Clumps of extremely tiny nanowires in this image are captured with the aid of an electron microscope. The clumping pattern, which occurs as a result of surface tension during the manufacturing process, limits the usefulness of the wires, which are viewed as a likely core element of more powerful microelectronics, solar cells, batteries and medical tools.
-- Surface tension isn't a very powerful force, but it matters for small things — water bugs, paint, and, it turns out, nanowires.
Tests of microscope-slide-sized surfaces, each containing trillions of nanowires, showed that the procedure effectively prevents clumping, Ziegler said.
In this image captured with the aid of an electron microscope, nanowires stand straight up as a result of a new process developed by University of Florida chemical engineering researchers. The engineers apply an electrical charge to the nanostructure during the manufacturing process, charging each wire and making it repel its neighbor, counteracting the opposite force induced by the surface tension. The researchers say the process is inexpensive and simple, a step toward making the nanowires a more common constituent of electronics, medical devices and solar cells.
Nanowires have not found wide commercial applications to date, but Ziegler said that as engineers learn how to make and manipulate them, they could underpin far more efficient solar cells and batteries because they provide more surface area and better electrical properties.
"Being able to pack in a higher density of nanowires gives you a much higher surface area, so you start to generate higher energy density," he said.
Ziegler said that biomedical engineers are also interested in using the wires to help deliver drugs to individual cells, or to hinder or encourage individual cell growth. The University of Florida has applied for a patent on the process, he added.
-- Surface tension isn't a very powerful force, but it matters for small things — water bugs, paint, and, it turns out, nanowires.
Tests of microscope-slide-sized surfaces, each containing trillions of nanowires, showed that the procedure effectively prevents clumping, Ziegler said.In this image captured with the aid of an electron microscope, nanowires stand straight up as a result of a new process developed by University of Florida chemical engineering researchers. The engineers apply an electrical charge to the nanostructure during the manufacturing process, charging each wire and making it repel its neighbor, counteracting the opposite force induced by the surface tension. The researchers say the process is inexpensive and simple, a step toward making the nanowires a more common constituent of electronics, medical devices and solar cells.
Nanowires have not found wide commercial applications to date, but Ziegler said that as engineers learn how to make and manipulate them, they could underpin far more efficient solar cells and batteries because they provide more surface area and better electrical properties.
"Being able to pack in a higher density of nanowires gives you a much higher surface area, so you start to generate higher energy density," he said.
Ziegler said that biomedical engineers are also interested in using the wires to help deliver drugs to individual cells, or to hinder or encourage individual cell growth. The University of Florida has applied for a patent on the process, he added.
Nombre y Apellido: Juan J. Núñez C.
Asignatura: CRF
Sección: 01
Fuente: http://www.physorg.com/news198929565.html
Leer: [Jn7:38]
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