Whole Network Most Recent TOP10 Biotech Business Energy Investing

 

Paint-on nanoparticles outperform computer chips

Filed in archive Computing & Infotech by george elvin on July 17, 2006

Copy of paint-on semiconductor.jpg
Researchers at the University of Toronto have created a semiconductor device that outperforms today's conventional chips -- and they made it simply by painting a liquid onto a piece of glass. The finding represents the first time a so-called "wet" semiconductor device has bested traditional, more costly grown-crystal semiconductor devices, says a universitypress release:

"Traditional ways of making computer chips, fiber-optic lasers, digital camera image sensors - the building blocks of the information age - are costly in time, money, and energy," says Professor Ted Sargent, leader of the research group.
Conventional semiconductors have produced spectacular results, but they rely on growing atomically-perfect crystals at 1,000 degrees Celsius and above.

The Toronto team instead cooked up semiconductor nanoparticles particles in a flask containing extra-pure oleic acid, the main ingredient in olive oil. They then placed a drop of solution on a glass slide patterned with gold electrodes and forced the drop to spread out into a smooth, continuous semiconductor film using a process called spin-coating. They then gave their film a two-hour bath in methanol. Once the solvent evaporated, it left an 800 nanometer-thick layer of the light-sensitive nanoparticles.

At room temperature, the paint-on photodetectors were about ten times more sensitive to infrared rays than the sensors that are currently used in military night-vision and biomedical imaging.

"These are exquisitely sensitive detectors of light," says Sargent. "It's now clear that solution-processed electronics can combine outstanding performance with low cost." (photo University of Toronto)


Advertisement


Permalink: Paint-on nanoparticles outperform computer chips
Tags: nanotechnology  nanotech  nano  semiconductor  paint  on  chip  nanoparticles  computer+chips 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/29407



Advertisement


Advertisement


CW ToolbarInstall
RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Googlegoogle   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo!yahoo
AddthisAddThis Feed Button
BloglinesBloglines
Newsletter
Advertisement - Book yours here.

Use our search feature to look for other interesting posts

Just this blog Whole network
Advertisement -
Book yours here..


 
  • Would you like to see your text link here? Let us know!
Advertisement
Book yours here.



  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network

Advertisement -
Book yours here..






Advertisement - Book yours here..
 
Tagcloud: Biotech Business Computing & Infotech Design Energy Environment & Health Events Government Institutions Investing Links Materials Medical Military News Products Regulation Research Society & Ethics Theory