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Unmasking DNA

Researchers Adam Woolley and Héctor Becerril develop 'DNA shadow nanolithography' using DNA molecules as nanostencils. The technique enables the creation of high-aspect-ratio trenches and nanowires with precise control over dimensions.

SourceWiley·JournalSmall·DateSep 4, 2007

Nanowire coating for bone implants, stents

Researchers have developed a nanowire coating on titanium that enhances muscle tissue adhesion for hip replacements and dental reconstructions. The material can also be easily sterilized using UV light or ethanol, making it suitable for hospital settings and food processing plants.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateAug 27, 2007

New nanomethod may help compress computer memory

Researchers at Brown University have developed a technique to synthesize iron-platinum nanorods and nanowires with controlled size, composition, and magnetic alignment. The method produces batches of similarly-sized nanowires or rods in solution, showing promise for high-density information storage and other applications.

Placing single nanowires: NIST makes the connection

Researchers at NIST have devised a system for manipulating and positioning individual nanowires using optical microscopy and conventional photolithographic processing. They can fabricate sophisticated test structures to explore the properties of nanowires with high control, enabling the creation of elaborate structures for testing.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalIEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology·DateApr 27, 2007

Brilliant growth without gold

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics developed single crystal silicon nanowires using an aluminium catalyst, reducing the size of microchips. The new process fulfils key criteria for industrial-scale production and could lead to improved semiconductor components.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 28, 2006

Encoded metallic nanowires reveal bioweapons

American researchers have created a new basis for portable, multiplexed biodetection systems using silver and gold striped nanowires as supports for simultaneous immunological tests. The unique patterns of stripes act like barcodes, allowing for fast and accurate identification of multiple pathogens.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateAug 10, 2006

Live wires

Researchers have found that various bacterial species can form electrically conductive wires under different environmental conditions, leading to a new understanding of microbial energy distribution. The discovery, made by microbiologist Yuri Gorby, suggests that the planet may be 'hard-wired' with electricity-producing bacteria.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 10, 2006

Water and nanoelectronics will mix to create ultra-dense memory storage devices, researchers say

Scientists have discovered a new method to stabilize ferroelectricity in nanostructures using fragments of water, leading to ultra-dense memory storage devices with unprecedented capacities. This breakthrough could enable the creation of storage devices small enough to hold massive amounts of data, such as music or video libraries.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNano Letters·DateApr 26, 2006

Nanomanufacturing: Systematic study of nanostructure growth yields production 'road map'

Nanotechnology researchers at Georgia Tech created a systematic study of growth conditions for one-dimensional nanostructures from cadmium selenide, producing three types of nanostructures: nanosaws/nanocombs, nanobelts, and nanowires. The 'road map' provides optimal conditions for controlling the production of each structure.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology Research News·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateOct 31, 2005

UA physicists find key to long-lived nanowires

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a theory explaining why nanowires thin away at non-zero temperatures. The discovery reveals that higher surface tensions stabilize the wires, making them suitable for repeated use. Copper is identified as the best metal for creating stable nanowires.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 25, 2005

A giant step toward tiny functional nanowires

Researchers at Northwestern University create a new method to produce nanowires with controlled gaps, enabling the design of devices for diagnostics and drug discovery. The technique, called on-wire lithography, allows for the fabrication of nanowires with precise electrical measurements on individual molecules.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience·DateJun 30, 2005

A nanowire with a surprise

Scientists discovered that increasing OPE wire length triggers variable resistance, which can be beneficial for electronic devices. The researchers also found that substituting a methyl hydrocarbon group onto the middle unit significantly increases electron transfer rate.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 18, 2004

Nanoscale chemical sensors

Researchers have discovered that nanowires composed of lithium, molybdenum and selenium atoms can detect significant changes in electrical resistance when exposed to vapors of organic solvents. This property enables the creation of simple chemical sensors that can measure the acidity of a solution.

Chemists make first boron nanowhiskers

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have successfully made boron nanowhiskers, the world's first crystalline nanowires, exhibiting semiconducting behavior and potential as key materials in nanoelectronics. The discovery could lead to the development of more reliable conductors, solving limitations faced by carbon nanotubes.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 18, 2002

Gallium-based synthesis facilitates volume production of silica nanowires with optical uses

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a gallium-based synthesis method to produce large bundles of aligned silica nanowires. The nanowires can form unusual structures resembling cones, cherries, carrots, and comets, with potential applications as optical splitters in nanometer-scale photonic systems.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology Research News·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 3, 2002