CARBON NANOTUBES
IAT, Uni. of Hamburg
CONTENT
NewsHealth
Energy
Electronics
Companies & Institutions
References
See Also
NEWS
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure. They have novel properties that make them potentially useful in many applications in nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of materials science, as well as potential uses in architectural fields. They exhibit extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, and are efficient thermal conductors. Their final usage, however, may be limited by their potential toxicity and controlling their property changes in response to chemical treatment.HEALTH
Boston College: Carbon Nanotubes Form Ultrasensitive Biosensor to Detect Proteins
{Boston College Biology Dept. /Prof. Dong Cai , Prof. Thomas C. Chiles}(June 2010)
A cluster of carbon nanotubes coated with a thin layer of protein-recognizing polymer form a biosensor capable of using electrochemical signals to detect minute amounts of proteins, which could provide a crucial new diagnostic tool... [13]
MIT: Carbon nanotube sensor detects hydrogen peroxide emanating from a single living cell
{MIT Mechanical Engineering /Michael Strano}(July 2010)
MIT chemical engineers have built a sensor array that, for the first time, can detect single molecules of hydrogen peroxide emanating from a single living cell. The sensor consists of a film of carbon nanotubes embedded in collagen... [1]
Arizona State U.: Faster Sequencing of DNA with Carbon Nanotube
{Arizona State University / Prof. Stuart Lindsay}(Dec. 2009)
Traditional methods for reading the genetic script typically rely on shredding the DNA molecules, reading these abbreviated sections and finally, reconstructing the full genetic sequence. A new strategy involves the use of nanopores'orifices of molecular diameter that connect two fluid reservoirs. A constant voltage can be applied between two electrodes located at either end of the nanopore , inducing an ionic current to flow through the length of the nanopore's enclosed channel. At this scale, the passage of even a single molecule generates a detectable change in the flow of ionic current through the pore... [2], [3]
ENERGY
MIT: Nanotubes Give Batteries a Jolt
{MIT chemical and Mechanical Engineering / Prof. Paula Hammond and Prof Yang Shao-Horn}(June 2010)
A lithium-ion battery with a positive electrode made of carbon nanotubes delivers 10 times more power than a conventional battery and can store five times more energy than a conventional ultracapacitor. The nanotube battery technology, developed by researchers at MIT and licensed to an undisclosed battery company, could lead to batteries that improve heavy-duty hybrid vehicles and allow faster recharging for electronic gadgets, including smartphones.... [12]
Stanford: Carbon nanotube dye may put a capacitor in your shorts
{Stanford, Nanomaterials Science and Engineering / Prof. Yi Cui}(Jan. 2010)
How would you like it if your phone started charging whenever you dropped it into your pocket? That may eventually be possible, thanks to a carbon nanotube-based ink that can turn many common fabrics into conductors, or even components of a charge-storing supercapacitor... [4, BBC News], [5]
Bayer Material Science: New Dispersion Technology Enables Full Utilization of Carbon Nanotubes
{Bayer MaterialScience}(Feb. 2010)
Thanks to the combination of two new dispersion technologies aqueous suspensions of Baytubes carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be produced which contain single tubes and thus show a high electrical and thermal conductivity. Multifilament yarns coated with such CNT dispersions can be woven to efficient fabric heaters. Such heaters already performed well in preventing the water in water storage tanks of JR Hokkaido's "Ryuhyo-Norokko" train from freezing. [6]
FastCap: Ultracapacitor Startup Gets a Big Boost
{FastCAP & MIT / Prof. Schindall}(Oct. 2009)
Schindall's lab developed a way to replace the activated carbon within the capacitor with vertically oriented nanotubes. This significantly increases the surface area and voltage of such ultracapacitor electrode, which in turn boosts the amount of energy that an ultracapacitor can store. Schindall's group hopes to develop ultracapacitors that can store five times more energy than those on the market now, bringing their capacity up to one-quarter of the amount stored by lithium-ion batteries. [7]
FastCap aims to commercialize a nanotube-enhanced ultracapacitor, an energy storage device that could greatly reduce the cost of hybrid and electric vehicles and of fast-responding grid-scale energy storage.
Sandia Ntl. Lab: Carbon nanotubes that respond to visible light might mean better solar cells
{Sandia National Lab}(March 2009)
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, in Livermore, CA, have created the first carbon-nanotube devices that can detect the entire visible spectrum of light. Their work might one day find a range of applications, including in solar cells that absorb more light, tiny cameras that work in very low light, and better artificial retinas. [8]
ELECTRONICS
ETHZ: Hysteresis-free operation of suspended carbon nanotube transistors
{ETHZ, Dept. Mechanical & Process Engineering / Prof. Ch. Hierold & Dr. Roman}(July 2010)
Suspended nanotubes can be integrated into devices after nanotube growth but contamination caused by the accompanying additional process steps can change device properties. Here, we report the operation of nanotube transistors in a humid atmosphere without hysteresis. This process paves the way for creating ultrasensitive nanosensors based on pristine suspended nanotubes. [15 ]
Prof. Hierold & dr. Roman are also involved in Nano-Tera.ch project CabTuRes
Purdue University: New Advanced Cooling Technology for Electronics Uses Carbon Nanotubes
{Purdue University, Dept. Mechanical Engineering / Prof. Suresh V. Garimella & Thermacore Inc / Mark North}(July 2010)
The miniature, lightweight device uses tiny copper spheres and carbon nanotubes to passively wick a coolant toward hot electronics. This wicking technology represents the heart of a new ultrathin "thermal ground plane," a flat, hollow plate containing water. [14]
Stanford: Stacked Circuits: Multilayered structures bring carbon-nanotube processors closer to reality
{Stanford, Electrical Engineering / Prof. H.-S. Philip Wong}(March 2009)
Carbon Nanotube transistors are potentially faster and more energy efficient than their silicon equivalents, but integrating them into complex circuits has been challenging. Stanford engineers have built what they believe is a chip with the most advanced computing and storage elements made of carbon nanotubes to date by devising a way to root out the stubborn complication of nanotubes that cause short circuits. [9], [10]
Unidym: Clear Carbon-Nanotube Films, Special Sheets For Bendable Displays
{Unidym / Sean Olson, VP of Business Dpt}(Jan. 2010)
The first electronic product using carbon nanotubes is slated to hit the market this year. Unidym plans to start selling rolls of its carbon-nanotube-coated plastic films in the second half of 2009.
The transparent, conductive films could make manufacturing LCD screens faster and cheaper. They could enhance the life of touch panels used in ATM screens and supermarket kiosks. They might also pave the way for flexible thin-film solar cells and bright, roll-up color displays. The displays could be used in cell phones, billboards, and electronic books and magazines. [11]
COMPANIES & INSTITUTIONS
Companies
Thermacore IncBayer MaterialSciences
FastCap
Unidym ===Institutions=== [[http://www.nano-tera.ch/nanoterawiki/CarbonNanotube#ETHZ ETHZ]] [[http://www.nano-tera.ch/nanoterawiki/CarbonNanotube#Purdue Purdue University]] MIT a) and MIT b) Arizona State U. Stanford, Nanomaterials Science Sandia Ntl. Lab Stanford, Electrical engineering Boston College, Biology Dept. ===={{color text="REFERENCES" c="#000000"}}==== 1. http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=77184743&chid=1 2. http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?NewsID=15307 3. http://asunews.asu.edu/20100107_carbonnanotubes 4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8471362.stm 5. http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/01/carbon-nanotubes-bind-to-fabric-to-make-wearable-electronics.ars 6. http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=16105 7. http://www.technologyreview.com/business/23830/ 8. http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22257/?a=f 9. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/24583/ 10. http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/24236/?a=f 11. http://www.technologyreview.com/business/22009/?a=f 12. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/25634/?ref=rss 13. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100627155118.htm 14. http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=18713 15. http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v5/n8/abs/nnano.2010.129.html ===={{color text="SEE ALSO" c="#000000"}}""