapplications.

TheNEMIAC-consortiumisledbyIBMinZurich,theotherindustrialpartnerisSTMicroelectronics.AcademicpartnersaretheRoyalInstituteofTech-nology(KTH)Sweden,UniversityofBristolUK,

12-09/10::September/October201260 nanotimesNews in Brief

ÉcolePolytechniqueFédéraleDeLausanne(EPFL)Switzerland,andLancasterUniversityUK.

http://seis.bris.ac.uk/~eeidbp/nemiac/nemiac.html

http://www.bris.ac.uk/

ResearchersatHHIhavenowmanagedtodoubletheefficiencyofblacksiliconsolarcells.Theyhavecreatedcellsthatcanproducemoreelectricityfromtheinfraredspectrum.“Weachievedthatbymo-difyingtheshapeofthelaserpulseweusetoirradi-atethesilicon,”saysKontermann.Thisenabledthescientiststosolveakeyproblemofblacksilicon:Innormalsilicon,infraredlightdoesnothaveenoughenergytoexcitetheelectronsintotheconductionbandandconvertthemintoelectricity,butthesul-furincorporatedinblacksiliconformsakindofin-termediatelevel.Youcancomparethistoclimbingawall:Thefirsttimeyoufailbecausethewallistoohigh,butthesecondtimeyousucceedintwostepsbyusinganintermediatelevel.However,insulfurthisintermediatelevelnotonlyenableselectronstoclimbthe‘wall’,italsoworksinreverse,enablingelectronsfromtheconductionbandtojumpbackviathisintermediatelevel,whichcauseselectricitytobelostonceagain.Bymodifyingthelaserpulsethatdrivesthesulfuratomsintotheatomiclattice,researcherscanchangethepositionsthattheseatomsadoptinthelatticeandchangetheheightoftheir‘levels’,inotherwordstheirenergylevel.“Weusedthelaserpulsestoaltertheembeddedsulfurinordertomaximizethenumberofelectronsthatcanclimbupwhileminimizingthenumberthatcangobackdown,”Kontermannsumsup.

Blacksiliconisirradiatedwithalaser.Smallimage:Blacksilicon,magnified.©FraunhoferHHI

Inthefirststageoftheproject,thescientistsmodi-fiedthelaserpulsesandinvestigatedhowthischan-gedthepropertiesofblacksiliconandtheefficiencyofsolarcellsmadefromthismaterial.Nowtheyareworkingonusingdifferentshapesoflaserpulsesandanalyzinghowthischangestheenergylevelofthesulfur.Inthefuture,theyhopethatasystemofalgorithmswillautomaticallyidentifyhowthelaserpulseshouldbemodifiedinordertoachieveoptimumefficiency.Theresearchershavealreadysuccessfullybuiltprototypesofblacksiliconsolarcellsandtheirnextstepwillbetotryandmergethesecellswithcommercialtechnology.

Dr.StefanKontermann,FraunhoferInstituteforTelecom-

munications,HeinrichHertzInstituteHHI:

http://www.hhi.fraunhofer.de/en/start-page/

12-09/10::September/October2012 61nanotimesNews in Brief

Anewsystemfordeliveringadrugtoorgantrans-plantpatients,whichcouldavoidtheriskofharm-fulsideeffects,isbeingdevelopedbyscientistsatStrathclyde.

J.L.Italia,M.N.V.RaviKumar,andK.C.Carter:Eva-

luating the Potential of Polyester Nanoparticles for Per

Oral Delivery of Amphotericin B in Treating Visceral

Leishmaniasis,In: Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology,

Volume8,Number4,August2012,Pages695-702(8),

DOI:10.1166/jbn.2012.1414:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2012.1414

Untilnow,nochipexisted,onwhichboth silicon and erbium-doped material were integrated.Inherthesis,PhDcandidateLaura Agazzi of the University of Twentedemonstratesaworkingchipforthefirsttime.Itwillbeabletoamplifylightat speeds up to 170 Gbit/sec.Theprototypechiphasasignalgainof7.2decibelatinfraredlight(1533nm).

Theprototypeisastartingpoint,buttheresultsareverypromising.Oneofthepossibilitiesisalaserwithanextremelynarrowlinewidthof1.7kHz.“Inanyapplicationthatneedsemissionoramplificationoflight,thisintegrationofbothmaterialsisuseful.Itisnotlimitedtotelecom.Youcouldusethesechipsforsensorpurposes,fortracingextremelysmallpar-ticles,forexample,”Agazziadds.

LauraAgazziconductedherresearchwithintheGroupIntegratedOpticalMicrosystems(IOMS)ofprofMarkusPollnau,whichispartoftheMESA+

Institute for Nanotechnology of the University of Twente.EndofSeptembershesuccessfullydefen-dedherthesisSpectroscopic Excitation and Quen-ching Processes in Rare-Earth-Ion-Doped Al2O3 and their Impact on Amplifier and Laser Performance.Herthesis,orasummary,areavailabledigitally.

http://www.utwente.nl

US Naval Research Laboratory electronicsscienceandtechnologyengineersdemonstratetheabili-tyofsingle walled carbon nanotube transistors (SWCNTs) tosurvivetheharshspaceenvironment,investigatingtheeffectsofionizingradiationonthecrystallinestructuresandfurthersupportingthedevelopmentofSWCNT-basednanoelectronicsforuseinharshradiationenvironments.

BydevelopingaSWCNTstructurewithathingateoxidemadefromthinsiliconoxynitride,NRLre-searchersrecentlydemonstratedSWCNTtransistorsthatdonotsufferfromsuchradiation-inducedper-

12-09/10::September/October201262 nanotimesNews in Brief

formancechanges.Thishardeneddielectricmate-rialandnaturallyisolatedone-dimensionalSWCNTstructuremakesthemextremelyradiationtolerant.

http://www.nrl.navy.mil

AteaminMIT’s Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) thatstudiedhowmaterialsreacttostresses,includingimpacts.Thefindingscouldultimatelyhelpexplainphenomenaasvariedasthebreakdownofconcreteundersuddenstressandtheeffectsofcorrosiononvariousmetalsur-faces.

Usingacombinationofcomputermodelingandexperimentaltests,theresearchersstudiedonespecifictypeofstress–inadefectcalledascrewdislocation–inonekindofmaterial,anironcrystallattice.Buttheunderlyingexplanation,theresear-cherssay,mayhavebroadimplicationsformanykindsofstressesinmanydifferentmaterials.

Essentially,theteamanalyzedhowthestrengthofamaterialcanincreasequiteabruptlyastherateofstrainappliedtothematerialincreases.Thistransi-tionintherateatwhichamaterialcracksorbends,calledaflow-stressupturn,hasbeenobservedexperimentallyformanyyears,butitsunderlyingmechanismhasneverbeenfullyexplained,theresearcherssay.

“Theformulationisnotspecifictothisparticularde-fect,”Yildizexplains.Rather,sheandhercolleagueshavefiguredoutwhattheybelieveisasetofgene-

ralprinciples.“Wehaveproventhatitworksinthissystem,”shesays.

Theteamfoundthat,inadditiontotherateatwhichthestrainisapplied,theeffectdependscri-tically—andinahighlypredictableway—onthetemperatureofthematerial.“Peoplethinkthey’reindependent,”Fansays,butitturnsouttheeffectsofstrainrateandtemperaturearestronglyrelated.

Theeffectsarequitedramatic,Yildizsays:Therateofchangetakingplacewithinthematerialcansuddenlychangebyordersofmagnitude,trans-formingaslowerosionintoasuddencatastrophicfracture.Theanalysiscouldpotentiallyhelppredictthebreakdownofstructuresasvariedasconcretebuildings,metalpressurevesselsinpowerplants,andthestructuralcomponentsofairplanebodies,butfurtherworkwillbeneededtoshowhowthesebasicprinciplescanbeappliedtothesedifferentmaterials.

12-09/10::September/October2012 63nanotimesNews in Brief

YueFan,YuriN.Osetsky,SidneyYip,andBilgeYildiz:

Onset Mechanism of Strain-Rate-Induced Flow Stress

Upturn, In:Physical Review Letters,Vol.109, Issue13,

September28,2012,Article135503[5pages],DOI:

10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.135503:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.135503

Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) researchershaveinve-stigatedthemechanismsnecessaryforenablingthesemiconductor Germanium to emit laser light.Asalasermaterial,GermaniumtogetherwithSiliconcouldformthebasisforinnovativecomputerchipsinwhichinformationwouldbetransferredpartiallyintheformoflight.Thistechnologywouldrevolu-tionisedatastreamingwithinchipsandgiveaboosttotheperformanceofelectronics.TheresearchershavedemonstratedthatGermaniummustbeputunderstrainbyanexternalforceinordertoturnitintoalasermaterialmaterialandhavethuscontri-butedtoaveryactiveresearchfield.

Intheirstudies,whichwereperformedattheSwissLightSource(SLS)atPSI,theresearchersinvestiga-tedthosepropertiesofGermaniumthatareim-portantforthegenerationoflaserlight,andcom-paredthemwiththoseofcurrentlyavailablelasermaterials.“Westimulatethematerialbymeansofapowerfullaserandsimultaneouslyobservethechangesoccurringusinginfra-redradiationfromtheSLS”,elucidatesthedoctoralstudentPeterFriedli,whocarriedoutthedecisiveexperimentstogetherwithscientistLeeCarroll.“Todothis,weusedthefactthattheselightpulsesareonly100picoseconds(i.e.0.1billionthsofasecond)long,allowingusto

followtherelevantprocessesinthematerial;thatis,thebehaviourofelectronsatdifferentpointsintime.”

LeeCarroll,PeterFriedli,StefanNeuenschwander,Hans

Sigg,StefanoCecchi,FabioIsa,DanielChrastina,Giovan-

niIsella,YuriyFedoryshyn,JérômeFaist:Direct-GapGain

andOpticalAbsorptioninGermaniumCorrelatedtothe

Density of Photoexcited Carriers, Doping, and Strain,

In:Physical Review Letters,Vol.109,Issue5,August03,

2012,Article057402[5pages],DOI:10.1103/PhysRev-

Lett.109.057402:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.057402

http://www.psi.ch/

LeeCarroll,PeterFriedli,PhilippeLerch,JörgSchneider,

DanielTreyer,StephanHunziker,StefanStutz,andHans

Sigg:Ultra-broadbandinfraredpump-probespectrosco-

pyusingsynchrotronradiationandatuneablepump,In:

Review of Scientific Instruments,Volume82,Issue6,Arti-

cle063101[9pages],DOI:10.1063/1.3592332:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3592332

Plansarenowproceedingtocommercialisearevo-lutionaryliquid laundry additive called ‘CatClo’,whichcontainsmicroscopic pollution-eating parti-cles.ThenewadditiveistheresultofcollaborationbetweentheUniversity of SheffieldandLondon College of Fashion,withinitialsupportfromtheEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).Itemsofclothingonlyneedtobewashedintheadditiveonce,asthenanoparticlesoftitaniumdioxidegripontofabricsverytightly.When

12-09/10::September/October201264 nanotimesNews in Brief

theparticlesthencomeintocontactwithnitrogenoxidesintheair,theyreactwiththesepollutantsandoxidisetheminthefabric.Thenitrogenoxidestreatedinthiswayarecompletelyodourlessandcolourlessandposenopollutionhazardastheyareremovedharmlesslywhentheitemofclothingisnextwashed,iftheyhaven’talreadybeendis-sipatedharmlesslyinsweat.Theadditiveitselfisalsocompletelyharmlessandthenanoparticlesareunnoticeablefromthewearer’spointofview.

OnepersonwearingclothestreatedwithCatClowouldbeabletoremovearound5gofnitrogenoxidesfromtheairinthecourseofanaverageday–roughlyequivalenttotheamountproducedeachdaybytheaveragefamilycar.ProfessorTonyRyanOBEoftheUniversityofSheffield,whohasco-ledtheprojectworkingcloselywithProfessorHelenStoreyMBEfromLondonCollegeofFashion,says:“It’stheactionofdaylightonthenanoparticlesthatmakesthemfunctioninthisway.Thedevelopmentoftheadditiveisjustoneoftheadvanceswe’rema-kinginthefieldofphotocatalyticmaterials–mate-rialsthat,inthepresenceoflight,catalysechemicalreactions.ThroughCatClo,weaimtoturnclothesintoacatalyticsurfacetopurifyair.”

http://www.catalytic-clothing.com/

ResearchersattheWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard Universityhavecreatedanewkindofbarcodethatcouldcomeinanalmostlimitlessarrayofstyles–withthepoten-tialtoenablescientiststogathervastlymorevitalinformation,atonegiventime,thaneverbefore.

ThemethodharnessesthenaturalabilityofDNAtoself-assemble.

Shownherearethecolorcombinations(216)resultingfromattachingjustthreecolorstoaDNAnanotubeusingorigamitechnology–underscoringthepotentialofthisnewmethod.©ChenxiangLin,RalfJungmann,AndrewM.Leifer,ChaoLi,DanielLevner,GeorgeM.Church,WilliamM.Shih,PengYin,WyssInstituteforBiologicallyInspiredEngineering,HarvardMedicalSchool

Bryan Wei, Mingjie Dai, Peng Yin: Complex shapes

self-assembled from single-stranded DNA tiles, In:

Nature, Vol. 485, No. 7400, Pages 623-626, May 31

2012,DOI:10.1038/nature11075:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11075

12-09/10::September/October2012 65nanotimesNews in Brief

The University of Texas at Austin (US)hasbeenselectedtoreceivean$18.5milliongrantoverthenextfiveyearsfromtheNationalScienceFounda-tion(NSF)tocreateandleadananosystemsengi-neeringresearchcenter.Insidethenanomanufac-turingtoolforroll-to-rollnanosculptingonplasticsubstrates.Theplasticsubstraterolledonthetoolconsistsoftheprimaryfilmonwhichnanosculptingtakesplacetomakeflexelectronicdevices,pro-tectedbyapeelablethinnerfilmasshown.

The Nanomanufacturing Systems for Mobile Computing and Mobile Energy Technologies (NASCENT) willdevelopinnovativenanomanufac-turing,nanosculptingandnanometrologysystemsthatcouldleadtoversatilemobilecomputingde-vicessuchaswearablesensors,foldablelaptopsandrollablebatteries.

http://www.utexas.edu/

AUniversity of Arkansas (US) physicistandhiscolleagueshaveexaminedthelowerlimitsofnovelmaterialscalledcomplexoxidesanddiscoveredthatunlikeconventionalsemiconductorsthemate-rialsnotonlyconductelectricity,butalsodevelopunusualmagneticproperties.“Contrarytowhatwehavetodayinmodernmicroelectronicsdevicesba-sedonsilicon,hereinasinglequantumwell,whichisjustfournanometersthick,wenowhaveseveralfunctionalitiesinonedevicelayer,”saidJ.Chakha-lian,professorofphysicsandholderoftheCharles

andClydeneScharlauChairintheJ.WilliamFulb-rightCollegeofArtsandSciences.“Engineerscanusethisclassofmaterialtodevisenewmultifunctio-naldevicesbasedontheelectrons’spin.”

Thenewstructureisbasedontheconceptofcorrelatedchargecarriers,likethosefoundinrust,orironoxide.Inrust,ifoneelectrondoessome-thing,alloftheotherelectrons“know”aboutit.Thisphenomenon,calledcorrelatedelectrons,doesnotexistinsilicon-basedmaterialsthatruntoday’scomputers,televisions,complexmedicalequip-ment,powercellphonesandkeeptheelectricityoninhomes.

JianLiu,M.Kareev,D.Meyers,B.Gray,P.Ryan,J.W.

Freeland, and J. Chakhalian:Metal-Insulator Transition

andOrbitalReconstructioninMott-TypeQuantumWells

Made ofNdNiO3, In: Physical Review Letters, Volume

109, Issue10, September07, 2012,Article 107402 [5

pages],DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.107402:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.107402

Aninternational,Harvard-ledteamofresearchershavedemonstratedanewtypeoflightbeamthatpropagateswithoutspreadingoutwards,remainingverynarrowandcontrolledalonganunprecedenteddistance.This“needlebeam,”astheteamcallsit,couldgreatlyreducesignallossforon-chipopticalsystemsandmayeventuallyassistthedevelopmentofamorepowerfulclassofmicroprocessors.BasedattheHarvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), US, andtheLaboratoire Interdis-ciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne, CNRS, in France,

12-09/10::September/October201266 nanotimesNews in Brief

theappliedphysicistsbothcharacterizedandcrea-tedthisneedlebeam,whichtravelsefficientlyattheinterfaceofgoldandair.

FedericoCapasso(left),PatriceGenevet(right),andaninternationalteamofcolleagueshavedemonstratedanewtypeoftightlycontrolledlightwavethatcouldelimi-natesignallossinon-chipopticaldevices.©ElizaGrinnell,SEASCommunications

JiaoLin,JeanDellinger,PatriceGenevet,BenoitCluzel,

Frederique de Fornel, and Federico Capasso: Cosine-

GaussPlasmonBeam:ALocalizedLong-RangeNondif-

fracting SurfaceWave, In:Physical Review Letters, Vol.

109, Issue9,Article 093904 [5pages],DOI: 10.1103/

PhysRevLett.109.093904

http://prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v109/i9/e093904

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University’s Biological Systems UnitisoneoftheresearchgroupsinJapannowworkingonmakingwaste-fueled microbial fuel cells (MFCs)cheapandefficientenoughforreal-worldapplica-

tions.TheNanoparticlesbyDesignUnitisworkingwiththeBiologicalSystemsUnittobuildandtestnewtypesofnanoparticle-studdedelectrodes.Theideaistocoatacoreofcheapmaterialwithaverythinlayerofamoreexpensive,biocompatiblemetal,thensticktheresultingnanoparticlesontothesurfaceofacarbonelectrode.Inadditiontoharnessingthepropertiesoftheexpensivemetalatminimalcost,thiswillincreasethesurfaceareaoftheelectrodesothatitcanhostmoreelectricity-generatingbacteria.

http://www.oist.jp/groups/nanoparticles-design-unit-

mukhles-ibrahim-sowwan

https://groups.oist.jp/bsu

ResearcheratRiceUniversity(USA),andUniver-sitécatholiquedeLouvain(Belgium),reportanapproachtorolloutLi-ionbatterycomponentsfromsiliconchipsbyacontinuousandrepeatableetch-infiltrate-peelcycle.Theydemonstrateanoperationalfull cell 3.4 V lithium-polymer silicon nanowire (LIPOSIL) batterywhichismechanicallyflexibleandscalabletolargedimensions.

Alexandru Vlad, Arava Leela Mohana Reddy, Anakha

Ajayan,NeelamSingh,Jean-FrançoisGohy,SorinMelin-

te,andPulickelM.Ajayan:Rollupnanowirebatteryfrom

silicon chips, In: PNAS Early View, September4,2012,

DOI:10.1073/pnas.1208638109:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1208638109

12-09/10::September/October2012 67nanotimesNews in Brief

ClemsonUniversityphysicsprofessorApparao Rao hasreceiveda$1.2milliongrantfromtheNationalScienceFoundation(NSF)toexploretheuseofcar-bonnanomaterialsforenergystorage.TheClemsonphysicsprofessorwillleadateamofresearchersfromClemsonandtheUniversityofCalifornia-SanDiegoindevelopingnoveltypes of electrochemi-cal capacitors with blueprints for their scalability.

http://www.clemson.edu

Organiccatalystsareabreakthroughinthequestforinexpensiveandefficientmaterialsforenvironmen-tallyfriendlyproductionofenergyinfuelcells.AnewstudybyphysicistsatUmeå University in Swe-denprovidesbetterknowledgeaboutkeyprocessesinproducingthesecatalysts.

TivaSharifi,GuangzhiHu,XueenJia,andThomasWåg-

berg:FormationofActiveSitesforOxygenReductionRe-

actionsbyTransformationofNitrogenFunctionalities in

Nitrogen-DopedCarbonNanotubes,In:ACS Nano ASAP,

September28,2012,DOI:10.1021/nn302906r:

http.//dx.doi.org/10.1021/nn302906r

ResearcheratEngineering and Materials Science, and Department of Chemistry and Smalley Insti-tute of Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, USA,putforwardacomprehensive picture dubbed nanoreactor,whichdrawsfrom

ideasofstep-flowcrystalgrowthaugmentedbyde-tailedfirst-principlescalculations.Theanalysisaddsausefulperspectiveonthesynthesisofcarbonna-notubesanditsessentialdistinctionfromgraphene.

VasiliiI.Artyukhov,YuanyueLiu,andBorisI.Yakobson:

Equilibrium at the edge and atomistic mechanisms of

graphenegrowth,In:In:PNAS Early View,September4,

2012,DOI:10.1073/pnas.1207519109:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1207519109

AspartofaninternalprojectattheGeminiTribo-logyCentre(friction,wear,lubrication),agroupofresearchersfromSINTEFandtheNorwegian Uni-versity of Science and Technology (NTNU)havespenttwoyearsbuildingground-breakingexpertiseincoatings and thermal spraying.Theresearchersarenowtestingwhetheritispossible–wheretwometalsurfacesareincontactwitheachother–toapplyacoatingtothesurfacesformedofhardpar-

Capsule in the wear track, © SINTEF/NTNU

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ticlesandcapsulesfilledwithliquidlubricant.“Weapplythelubricantusingathermalspraytechnique,wherepowderandcapsulesarefiredatthesur-faceusingaflame,”saysSergioArmadaofSINTEFMaterialsandChemistry.“Whenthemetalsurfacescomeintocontactwitheachother,thecoatingisbrokendowninacontrolledmanner,releasingthecontentsofthecapsules,andthelubricantwillthenpreventfurtherfriction.”

Theresearchershavecarriedoutanumberoftestsonslidebearingsinindustrialsettings,inwhichtheyhavemeasuredfrictiononsurfaceswithandwi-thoutthecapsules.Whenacoatingwithoutcap-suleswasappliedtotheslidebearing,thefrictioncoefficientwas0.7,whilefrictionwasreducedto0.15inbearingscoatedwithalayerofcapsules.

http://www.sintef.com

ResearchersinAalto Universityhavedevelopedanew concept for computing, using water droplets as bits of digital information.Thiswasenabledbythediscoverythatuponcollisionwitheachotheronahighlywater-repellentsurface,twowaterdropletsreboundlikebilliardballs.

Waterdropletsmovingonasuperhydrophobicsurfacecollidewitheachotherandreboundlikebilliardballs.©AaltoUniversity

Henrikki Mertaniemi, Robert Forchheimer, Olli Ikkala,

RobinH.A.Ras:ReboundingDroplet-DropletCollisions

on Superhydrophobic Surfaces: from the Phenomenon

toDropletLogic,In: Advanced Materials Early View,Sep-

tember04,2012,DOI:10.1002/adma.201202980:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201202980

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_

embedded&v=GTnVwyWaVQw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_

embedded&v=ygMdQ9NUbok

ResearchersfromBerlin,Louvain,andfromKarlsru-heInstituteofTechnologypresentanewmethodtoproducephotoniccrystals.TheSPRIE – Sequential Passivation and Reactive Ion Etching–methodcanproduceathree-dimensionalphotoniccrystalwithinafewminutes,asitisbasedonconventionalindustrialprocesses.Inprinciple,athree-dimensi-onalstructurecanbegeneratedinsiliconusingafreelychoosablemask.Thisopensupnewpossibi-litiesformeetingtherequirementsmadeonopticalcomponentsintelecom-munications.

“OurnewSPRIEfabricationmethodsusesestablis-hedtechnologies,suchasetchingandinnovativemethodslikeself-organizationandcombinestheminaverycreativemanner,”saysMartin Wegener, Professor of the Institute of Applied Physics and Institute of Nanotechnology of KIT, Germany,andcoordinatoroftheGermanDFGCenterforFunc-tionalNanostructures(CFN).TheSPRIEmethod

12-09/10::September/October2012 69nanotimesNews in Brief

isappliedtostructuresilicononlargeareasinasimpleandthree-dimensionalmanner.First,asolu-tionwithmicrometer-sizedspheresofpolystyreneisappliedtothesiliconsurface.Afterdrying,thesespheresautomati-callyforminadensemonolayeronthesilicon.Uponmetalcoatingandtheremovalofthespheres,ahoneycombetchingmaskremainsonthesiliconsurface.

Image:Deepbelowthesiliconsurface,theSPRIEmethodproducesregularstructuresinthemicrometerrangethatrefractlight.©KIT/CFN

“Thisetchingmaskisourtwo-dimensionaltem-platefortheconstructionofthethree-dimensionalstructure,”saysFrölich.Thefreeareasareremovedbyetchingwithareactiveplasmagas.Anelectricfieldisappliedtomakethegasparticlesetchintothedepthonlyorho-mogeneouslyinalldirections.”Inaddition,wecanspecificallypas-sivatethewallsofthehole,whichmeansthatitisprotectedfromfurtheretchingbyapolymerlayer.”

Repeatedetchingandpassivationmakestheholesoftheetchingmaskgrowintothedepth.Withupto

10µm,theirdepthexceedstheirwidthbyafactorofmorethan10.Theprocessstepsandtheelectricfieldareadjustedpreciselytocontrolthestructureofthewalls.Insteadofasimpleholewithverticalsmoothwalls,everyetchingstepproducesasphe-ricaldepressionwithacurvedsurface.Thiscurva-tureisthebasisfortheregularrepeatingstructuresofnovelwaveguides.“Opticaltelecommunicationtakesplaceatawavelengthof1.5µm.Withouretchingmethod,weproduceacorrugatedstructureinthemicrometerrangealongthewall.”

Alexandru Vlad, Andreas Frölich, Thomas Zebrowski,

Constantin Augustin Dutu, Kurt Busch, Sorin Melin-

te,MartinWegener and IsabelleHuynen:Direct Tran-

scription of Two-Dimensional Colloidal Crystal Arrays

into Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystals, In: Advan-

ced Functional Materials,EarlyView,October08,2012,

DOI:10.1002/adfm.201201138:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201201138

Inanewexperiment,asilicafibrejust500nmacrosshasbeenshownnottoobeyPlanck‘slawofradiation.Theresearcherinvestigatethether-malizationviaheatradiationofasilicafiberwithadiametersmallerthanthethermalwavelength.Thetemperaturechangeofthesubwavelength-diameterfiberisdeterminedthroughameasurementofitsopticalpathlengthinconjunctionwithanabinitiothermodynamicmodelofthefiberstructure.TheresultsdiffersignificantlyfromthepredictionsofPlanck‘slawbasedonthespectralemissivityofsilica.C.Wuttke,A.Rauschenbeutel:ProbingPlanck‘sLawfor

anObjectThinnerthantheThermalWavelength,In:ar-

Xiv:1209.0536: http://arxiv.org/abs/1209.0536

12-09/10::September/October201270 nanotimesNews in Brief

Penn State, North Carolina State University, the University of VirginiaandFlorida International Uni-versity (US)willcollaborateonanationalnanotechnologyresearchefforttocreateself-powereddevicestohelppeoplemonitortheirhealthandunderstandhowthesurroundingenvironmentaffectsit.The NSF Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST),tobeheadquarteredonNCState‘sCentennialCampus,alsoincludesfiveaf-filiateduniversitiesandabout30industrypartnersinitsglobalresearchconsortium.ASSISTwillbefundedbyaninitialfive-year$18.5milliongrantfromtheNSF.

http://www.psu.edu/

©PSU/ASSIST

12-09/10::September/October2012 71nanotimesNews in Brief

The NanoMaterials Innovation Centerisprovidingno cost equipment training to New York-based small-to-medium sized companies (50 or less employees).

http://www.nanomic.org

MITresearchershavedevelopedanewtechniqueformagnetically separating oil and waterthatcouldbeusedtocleanupoilspills.Theybelie-vethat,withtheirtechnique,theoilcouldberecoveredforuse,offsettingmuchofthecostofcleanup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_

embedded&v=ZaP7XOjsCHQ

The Academy of FinlandhasgrantedEUR1.6milli-ontoaconsortiumbasedatTampere University of Technology (TUT) underthe“ProgrammableMate-rials”fundingscheme.TheprojectrunsfromSep-tember1,2012toAugust31,2016andisentitled“PhotonicallyAddressedZeroCurrentLogicthroughNano-AssemblyofFunctionalisedNanoparticlestoQuantumDotCellularAutomata”(PhotonicQCA).Theprojectcombinesexpertisefromthedepart-mentsofElectronics,ChemistryandBioengineeringandOptoelectronicsResearchCentre(ORC)tolook

attheuniquepossibilitiesofcombiningorganicchemistry,semiconductorgrowthandnanofabri-cationtoputthebasisofavisionarytechnologyplatformforfuturenanoelectronicdevicesandlogiccircuits.PhotonicQCAfitswelltotheobjectivesoftheProgrammableMaterialsscheme,whichlooksforvisionarynewwaystousematerials.

http://www.aka.fi/en-GB/A/Programmes-and-Coope-

ration/Research-programmes/Ongoing/Programmable-

materials/

AresearchgroupattheNIMS International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)succee-dedinthedevelopmentofbanddiagrammeasure-mentsysteminatmosphericconditionfororganicsemiconductormaterials.http://www.nims.go.jp/eng/news/press/2012/08/

p201208270.html

12-09/10::September/October201272 nanotimesNews in Brief

EngineersatOregon State University havemadeabreakthroughintheperformanceofmicrobi-al fuel cells thatcanproduceelectricity directly from wastewater.ThenewtechnologydevelopedatOSUcannowproduce10to50moretimestheelectricity,pervolume,thanmostotherapproachesusingmicrobialfuelcells,and100timesmoreelec-tricitythansome.

YanzhenFan,Sun-KeeHanandHongLiu:Improvedper-

formanceofCEAmicrobialfuelcellswithincreasedreac-

torsize,In: Energy & Environmental Science,Vol.5,Issue

8,2012,June13,2012,Pages8273-8280,DOI:10.1039/

C2EE21964F:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C2EE21964F

AresearchgroupincludingHokkaido University, NIMS,etc.,succeededindevelopinganovelalloycatalystinwhichtheplatinumatomsandrutheni-umatomsthatcontributetoimprovedefficiencyinresidential-usefuelcellsareperfectlyintermixed.

Figure:Residential-usesolidpolymer-typefuelcellsystem(polymerelectrolytefuelcell:PEFC),andanen-largeddiagramofthedevelopedcatalyst(lowerleft).

http://www.nims.go.jp/

ThetheoreticalandexperimentalframeworkofanewcoherentdiffractionstrainimagingapproachwasdevelopedintheCenter for Nanoscale Ma-terials‘ X-Ray Microscopy Group in collaborati-on with Argonne‘s Materials Science Division,togetherwithusersfromIBM.NanofocusedX-rayBraggprojectionptychographycreatesatooltoefficientlyimagestrainfieldswithunperturbedboundaryconditionsintechnologicallyandscientificallyrele-vantenergysystems.Thisnewtechniqueiscapableofimaging lattice distortions in thin films nonde-structively at spatial resolutions of <20 nm using coherent nanofocused hard X-rays.Thisworkmarksasignificantstepforwardinthedevelopmentofnon-destructivecoherentX-raydiffractionimagingtechniquesforthestudyofnanoscalelatticefeaturesinrealmaterialsunderrealconditions.

S.O.Hruszkewyczetal.:Quantitativenanoscaleimaging

of lattice distortions in epitaxial semiconductor hetero-

structuresusingnanofocusedX-rayBraggprojectionpty-

(Top)FocusedbeamcoherentX-raynanodiffractionpatternscollectedfromaSiGe-on-SOIprototypedeviceedgeand(middleandbottom)projectedstrainfieldreconstructedbyptychographicmethods.©ANL

12-09/10::September/October2012 73nanotimesNews in Brief

chography,In:Nano Letters,Vol.12,Issue10,October

10,2012,Pages5148-5154,DOI:10.1021/nl303201w:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl303201w

http://nano.anl.gov/research/xray.html

AteamofresearchersattheUniversity of Pennsyl-vaniahasfoundawaytogenerateakindof“struc-turalcolor”thathastheaddedbenefitofanothertraitofbutterflywings:super-hydrophobicity,ortheabilitytostronglyrepelwater.TheresearchwasledbyShu Yang,associateprofessorintheDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

JieLi,GuanquanLiang,XuelianZhu,ShuYang:Exploi-

tingNanoroughnessonHolographicallyPatternedThree-

DimensionalPhotonicCrystals, In:Advanced Functional

Materials, Volume22, Issue14, Pages2980-2986, July

24,2012,DOI:10.1002/adfm.201200013:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201200013

A critical review in Chemical Society Reviews: Yuan-

jin Zhao, Zhuoying Xie,HongchengGu,CunZhu and

ZhongzeGu:Bio-inspiredvariablestructuralcolormate-

rials,In:Chemical Society Reviews,Vol.41,Issue8,2012,

Pages3297-3317,DOI:10.1039/C2CS15267C:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C2CS15267C

Oregon State University (OSU), USA,presentthefirstreportofresistive switching in zinc-tin-oxide.TheresearchersatOSUhaveconfirmedthatzinctinoxidehassignificantpotentialforuseinthisfield,andcouldprovideanew,transparenttech-

nologywherecomputermemoryisbasedonresi-stance,insteadofanelectroncharge.Thisresistiverandomaccessmemory,orRRAM,isreferredtobysomeresearchersasa“memristor.”Productsusingthisapproachcouldbecomeevensmaller,fasterandcheaperthanthesilicontransistorsthathaverevolutionizedmodernelectronics–andtranspa-rentaswell.

Santosh Murali, Jaana S. Rajachidambaram, Seung-

YeolHan,Chih-HungChang,GregoryS.Herman,John

F. Conley Jr.: Resistive switching in zinc-tin-oxide, In:

Solid-State Electronics, July 30, 2012, DOI:10.1016/j.

sse.2012.06.016:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sse.2012.06.016

AresearchteamattheUniversity of Delaware (US)studiedparamagneticcolloidswhileperiodicallyapplyinganexternalmagneticfieldatdifferentintervals.Withjusttherightfrequencyandfieldstrength,theteamwasabletowatchtheparticlestransitionfromarandom,solidlikematerialintohighlyorganizedcrystallinestructuresorlattices.

JamesW. Swan, Paula A. Vasquez, Peggy A.Whitson,

E.Michael Fincke, KoichiWakata, SandraH.Magnus,

FrankDeWinne,MichaelR.Barratt,JuanH.Agui,Ro-

bertD.Green,NancyR.Hall,DonnaY.Bohman,Charles

T.Bunnell,AliceP.Gast,andEricM.Furst:Multi-scale

kineticsofafield-directedcolloidalphasetransition,In:

PNAS Early Edition,September17,2012,DOI:10.1073/

pnas.1206915109:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1206915109

12-09/10::September/October201274 nanotimesNews in Brief

ResearcheratNorthwest A&F University, China,demonstratedhowtheDNA/RNAnativestructuresaredisruptedbythefullerene(C60)inaphysiologi-calcondition.Thenanoparticlewasfoundtobindwiththeminorgroovesofdouble-strandedDNAandtriggerunwindinganddisruptingoftheDNAhelix,whichindicatesC60canpotentiallyinhi-bittheDNAreplicationandinducepotentialsideeffects.Theyusedanexaminationof2254nativenucleotideswithmoleculardynamicssimulationandthermodynamicanalysis.

XueXu, XiaWang, Yan Li, YonghuaWang, Ling Yang:

Alarge-scaleassociationstudyfornanoparticleC60un-

coversmechanismsofnanotoxicitydisruptingthenative

conformationsofDNA/RNA,In:Nucleic Acids Research,

Volume 40, Issue 16, September 2012, Pages 7622-

7632,DOI:10.1093/nar/gks517:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gks517

Amultidisciplinaryteamofresearchersfrom UCLAandotheruniversitiesispoisedtohelpturnsciencefictionintoreality–intheformofsomeoftheworld‘stiniestelectromagneticdevices–thankstoamajorgrantfromtheNationalScienceFoundation‘sEngineeringResearchCenter(ERC)program.

Thegrant,worthupto$35millionover10years,willfundanewcenterheadquarteredatUCLA‘sHenrySamueliSchoolofEngineeringandAppliedSciencethatwillfocusonresearchaimedatde-velopinghighlyefficientandpowerfulelectroma-gneticsystemsroughlythesizeofabiologicalcell–systemsthatcanpowerarangeofdevices,fromminiaturizedconsumerelectronicsandtechnologies

importantfornationalsecuritytoas-yetunima-ginedmachines,likenanoscalesubmarinesthatcannavigatethroughthehumanbloodstream.UCLA‘spartnersinthenewcenterincludeUCBerkeley,CornellUniversity,Switzerland‘sETHZurichandCaliforniaStateUniversity,Northridge.

Image:TANMSresearchershaveusedanelectricfieldtoturnamagneticfieldon(left)andoff(right).Theymeasuredthiseffectinaferromagneticthinfilmontopofapiezoelectricsubstrate,usingamagneticforcemi-croscope.Atleft,thedarklinesrepresentmagneticnorthpolesemanatingfromtheferromagneticthinfilm,andthelightlinesrepresentmagneticsouthpoles.Atright,anelectricfieldisappliedtothepiezoelectricsubstrate,andthelinesvanish,meaningthatthemagneticfieldisnolongerpresent.Theresearcherswillexpandonthisabilitytocontrolmagneticfieldsinnanostructuredferroma-gneticelementsintheworkoftheTANMSNanosystemsEngineeringResearchCenter.TANMSseekstointegratenewlydiscoveredlarge-effectmultiferroicmaterialsintoelectromagneticdevices,therebyenablingchip-scalegenerationofmagneticfieldsthroughthesimpleapplica-tionofavoltage.Theirresearchcouldleadtotransforma-tionsinmemorysystems,antennasystems,andnanomo-torsystems.©RayC.J.Hsu,MechanicalandAerospaceEngineering,UCLA

http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/

12-09/10::September/October2012 75nanotimesNews in Brief

ResearchersfromNorth Carolina State Universityhavecreatedflower-likestructuresoutofgermani-umsulfide(GeS)–asemiconductormaterial–thathaveextremelythinpetalswithanenormoussur-facearea.TheGeSflowerholdspromisefornext-generationenergystoragedevicesandsolarcells.

TheGeS„nanoflowers“havepetalsonly20-30nmthick,andprovidealargesurfaceareainasmallamountofspace.©NCSU

ChunLi,LiangHuang,GayatriPongurSnigdhaandLin-

youCao:RoleofBoundaryLayerDiffusioninVaporDe-

positionGrowthofChalcogenideNanosheets:TheCase

ofGeS,In:ACS Nano ASAP,September25,2012,DOI:

10.1021/nn303745e:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nn303745e

http://www.ncsu.edu/

AteamofphysicistsatMax-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics (Garching),Harvard Universi-ty (Cambridge, USA),andCalifornia Institute of Technology (Pasadena, USA)developsaschemefornoisetolerantandyetsafelyencryptedquantumtokens.Unforgeablequantumcreditcardsinsight.

FernandoPastawskia,NormanY.Yaob,LiangJiangc,Mik-

hailD.Lukinb,andJ.IgnacioCiraca:Unforgeablenoise-

tolerant quantum tokens, In: PNAS, Vol. 109, No. 40,

October 2, 2012, Pages 16079-16082, DOI:10.1073/

pnas.1203552109:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1203552109

AninterdisciplinaryteamofresearchersattheUniversity of Delaware (US) isdevelopinganovelstructuralhealthmonitoringsystemthatcouldavertconstruction disastersinthefuture.ErikThosten-sonandThomasSchumacher,bothaffiliatedfacultymembersintheUD Center for Composite Materi-als,havereceivedathree-year$300,000grantfromtheNationalScienceFoundationtoinvestigatetheuse of carbon nanotube composites asakindof“smartskin”forstructures.Inpreliminaryresearch,thetwofoundthatacarbonnanotubehybridglass-fibercompositeattachedtosmall-scaleconcretebeamsformedacontinuousconductiveskinthatisexceptionallysensitivetochangesinstrainaswellastothedevelopmentandgrowthofdamage.

http://www.udel.edu

http://www.ccm.udel.edu

12-09/10::September/October201276 nanotimesNews in Brief

Themostcommonformofstrokesarecausedbyasuddenreductioninbloodflowtothebrain(ische-mia)thatleadstoaninadequatesupplyofoxygenandnutrients.Theseso-calledischemicstrokesareoneoftheleadingcausesofdeathanddisabilityinindustrializednations.Iftheyarenotimmediate-lyremediedbymedicalintervention,areasofthebrainmaydieoff.InthejournalAngewandte Chemie,Koreanresearchershavenowproposedanewapproachforsupplementaltreatment:Ceria nanoparticles couldtrapthereactiveoxygencom-poundsthatresultfromischemiaandcausecellstodie.

ChiKyungKimetal.:CeriaNanoparticlesthatcanPro-

tectagainstIschemicStroke,In:Angewandte Chemie In-

ternational Edition Early View,September12,2012,DOI:

10.1002/anie.201203780:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201203780

University of Central Florida (US)assistantprofes-sorhasdevelopedanewmaterialusingnanotech-nology,whichcouldhelpkeeppilotsandsensitiveequipmentsafefromdestructivelasers.UCFAssi-stantProfessorJayan Thomas,incollaborationwithCarnegie Mellon University Associate Professor Rongchao Jin chronicletheirworkinjournalNano Letters.Thomasisworkingwithgoldnanoparticlesandstudyingtheirpropertieswhentheyareshrunkintoasmallsizeregimecallednanoclusters.

“Nanoclustersoccupytheintriguingquantumsizeregimebetweenatomsandnanocrystals,andthesynthesisofultra-small,atomicallyprecisemetalnanoclustersisachallengingtask,”Thomassaid.

Thomasandhisteamfoundthatnanoclustersde-velopedbyaddingatomsinasequentialmannercouldprovideinterestingopticalproperties.Itturnsoutthatthegoldnanoclustersexhibitqualitiesthatmaymakethemsuitableforcreatingsurfacesthatwoulddiffuselaserbeamsofhighenergy.Theyappeartobemuchmoreeffectivethangoldnano-crystal.

Reji Philip, Panit Chantharasupawong, Huifeng Qian,

Rongchao Jin, and Jayan Thomas: Evolution of Nonli-

nearOptical Properties: FromGoldAtomicClusters to

PlasmonicNanocrystals, In:Nano Letters ASAP, July30,

2012,DOI:10.1021/nl301988v:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl301988v

http://www.ucf.edu

ResearcheratPennsylvania State University, USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, BASF SE, Germany, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany,proposeamechanismbasedonopticaltrappingofaproteinatthesiteofplasmo-nicfieldenhancementsforachievingultrasensitivedetectioninonlymicroliter-scalesamplevolumes,andinreal-time.

MiguelA.Santiago-Cordoba,MuratCetinkaya,Svetlana

V.Boriskina,FrankVollmer,MelikC.Demirel:Ultrasen-

sitivedetectionofaproteinbyopticaltrappinginapho-

tonic-plasmonicmicrocavity,In:JournalofBiophotonics

Special Issue: Lab-on-a-Chip Based Diagnostics,Volume5,Issue8-9,August2012,Pages629-638,DOI:10.1002/jbio.201200040:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbio.201200040

12-09/10::September/October2012 77nanotimesNews in Brief

Anew“nanomachineshop”thatshapesnanowiresandultrathinfilmscouldrepresentafuture manuf-acturing methodfortinystructureswithpotentiallyrevolutionaryproperties.Thestructuresmightbetunedforapplicationsrangingfromhigh-speedelectronicstosolarcellsandalsomayhavegreaterstrengthandunusualtraitssuchasultrahighmagne-tismand“plasmonicresonance,”whichcouldleadtoimprovedoptics,computersandelectronics.Theresearchersusedtheirtechniquetostampnano-andmicrogears;formtinycircularshapesoutofamaterialcalledgraphene.

Thisillustrationdepictsanewnanomachineshop‘sabilitytoshapetinywires,anadvancethatrepresentsapossiblefuturemanufacturingmethodforapplicationsrangingfromhigh-speedelectronicstosolarcells.©PurdueUniversity/GaryCheng

JiLi,Ting-FungChung,YongP.Chen,andGaryJ.Cheng:

Nanoscale Strainability of Graphene by Laser Shock-

Induced Three-Dimensional Shaping, In:Nano Letters,

Volume12, Issue9,September12,2012,Pages4577-

4583,DOI:10.1021/nl301817t:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl301817t

Thepaper,“NASA‘s Relationship with Nanotech-nology: Past, Present and Future Challenges,”investigateshowNASAhasbothguidedandde-fundedcutting-edgenanotechnologydevelopmentsince1996atitsownresearchfacilitiesandinitscollaborationswithuniversityscientistsandlabora-tories.

http://news.rice.edu/2012/10/16/nasa-must-reinvest-

in-nanotechnology-research-according-to-new-rice-uni-

versity-paper/

“NASA’s Relationship with Nanotechnology: Past,

PresentandFutureChallenges”:

http://www.bakerinstitute.org/policyreport54

ResearchersattheUS Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) believethattheyhavestruckabalancebetweenconversionefficiencyandmanufacturingcostsbydevelopingananotechnology-enabledsiliconsolarcellthatboasts18.2% conversion efficiency andthatshouldbecheapertoproduce.

Jihun Oh, Hao-Chih Yuan & Howard M. Branz: An

18.2%-efficientblack-siliconsolarcellachievedthrough

control of carrier recombination in nanostructures, In:

Nature AOP, September 30, 2012, DOI:10.1038/nna-

no.2012.166:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2012.166

http://spectrum.ieee.org/nanoclast/semiconductors/

nanotechnology/nanostructured-silicon-solar-cells-achie-

ve-high-conversion-efficiency-without-antireflective-coa-

tings

12-09/10::September/October201278 nanotimesNews in Brief

Electriccurrentshootsstraightacrossasheetofdefect-freegraphenewithalmostnoresistance,afeaturethatmakesthematerialhighlyattractivetoengineerswhowoulduseitinthingsliketouch-screensandotherelectronics,saidRiceUniversitytheoreticalphysicistBoris Yakobson.

AgraphicbyRiceresearchersshowsgraphenegrowthviaopen-pentagonarmchairedges,withatomsjoiningonebyonetoformthematerial’sfamiliarhexagonallattice.Theresearchersanalyzedtheenergiesinvolvedingra-phenecreationinastudythatmayhelpexperimentalistsgrowbetter-qualitygrapheneviachemicalvapordeposi-tion.©YakobsonLab/RiceUniversity

RiceUniversityresearchershavecomeupwithasetofcalculationstopredicthowgraphenegrowsinthepro-cessknownaschemicalvapordeposition.Thegraphsetagainstanillustrationofgraphenegrowingonanickelca-talystshowstheinitialenergybarrieracarbonatommustovercometojointhebloom;subsequentatomsfaceanever-smallerenergybarrieruntiltheprocessbeginsagainforthenextline.©VasiliiArtyukhov/RiceUniversity

Vasilii I. Artyukhov, Yuanyue Liu, and Boris I. Yakob-

son:Equilibriumat theedgeandatomisticmechanisms

of graphene growth, In:PNAS, Vol. 109,No. 38, Sep-

tember 4, 2012, Pages 15136-15140, DOI:10.1073/

pnas.1207519109:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1207519109

http://news.rice.edu/2012/09/04/every-atom-counts-

in-graphene-formation/

Qubit-based computing exploitingspookyquan-tumeffectslikeentanglementandsuperpositionwillspeedupfactoringandsearchingcalculationsfarabovewhatcanbedonewithmerezero-or-onebits.Todomesticatequantumweirdness,however,tomakeitafitcompanionformass-marketelec-tronictechnology,manytrickybi-lateralandmulti-lateralarrangements–amongphotons,electrons,circuits,cavities,etc.–needtobenegotiated.Anewmilestoneinthisforwardmarch:aPrince-ton-Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) collaborationannouncesthesuccessfulexcitationofaspinqubitusingaresonantcavity.Thecircuit,viathecavity,sensesthepresenceofthequbitasifitwereabitofcapacitance.Thisresultpointstowardtheeventualmovementofquantuminformationover“bus”con-duitsmuchasdigitalinformationmovesoverbusesinconventionalcomputers.

Image:Hybridquantumdot-superconductingresona-tordevice.(a)Circuitschematicandmicrographofthehybriddevicedesign.Scanningelectronmicrograph(b)andcross-sectionalschematicview(c)ofthenanowiredoublequantumdot(DQD).Theleftandrightbarriergates(BLandBR),leftandrightplungergates(LandR),

12-09/10::September/October2012 79nanotimesNews in Brief

andmiddlegate(M)arebiasedtocreateadouble-wellpotentialwithinthenanowire.Thedraincontactofthenanowire,D,isgrounded,andthesourcecontact,S,isconnectedtoanantinodeoftheresonator,oscillatingatavoltageVCavity.©CreditPeterssonet.al.

K.D.Petersson,L.W.McFaul,M.D.Schroer,M.Jung,

J.M.Taylor,A.A.Houck, J.R.Petta:Circuitquantum

electrodynamicswith a spin qubit, In: Nature, Volume

490,Number7420,October18,2012,Pages380-383,

DOI:10.1038/nature11559:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11559

http://jqi.umd.edu/news/357-bus-service-for-qubits.html

Thefabricationofmanyobjects,machines,andde-vicesaroundusrelyonthecontrolleddeformationofmetalsbyindustrialprocessessuchasbending,shearing,andstamping.Isthistechnologytransfer-rabletonanoscale?Canwebuildsimilarlycomplexdevicesandmachineswithverysmalldimensions?ScientistsfromAalto University in FinlandandtheUniversity of WashingtonintheUShavejust

demonstratedthistobepossible.Bycombiningionprocessingandnanolithographytheyhavemanagedtocreatecomplexthree-dimensionalstructuresatnanoscale.

KhattiyaChalapat,NikolaiChekurov,HuaJiang,JianLi,

Babak Parviz, G. S. Paraoanu: Self-OrganizedOrigami

Structures via Ion-Induced Plastic Strain, In: Advanced

Materials Early View,October 01, 2012,DOI:10.1002/

adma.201202549:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201202549

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tw1AAxcULwQ

http://ltl.tkk.fi/wiki/LT/Kvantti

12-09/10::September/October201280 nanotimesNews in Brief

ScientistsattheSaarland University and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)unraveledlungmucus’sphysicalproperties:Theydiscoveredthatarigidgelscaffoldinlungmucusseparateslarge,fluid-filledporesandpreventsnanoparticlemovementbeyondindividualporeboundaries.Theirfindingsdeepenourunderstan-dingofdiseasesoftherespiratorysystem,notablyinfections,andsupportthedevelopmentofnewinhaledmedications.

“Ourresultsarehelpingustobetterunderstandtheetiologyofinfectiousdiseasesoftheairwaysandhowtotreatthemmoreeffectively.Inparticular,

theyrepresentanimportantbasisforthecontinueddevelopmentofnewinhaledmedications,“explainsProfessorLehr.Thenewlygainedinsightsshowthatitisimportanttoconsiderhowdrugsovercomethemucusgelscaffold.Mucolytictechniquescanbeusedwhere,essentially,therodsaremeltedsuchthattheydissolvebeforethenanoparticleand,oncetheparticlehaspassed,theyfuseagain.

Julian Kirch, Andreas Schneider, Berengere Abou, Ale-

xanderHopf, Ulrich F. Schäfer,Marc Schneider, Chri-

stianSchall,ChristianWagnerundClausMichaelLehr:

Opticaltweezersrevealrelationshipbetweenmicrostruc-

tureandnanoparticlepenetrationofpulmonarymucus,

In:PNAS Early Edition,October22,2012,DOI:10.1073/

pnas.1214066109:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1214066109

Left:Lungmucus:Rigid,thickgelrodsseparatingporesfilledwithliquidphase.Nanoparticles–forexampledrugnanoparticles–becomestuckatthesestructuresasthoughtheywerebarsofacage.©Schneider/Kirchetal.

Researchersatthe Fraunhofer Institute for Mecha-nics of Materials IWM in Freiburg,workingjointlywithHegla,haveengineeredanewprocesstocutsafetyglass.“Wecuttheinteriorfilmbeforetheglassisscoredandbrokenapart,”explainsTobias Rist,scientistatFraunhoferIWM.“Weusealaserbeamthatcanbeguidedoverthepaneasdesired.Thisiswhywearealsoabletocutunusualgeome-tries.”Thelaserbeampenetratestheglassandre-leasesitsenergyprimarilyinthefilm.Thefilmgetshotenoughforittomeltandvaporize.Withthismethodachannelisproducedinthefilm,andthefilmisseparatedlocally.Whenthefilmis“cut,”the

12-09/10::September/October2012 81nanotimesNews in Brief

glassiscarvedandfracturedparalleltotheresultingfilmchannel.“Theprocesscanbereadilyautoma-tedandappliedonanindustrialscale,”saysRist.FraunhoferInstituteforMechanicsofMaterialIWM:

http://www.iwm.fraunhofer.de

ResearchersattheHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Germany, andtheTU Vienna,Austria,wereatlastabletoreconcileimportantissuesconcerningtheeffectsofhighlychargedionsonsurfaces.Thescientistsarecallingtheirresultsthemissingimportantpieceofthepuzzletohelpthemunderstandtheinteractionofhighlychargedionswithsurfaces.

Followingbombardmentwithhighlychargedions,nano-hillockshaveformedinanareaoflocalizedmelting.Atomicforcemicroscopeimage(HZDR).©HZDR

A.S.El-Said,R.A.Wilhelm,R.Heller,S.Facsko,C.Lemell,

G.Wachter,J.Burgdörfer,R.Ritter,F.Aumayr:Phasedi-

agram for nanostructuringCaF2 surfaces by slowhighly

chargedions,In:Physical Review Letters,Vol.109(2012),

Article117602,DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.117602:

http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.117602

AresearchteamfromtheUniversity of Bristol’s Centre for Quantum Photonics (CQP, UK)havebroughttherealityofaquantumcomputeronestepcloserbyexperimentallydemonstratingatechniqueforsignificantlyreducingthephysicalresourcesrequiredforquantumfactoring.

EnriqueMartín-López,AnthonyLaing,ThomasLawson,

RobertoAlvarez,Xiao-QiZhou, JeremyL.O‘Brien:Ex-

perimentalrealizationofShor‘squantumfactoringalgo-

rithm using qubit recycling, In:Nature Photonics AOP,

October21,2012,DOI:10.1038/nphoton.2012.259:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2012.259

TheCentreforQuantumPhotonics,UK:

http://www.phy.bris.ac.uk/groups/cqp/

Anewtypeofnanoscalemoleculartrapmakesitpossibleforindustryto store large amounts of hy-drogen in small fuel cellsorcapture,compactandremovevolatileradioactivegasfromspentnuclearfuelinanaffordable,easilycommercializedway.ButwhatmakesthisMOF,calledZIF-8,drama-ticallydifferentfromdesignscreatedduringthepastdecadeisitsabilitytodistortthewindowsintheframeworkandtraplargevolumesofgasatrelativelylowpressures.ZIF-8takesabouttwicethepressureofajunkyardcarcompactor,whichisabout10timeslesspressurethanisneededtocom-pressothercomparablezeoliteMOFs.

Thiscreatesanenvironmentallyfriendlyprocessthatiswithinthereachofexistingindustrialma-chinery,canbeproducedonalargescaleandisfinanciallyviable.

12-09/10::September/October201282 nanotimesNews in Brief

TheZIF-8iscomposedofzinccationsandorga-nicimidazolate-basedlinkers.Thetopologyoftheframeworkisanalogoustosodalite–awell-knownzeolite.

Thisillustrationofametal-organicframework,orMOF,showsthemetalcenterboundtoorganicmolecules.EachMOFhasaspecificframeworkdeterminedbythechoiceofmetalandorganic.©ANL

http://www.anl.gov/

Scientistshavecreatednewkindsofparticles,1/100ththediameterofahumanhair,thatspon-taneouslyassemblethemselvesintostructuresresemblingmoleculesmadefromatoms.Thesenewparticlescometogether,or“self-assemble,”toformstructuresinpatternsthatwerepreviouslyimpossibletomakeandholdpromiseformanuf-

acturingadvancedopticalmaterialsandceramics.Themethodwasdevelopedbyateamofchemists,chemicalengineers,andphysicistsatNew York University (NYU),theHarvard School of Enginee-ring & Applied Sciences,theHarvard Department of Physics,andDow Chemical Company.

Illustration©PengchengSong,YufengWang,andYuWang

YufengWang, YuWang, Dana R. Breed, Vinothan N.

Manoharan,LangFeng,AndrewD.Hollingsworth,Mar-

cusWeckm,DavidJ.Pine:Colloidswithvalenceandspe-

cificdirectionalbonding, In:Nature,Vol.491,Number

7422,November01,2012,Pages51-55

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11564

12-09/10::September/October2012 83nanotimesNews in Brief

Currentcommerciallyavailablefuelcellsuseplati-num nanoparticles asthecatalysttospeedupthechemicalreactionbecauseplatinumistheonlyme-talthatcanresistthehighlyacidicconditionsinsidesuchacell.However,thewidespreaduseoffuelcellshasbeenimpededbythehighcostofplatinumanditslowstability.Toovercomethislimitation,ateamofresearchersledbyIBNExecutiveDirec-torProfessorJackieY.Yinghasdiscoveredthatbyreplacingthecentralpartofthecatalystwithgoldandcopperalloyandleavingjusttheouterlayerinplatinum,thenewhybridmaterialcanprovide5timeshigheractivityandmuchgreaterstabilitythanthecommercialplatinumcatalyst.Withfurtherop-timization,itwouldbepossibletofurtherincreasethematerial‘scatalyticproperties.

IBN’snew nanocomposite material can produce at least 0.571 amperes of electric current per mil-ligram of platinum,comparedto0.109amperespermilligramofplatinumforcommercialplatinumcatalysts.Tomakethiscatalystmoreactivethanthecommercialplatinumcatalyst,theresearchershavedesignedthecoreofthenanocrsytallinematerialtobeagold-copperalloy.

JinhuaYang,XiaojunChen,XianfengYang,JackieY.Ying.

StabilizationandcompressivestraineffectofAuCucore

onPt shell foroxygen reduction reaction, In: Energy &

Environmental Science, Advance Article, July 24, 2012,

DOI:10.1039/C2EE22172A:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C2EE22172A

http://www.a-star.edu.sg

Silver nanoparticlescanhaveasevereenviron-mentalimpactiftheirutilizationinclothingconti-nuestoincrease.Ifeveryonebuysonesilvernano-particle-treatedsockayear,thesilverconcentrationinwastewatertreatmentplantsludgecandouble.Ifthesludgeissubsequentlyusedasfertilizer,thesilvercancauselong-termdamagetoagriculturalland.ThesearetheresultsofastudyconductedatChalmers University of Technology.

http://www.chalmers.se/en/Pages/default.aspx

ResearchersfromA*STAR’s Institute of Microe-lectronics (IME) havedevelopedthefirst compact high performance silicon-based cavity-backed slot (CBS) antennathatoperatesat135GHz.Theantennademonstrated30timesstrongersignaltransmissionoveron-chipantennasat135GHz.

http://www.ime.a-star.edu.sg/

12-09/10::September/October201284 nanotimesEU-Projects

Project Nanomal

TheEUR5.2million(£4million)Nanomal projectisplanningtoprovideanaffordablehand-helddia-gnosticdevicetoswiftlydetectmalariainfectionandparasites’drugresistance.Itwillallowhealthcareworkersinremoteruralareastodelivereffectivedrugtreatmentstocounterresistancemorequickly,potentiallysavinglives.

Thedevice–thesizeandshapeofamobilephone–willusearangeoflatestprovennanotechnologiestorapidlyanalysetheparasiteDNAfromabloodsample.

TheNanomalconsortiumisbeingledbySt George’s, University of London,whichisworkingwithUKhandhelddiagnosticsandDNAsequencingspecialistQuantuMDx Group andteamsattheUniversity of Tuebingen in Germany andtheKarolinska Institute in Sweden.Itwassetupinresponsetoincreasingsignsthatthemalariaparasiteismutatingtoresistthemostpowerfulclassofanti-malariadrugs,artemisi-nins.TheEuropeanCommissionhasawardedEUR-4million(£3.1million)totheproject.

http://www.nanomal.org/

Project SafeBatt

Overthenextthreeyears,15partnersfromGermanscienceandtheautomotiveandsupplyindustrywillresearchhowthesafetyoflithiumionbatteriescanbefurtherimprovedforelectricandhybridvehicles.Afocalpartoftheresearchwillbenewmaterials,

testmethodsandsemiconductorsensorsforuseinlithiumionbatteries.TheFederalMinistryofEdu-cationandResearch(BMBF)isfundingthisresearchworkinordertofurtherdevelopGermany’stoppositionasacenterforindustry,scienceandtech-nology,andtoacceleratetheshifttomoreclimate-friendlyandcost-effectivemobility.TheGermangovernmenthasalsoelectedSafeBattasoneofnine“lighthouseprojects”ofGermany’sNationalElectricMobilityPlatform(NPE).SafeBattstandsfor“activeandpassivemeasuresforintrinsicallysafelithiumionbatteries”.

TheSafeBatt project partnersareBASFSE,BMWAG,DaimlerAG,DeutscheACCUmotiveGmbH&Co.KG,ElringKlingerAG,EvonikLitarionGmbH,In-fineonTechnologiesAG,Li-TecBatteryGmbH,SGSGermanyGmbH,VolkswagenAG,WackerChemieAG,theInstituteforChemicalTechnologyICToftheFraunhofer-Gesellschaft,theTechnicalUniversityofBraunschweigwiththeInstituteforParticleTechno-logyiPAT,theUniversityofMünsterwithitsbatteryresearchcenterMEETaswellastheTechnicalUni-versityofMunichwithitsDepartmentforElectricalEnergyStorage.

http://www.infineon.com/

JRC Report Reviews Measurement Methods for Nanoparticle Sizing

AnewreportbytheEuropean Commission‘s Joint Research Centre (JRC)presentsanin-depthreviewofmethodsavailabletomeasurethesizeofnano-particles.Followingtheadoptionofthedefinitionof

12-09/10::September/October2012 85nanotimesEU-Projects

thetermnanomaterialinOctober2011,thisreportidentifiesrelevantmeasurementmethodsandkeychallengesformeasuringnanoparticlesizeinthere-gulatorycontext.Thereportunderlinesthatnosinglemeasurementmethodcanbeusedforallmaterialstodetermineifeachofthemfallswithintheregulatorydefinition.Differentmethodswillberequireddepen-dingonthematerialunderinvestigation.

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_20120917_

newsrelease_measurement_methods.pdf

Project IMPROVE

The35EuropeanpartnersintheresearchprojectIMPROVE–implementingmanufacturingsciencesolutionstoincreaseequipmentproductivityandfabperformance–havesucceededinmakingtheEuropeansemiconductorindustrymorecompetitiveintheglobalarena.In2009,agroupofrenownedEuropeansemiconductorcompaniesjoinedtogetherunderthetechnicalprojectmanagementofInfine-onTechnologiesAG.TheiraimwastoidentifynewmethodstoincreasetheefficiencyofsemiconductormanufacturinginEuropeand,atthesametime,re-ducecostsandprocessingtimes.Technologypart-nersoftheprojectfundedbytheGerman Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)weresoftwareenterprises,semiconductorcompanieswithproduc-tionsitesinEurope,researchinstitutesandacademiafromAustria,France,Germany,Ireland,ItalyandPortugal.

http://www.infineon.com/cms/en/corporate/press/news/

releases/2012/INFXX201209-063.html

Project TECNALIA / INNOBITE

TECNALIAisleadingthedevelopmentofnew bio-compositesbasedonthetransformationofurbanandagriculturalwasteintohigh-performancepro-ductsfortheconstructionsector.TheseinnovativematerialswillbedevelopedwithintheframeworkofINNOBITE–INNOvativeBIocomposiTEs,aEuropeanCommissionFP7collaborativeprojectco-participa-tedbyseveralresearchcentresandEuropeanSMEs:VTT (FI), EMPA (CH), EXERGY (UK), VERTECH (FR), TECNARO (DE), ECOPULP (FI), ACF (ES) and CIMV (FR).

http://www.basqueresearch.com

Nanomaterials: Case by Case Safety Approach for Breakthrough Technology

TheEuropeanCommissionadoptedaCommunica-tion on the Second Regulatory Review on Nanoma-terials,whichalsoincludestheCommission’splanstoimproveEUlawtoensurethesafeuseofnanoma-terials.TheCommunicationunderlinesnanomateri-als‘diversenatureandtypes,rangingfromeverydaymaterialsthathavebeenusedsafelyfordecadestohighlysophisticatedindustrialmaterialsandtumourtherapies.Thereisanincreasingbodyofinformationonthehazardpropertiesofnanomaterials,whicharedifficulttogeneralizeandjustifyspecificriskassess-ments.

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?referenc

e=IP/12/1050&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&

guiLanguage=en

12-09/10::September/October201286 nanotimesPatents

Patents

Measurement Method for the Field at a Superconducting Cavity under Operating Temperature

Inventor(s):Dr.RalfEichhorn/TransMITGmbH

Abstract:Intheproductionofcavitiesthefielddistributionismeasuredinordertoensurequalityandefficiency.Thenewtechnologyisparticularlydevelopedforsuperconductingcavitiesandcanbeusedindiffe-rencetothetraditionaloperationunderworkingtemperatureupto4K.Forthisreasonthecalibrati-oniscarriedoutunderrealisticterms.Theessentialattributeisthatthemeasuringtakesplaceovertheentirecavity.Fieldmodificationsduringthecoolingdownarealsoobservable.

Theconceptaddressesproducerofcavitieswhichworkto4K.Thisequipmentismostlyusedinre-searchfacilitiesoperatingasanaccelerator.

Contact: TransMITGmbH,LarsPfugbeil,KerkraderStraße

3,35394Giessen,Phone:0641-9436424:

http://www.hipo-online.de/files/220812TM583ExposeE

ngl_2012-08-23.pdf

Multiple Cell Separator Device for Separation and Manipulation of Cells and Microorganisms

Inventor(s):Prof.Dr.MichielPostema,Prof.Dr.rer.nat.ThomasWalther

Abstract:Inlifesciencescellculturesplayanessentialrole,especiallyinthebiotechnologicalandbiomedicalre-search.Thespecificseparationofdifferentcelltypesinordertoachievestandardizedprimarycellculturesisvitallyimportant.Theexistingmethodsareafflictedwithanumberofdisadvantages.

Thenewproductoffersthepossibilitytoidentifyandseparateseveraltypesofcellsormicroorganismsoutofamixedcellpopulation(multicellsystem),withouthavingtostainthecells,labelthemwithantibodiesorremovethecellsfromthecultivationsystemformorphologicalexamination.

Contact: TransMITGmbH,ThomasWidmann,Kerkrader

Str.3,D-35394Giessen,Phone:+49-(0)641-94364-35:

ht tp: / /www.hipo-onl ine.de/ f i les /TM430Expo-

seEN_2012-07-11.pdf

12-09/10::September/October2012 87nanotimesPatents

OLED Polymer with Minor Defects and Simple Production for an OLED Display

Inventor(s):PDDr.StefanImmel,Dipl.-Chem.SerenaNickel,Prof.Dr.MatthiasRehahn,Dr.Thor-stenSchwalm

Abstract:ThisdevelopmentenablesasimplecoatingandstructuringofacarrierwithanOLED polymer.Asaresultofthis,OLEDdisplaysareeasytoproduce.AnadvantageofthisdevelopmentisthesolventwhichissavedduringthestructuringoftheOLEDpolymer.Thisisachievedbyeschewingcertainprocessingsteps.AnothereffectoftheinventionisthesignificantreductionofdefectswithintheOLEDpolymer.Auniformagingofthedifferentcolourscanthusbeachieved.Thisofferstheparticularadvantagethatcolourshiftscansignificantlybereducedduringaging.Ageingeffectscanconsequentlybecompen-satedtoacertainextentsimplybyincreasingthecurrent.ThisthereforeextendstheservicelifeoftheOLED.However,theOLED’soperatingliferemainsfinite.

TransMITislookingforcooperationpartnersforthefurtherdevelopmentoftheinventionuptoroutineapplicationand/ordistributionandproductionpart-nersinEurope,theUSA,andAsia.

Contact:TransMITGmbH,LarsPfugbeil,KerkraderStraße

3,35394Giessen,Phone:0641-9436424:

ht tp: / /www.hipo-onl ine.de/ f i les /TM335Expo-

seEN_2012-07-11.pdf

Friction Bearing for Reducing Resonance Vibrations

Inventor(s): Dr.AthanasiosChasalevris,Dr.techn.FadiDohnal

Abstract:Thisnewtypeoffriction bearingfacilitatesanef-fectivereductioninresonancevibrationsbyusingamovablefrictionbearinghalf-shellwhichonlyopenswhenthecriticalrotorspeedsarepassed.Thedegreeofdampingincreasesbyenlargingthefilmthicknessofthelubricantovertheshort-term;asaresult,theusualadditionalexternallyapplieddampingmeansareunnecessary.

Thetheoreticalpreparationsforthedevelopmentofthisfrictionbearinghavebeencompleted.Thenextstepistoconstructaprototype.

Contact: TransMITGmbH,JörgKrause,KerkraderStr.3

D-35394Giessen,Phone:+49-(0)641-94364-25:

http://www.hipo-online.de/files/TM602EN_2012-07-06.

pdf

12-09/10::September/October201288 nanotimesEvents

September3-7,2012,Ligure,ItalyFP7 MAGNONICS

http://www.magnonics.org/school

September04-07,2012,Beijing,ChinaNanotoxicology 2012 – 6th International Confe-rence on Nanotoxicology

http://english.nanoctr.cas.cn/nanotoxicology2012/

September9-12,2012,Berlin,GermanyElectronics Goes Green 2012+

http://www.egg2012.de/

September10-14,2012,Madrid,Spain13. Trends in Nanotechnology International

http://www.tntconf.org/2012/

September14-15,2012,Rome,ItalyNanoforum 2012

http://www.nanoforum.it

September15-16,2012,Beijing,China3. International Conference on Nano Science and Technology (ICNST 2012)

http://www.icnst.org

September17-22,2012,St.Petersburg,RU6. International Congress on Advanced Electroma-gnetic Materials in Microwaves and Optics

http://congress2012.metamorphose-vi.org/

September20-21,2012,Bandung,IndonesiaNanotechnology Applications in Energy and Environment 2012

http://www.naee2012.org

September25-26,2012,Birmingham,UKMM, MEMS & NANO Live UK 2012http://www.rapidnews.com/

September24-25,2012,Berlin,Germany3. AtMol Series,InternationalWorkshop:Imagingandmanipulatingmolecularorbitals

http://www.atmol.eu/Berlin2012

October03-06,2012,StrbskePleso,Slovakia1. International Conference on Nanomaterials: Fundamentals and Applications

http://nfa2012.science.upjs.sk/

October16-17,2012,Dresden,GermanyInternational Laser Symposium Fiber & Disc (FiSC 2012); (7th International Workshop on Fiber Lasers)

http://www.iws.fraunhofer.de/workshop/e_workshop.html

October16-18,2012,Shanghai,Chinaanalytica China

http://www.analyticachina.com

October28-31,2012,Helsinki,FinlandSENN2012 - International Congress on Safety of Engineered Nanoparticles and Nanotechnologieshttp://www.tt l . f i /en/international/conferences/

senn2012/Pages/default.aspx

September 2012

October – December 2012

12-09/10::September/October2012 89nanotimesEvents 2012

October27-30,2012,NewDelhi,Delhi,India3. International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer (ICSCC-2012): Proliferation, Differentiati-on and Apoptosis

http://www.icscc.in/

November02-06,2012,Xcaret,MexicoPeptide Chemistry Conference 2012http://tinyurl.com/6mto6ne

November03-04,2012,Shenzhen,China8. International Conference on MEMS NANO, and Smart Systems – ICMENS 2012

http://www.icmens.org

November07-09,2012,Scottsdale,Arizona,USAMEMS Executive Congress US 2012

http://www.memscongress.com

November13-15,2012,Grenoble,FranceNanosafe 2012

http://www.nanosafe.org/

November15,2012,Dresden,GermanyWorkshop Lithium-Sulfur-Batteries, Fraunhofer IWShttp://www.iws.fraunhofer.de

November21-25,2012,Coimbatore,IndiaMAM-12 – 6. International Symposium on Macro- and Supramolecular Architectures and Materials

http://www.mam12.ksrct.ac.in/

Nov.29toDecember03,2012,Xcaret,Mexico2nd Solar Fuels Conference Conference 2012

http://tinyurl.com/7qjxlg3

December10-11,2012,DeReeHorst,Ede,NLNetherlands MicroNanoConference 2012

http://www.micronanoconference.nl

December15-16,2012,BaliIsland,Indonesia2. International Conference on Electrical Enginee-ring and Applications – ICEEA 2012

http://www.iceea.net/

December29-30,2012,HongKong,China3. International Conference on Physics Science and Technology – ICPST 2012 http://www.icpst.org/

December29-30,2012,HongKong,ChinaInternational Conference on Industrial Applications and Innovations – ICIAI 2012 http://www.iciai.org/

January8-11,2013,LasVegas,USAMEMS Industry Group at 2013 International CES®

http://registration3.experientevent.com/showCES131/

Default.aspx

January11-13,2013,PaloAlto,CAThe 2013 Foresight Technical Conference, Illuminating Atomic Precision

http://foresight.org

January / February 2013

12-09/10::September/October201290 nanotimesEvents

March13-14,2013,Rosemont,IL,USAMICRO – NANO – MEMS 2013

http://www.micronanomems.com

March29-31,2013,KualaLumpur,Malaysia1st International Conference on Chemical, Nano & Sustainable Engineering (ICCNSE-2013) http://www.assetedu.org/viewjc.php?id=c4&page_

id=22

March19-21,2013,London,UKImage Sensors 2013http://www.image-sensors.com

January15-17,2013,AbuDhabi,UAEThe World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2013 http://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com/

January19-20,2013,Dubai,UnitedArabEmirates3. International Conference on Advanced Materials Research – ICAMR 2013

http://www.icamr.org/

February01-02,2013,Bikaner,Rajasthan,IndiaInternational Conference on Recent Trends in Applied Physics & Material Science

http://www.ram2013.com

February13-15,2013,Porto,PortugalNanoPT International Conferencehttp://www.nanopt.org/12EN/index.php

March 2013

12-09/10::September/October2012 91nanotimesEvents

April03-05,2013,Bled,SloveniaAustrian-Slovenian Polymer Meeting – ASPM 2013 http://www.aspm.si

April23-26,2013,Bilbao,SpainImagineNano 2013http://www.imaginenano.com

May12-15,2013,Washington,USANanotech 2013

http://www.techconnectworld.com/Nanotech2013/

June18-20,2013,BadGastein,AustriaCourse on Nanomaterials

http://www.nanoconsulting.de

September25-27,2013,Kiel,GermanyEuro Intelligent Materials 2013

http://www.intelligent-materials.

de

September13-14,2013,Shil-long,Meghalaya,IndiaInternational Conference on Emerging Trends and Applications in Computer Science – 2013

http://icetacs.anthonys.ac.in

November12-14,2013,Mumbai,Indiaanalytica Anacon India

http://www.analyticaindia.com/

November 2013April / May 2013

June – September 2013

TransMIT GmbH – with more than 120 employees – is the partner of 5 Hessian universities.Our core activity is to bring together universities and enterprises: On the one hand, we evaluate, protect and realise university inventions. On the other, we arrange for suitable R&D projects and license options on behalf of small to medium-sized companies and large firms.

Please have a look at out various nanotechnology and polymer inventions at www.hipo-online.net

TransMIT – Gesellschaft für Technologietransfer mbHKerkrader Straße 3 · D-35394 GießenTel. +49(0)6 41-9 43 64-0 · Fax +49(0)6 41-9 43 64-99info@transmit.de · www.transmit.de

TransMIT GmbH is the biggest German technology marketing agency for polymers.

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