 |
|
Nanostructures can pose big measurement problems
April 30, 2007Materials scientists will tell you that to best understand, characterize and eventually utilize the properties of a specific material, you have to be able to define how the atoms within it are arranged. In the case of common crystals, there are numerous methods, such as X-ray diffraction, by which this can be done. Not so for nanostructured materials (structures with atomic arrangements at a scale of 1-100 nanometers, or between 5 to 1,000 atoms in size) where the inability to determine atomic order with high precision has been dubbed the "nanostructure problem."
In a paper published in the April 27 Science,* researchers Igor Levin at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Simon J.L. Billinge at Michigan State University reviewed various classes of nanostructured materials, listed the array of methods currently used to study their atomic makeup and defined the problems inherent with each one. Overall, the authors state that while many methods exist for probing the atomic structure on the nanoscale, no single technique can provide a unique structural solution.
The authors conclude their paper by calling for a coordinated effort by researchers to develop a coherent strategy for a comprehensive solution of the "nanostructure problem" using inputs from multiple experimental methods and theory.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Nanostructure Current Events and Nanostructure News RSSTransforming Nanowires Into Nano-Tools Using Cation Exchange Reactions
A team of engineers from the University of Pennsylvania has transformed simple nanowires into reconfigurable materials and circuits, demonstrating a novel, self-assembling method for chemically creating nanoscale structures that are not possible to grow or obtain otherwise.
Engineers Produce 'How-To' Guide for Controlling the Structure of Nanoparticles
Tiny objects known as nanoparticles are often heralded as holding great potential for future applications in electronics, medicine and other areas.
Gold Solution for Enhancing Nanocrystal Electrical Conductance
In a development that holds much promise for the future of solar cells made from nanocrystals, and the use of solar energy to produce clean and renewable liquid transportation fuels, researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have reported a technique by which the electrical conductivity of nanorod crystals of the semiconductor cadmium-selenide was increased 100,000 times.
Iridescence found in 40-million-year-old fossil bird feather
Known for their wide variety of vibrant plumage, birds have evolved various chemical and physical mechanisms to produce these beautiful colors over millions of years.
New ultrasensitive electronic sensor array speeds up DNA detection
A novel electronic sensor array for more rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA for disease diagnosis and biological research has been developed by scientists at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN).
Scientists find evidence of iridescence in 40 million-year-old feather fossil
Known for their wide variety of vibrant plumage, birds have evolved various chemical and physical mechanisms to produce these beautiful colors over millions of years.
Nanophysics: Serving up Buckyballs on a silver platter
Scientists at Penn State University, in collaboration with institutes in the US, Finland, Germany and the UK, have figured out the long-sought structure of a layer of C60 - carbon buckyballs - on a silver surface.
New statistical technique improves precision of nanotechnology data
A new statistical analysis technique that identifies and removes systematic bias, noise and equipment-based artifacts from experimental data could lead to more precise and reliable measurement of nanomaterials and nanostructures likely to have future industrial applications.
New fuel cell catalyst uses 2 metals
Material scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a technique for a bimetallic fuel cell catalyst that is efficient, robust and two to five times more effective than commercial catalysts.
Nano-sandwich Triggers Novel Electron Behavior
A material just six atoms thick in which electrons appear to be guided by conflicting laws of physics depending on their direction of travel has been discovered by a team of physicists at the University of California, Davis. Working with computational models, the team has found that the electrons in a thin layer of vanadium dioxide sandwiched between insulating sheets of titanium dioxide exhibit one set of properties when moving in forward-backward directions, and another set when moving left to right.
More Nanostructure Current Events and Nanostructure News Articles
 |
Nanostructures and Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties & Applications by Guozhong Cao (Author) This important book focuses on the synthesis and fabrication of nanostructures and nanomaterials, but also includes properties and applications of nanostructures and nanomaterials, particularly inorganic nanomaterials. It provides balanced and comprehensive coverage of the fundamentals and processing techniques with regard to synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of nanostructures and nanomaterials. Both chemical processing and lithographic techniques are presented in a systematic and coherent manner for the synthesis and fabrication of 0-D, 1-D, and 2-D nanostructures, as well as special nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and ordered mesoporous oxides. The book will serve as a general introduction to nanomaterials and nanotechnology for teaching and self-study... |
 |
Transport in Nanostructures by David K. Ferry (Author), Stephen M. Goodnick (Author), Jonathan Bird (Author) The advent of semiconductor structures whose characteristic dimensions are smaller than the mean free path of carriers has led to the development of novel devices, and advances in theoretical understanding of mesoscopic systems or nanostructures. This book has been thoroughly revised and provides a much-needed update on the very latest experimental research into mesoscopic devices and develops a detailed theoretical framework for understanding their behavior. Beginning with the key observable phenomena in nanostructures, the authors describe quantum confined systems, transmission in nanostructures, quantum dots, and single electron phenomena. Separate chapters are devoted to interference in diffusive transport, temperature decay of fluctuations, and non-equilibrium transport and... |
 |
Mesoscopic Electronics in Solid State Nanostructures by Thomas Heinzel (Author) This text treats electronic transport in the regime where conventional textbook models are no longer applicable, including the effect of electronic phase coherence, energy quantization and single-electron charging. This second edition is completely updated and expanded, and now comprises new chapters on spin electronics and quantum information processing, transport in inhomogeneous magnetic fields, organic/molecular electronics, and applications of field effect transistors. The book also provides an overview of semiconductor processing technologies and experimental techniques. With a number of examples and problems with solutions, this is an ideal introduction for students and beginning researchers in the field. "This book is a useful tool, too, for the experienced researcher to... |
 |
Theory of Transport Properties of Semiconductor Nanostructures (Electronic Materials Series) by Eckehard Scholl (Author) The theoretical understanding of transport properties of semiconductor structures on short length and short time scales, and in the nonlinear high-field regime is of particular relevance for future electronic and optoelectronic materials. In recent years great progress has been made in a variety of aspects. Theory of Transport Properties of Semiconductor Nanostructures presents a state-of-the-art overview of theoretical methods, results, and applications in the field. It contains eleven chapters which are written by leading researchers. This book starts with a tutorial introduction to the subject, then in the following five chapters a hierarchy of different approaches to transport theory is presented, descending from a macroscopic level (quasihydrodynamic simulation) via ... |
 |
Organic Nanostructures by Jerry L. Atwood (Editor), Jonathan W. Steed (Editor) Filling the need for a volume on the organic side of nanotechnology, this comprehensive overview covers all major nanostructured materials in one handy volume. Alongside metal organic frameworks, this monograph also treats other modern aspects, such as rotaxanes, catenanes, nanoporosity and catalysis. Detailed attention is paid to the chemistry, physics and materials science throughout, making this a definite must for all chemists. |
|
Semiconductor Nanostructures: Quantum states and electronic transport by Thomas Ihn (Author) This textbook describes the physics of semiconductor nanostructures with emphasis on their electronic transport properties. At its heart are five fundamental transport phenomena: quantized conductance, tunnelling transport, the Aharonov-Bohm effect, the quantum Hall effect, and the Coulomb blockade effect. The book starts out with the basics of solid state and semiconductor physics, such as crystal structure, band structure, and effective mass approximation, including spin-orbit interaction effects important for research in semiconductor spintronics. It contains material aspects such as band engineering, doping, gating, and a selection of nanostructure fabrication techniques. The book discusses the Drude-Boltzmann-Sommerfeld transport theory as well as conductance quantization and... | |
 |
Zinc Oxide Bulk, Thin Films and Nanostructures: Processing, Properties, and Applications by Chennupati Jagadish (Editor), Stephen J. Pearton (Editor) With an in-depth exploration of the following topics, this book covers the broad uses of zinc oxide within the fields of materials science and engineering: - Recent advances in bulk , thin film and nanowire growth of ZnO (including MBE, MOCVD and PLD), - The characterization of the resulting material (including the related ternary systems ZgMgO and ZnCdO), - Improvements in device processing modules (including ion implantation for doping and isolation ,Ohmic and Schottky contacts , wet and dry etching), - The role of impurities and defects on materials properties - Applications of ZnO in UV light emitters/detectors, gas, biological and chemical-sensing, transparent electronics, spintronics and thin film |
 |
Electrochemistry at the Nanoscale (Nanostructure Science and Technology) by Patrik Schmuki (Editor), Sannakaisa Virtanen (Editor) For centuries, electrochemistry has played a key role in technologically important areas such as electroplating or corrosion. In recent decades, electrochemical methods are receiving increasing attention in important strongly growing fields of science and technology such as nanosciences (nanoelectrochemistry) and life-sciences (organic and biological electrochemistry). Characterization, modification and understanding of various electrochemical interfaces or electrochemical processes at the nanoscale, has led to a huge increase of the scientific interest in electrochemical mechanisms as well as of application of electrochemical methods in novel technologies. This book presents exciting emerging scientific and technological aspects of the introduction of the nanodimension in... |
 |
Quantum Networks: Dynamics of Open Nanostructures by Günter Mahler (Author), Volker A. Weberruß (Author) Quantum Networks is focused on density matrix theory cast into a product operator representation, particularly adapted to describing networks of finite state subsystems. This approach is important for understanding non-classical aspects such as single subsystem and multi-subsystem entanglement. An intuitive picture evolves of how these features are generated and destroyed by interactions with the environment. This second edition has been revised and enlarged. For better clarity the text has been partly reorganized and figures and formulae are presented in a more attractive way. |
 |
Ultrafast Spectroscopy of Semiconductors and Semiconductor Nanostructures (Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences) by Jagdeep Shah (Author) This subject is currently one of the most exciting areas of research in condensed-matter physics. Direct investigation of fundamental dynamical processes in semiconductors, exploiting the remarkable recent development of pulses with pulse widths less than 5fs, has led to new insights into fundamental physics and ultra-high-speed electronic and opto-electronic devices. This new edition presents the recent developments: femtosecond dynamics demonstrating quantum kinetics and higher-order correlations, measurement of the amplitude and phase of ultrafast nonlinear and linear signals, femtosecond coherent emission dynamics, and ultrafast dynamics of microcavities and lower-dimensional structures such as quantum wires and dots. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |