Minnesota Nanotechnology Study Group 25 May 2005
Some topics and links
1. 
The MeetUp organization which prompted so many groups to form with their free bulletin board and calendar website has now decided to charge for their service. Groups of any size must pay $9 per month for 2005 and $18 per month for 2006. The MN Nanotechnology Study Group has been meeting for many years before MeetUp was conceived and will continue with or without it.
2. NanoSaavy Journalism – by Nathan Tinker and Darrell Brookstein , The Nanotech Company
7 Things Every Reporter Should Know Before Writing a Nanotechnology Story
1) Just because it’s tiny doesn’t mean it’s nano
2) Nanoscience is not nanotechnology
3) Nanotechnology and MEMS are not the same
4) There are no such things as “nanobots”
5) Just because it sounds complex doesn’t mean it is
6) Nano is responsible technology
7) Nanotechnology means business
7 Things Every Reporter Should Ask Every “Nanotechnology” Company
1) Where’s the nano? Show me the nano.
2) Is nanotechnology required for your technology to work? Could microtechnology be substituted?
3) Does your tech provide an answer to a specific industrial dilemma, or is it a solution in search of a problem?
4) Who are your competitors/competing technologies? Why is your technology a better solution?
5) Are other researchers/companies following your lead or are you a lone ranger?
6) What’s your market strategy?
7) Have you been approached by other (esp. larger) companies about licensing/acquiring your tech?
The Nanotech Company 1-800-nanotek www.nanotechnology.com 08Apr05
3. Fifth Seminar on Nanotechnology was held in
4. Cima NanoTech Israel Ltd. (www.cimananotech.com/pages/page1.html) is one of 3 winners of first annual competition to find the Most Innovative Israeli Nanotechnology (MI2NT) companies. 18Apr05 - Develops conductive ink jet printing systems and transparent conductive coatings (TCC). The company's nano-metal dispersions represent enabling technology for next-generation digital inkjet printing of microcircuits and transparent conductive coatings for electronics. Dr. Fernando de la Vega is the company's CEO. (reated to Cima NanoTech US, John Brodd, Pres.) The award is underwritten by the U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Foundation (www.usistf.org), which promotes collaborative opportunities in high technology for American and Israeli entities. http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050418005584&newsLang=en
5. Cientifica Study - Nanotubes for the Energy Market,
- Carbon nanofibers already compete with traditional technologies for electrodes in batteries; currently 50% of all lithium batteries incorporate carbon nanofibers which double their energy capacity. Quantitative analysis backs up Cientifica's view that this figure will rise to 85% by 2010.
- Multiwalled nanotubes can enable a tenfold improvement in the performance of fuel cells, together with a 50% reduction of the cost of catalyst material. As prices drop over the next 5 years, Cientifica estimates they will be used in 70% of all fuel cells.
- CNT prices will decrease by a factor 10-100 in the next 5 years. Nanofibers and MWNTs will meet price barriers by 2008-2009 for most applications in the Energy market.
- CNT production is shifting from the
6. The Best of NanoTech Week Best of the NanoWeek Vol2 No4.doc
7. 
Nanotechnology to improve quality, performance of thin displays 29Apr05, Research firm, NanoMarkets, expects plastic and flexible displays as well as carbon nanotube-based devices to have a substantial impact on flat panel displays. Carbon nanotube technology (CNT) is able to accelerate electrons to create a large television display based on field emission technology that is lightweight, low power consuming and with excellent viewing characteristics. The CNT-based field emission display (FED) would avoid most of the disadvantages associated with today's CRT, plasma and LCD displays. The first such displays are expected to debut later this year in the largest flat panel devices on the market with high price tags. For the future, the industry believes plastics will enable roll-up displays to realize a vision of electronic paper.
The new breed of thin displays is currently available in very limited numbers for example in LEDs, book reader devices in
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| An electron microscope photo of a porphyrin nanotube. They measure about 50 to 70 nm in diameter with walls approximately 20 nm thick. |
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| Sandia scientist Zhongchun Wang examines the glow emitted by porphyrin nanotubes. It is caused by the tubes' resonance light scattering. |
8. Generating H2 with Nanotubes – Machine Design 14Apr05 p46 Researchers at Sandia National Laboratory have fashioned nanotubes that one day may use the entire visible and UV spectrum of sunlight to produce hydrogen.
9. The scientists build the tubes out of porphyrins which are molecules closely resembling chlorophyll, the active ingredient in photosynthetic proteins. The hollow tubes measure a few micrometers long with outer diameters of 50 to 70 nm and walls approximately 20 nm thick. The tubes are built up through ionic selfassembly of two oppositely charged porphyrins. Most importantly, the tubes exhibit intense light scattering and are photocatalytic. Using the latter quality, researchers have built tubes with platinum deposits scattered on the outside and a gold wire running down the inside. This type of device could be used to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen, which could prove key to jumpstarting a hydrogen economy. And similar devices could be engineered into conductors, semiconductors and photoconductors for electronic and photonic circuits.
Porphyrin tubes lack the strength and uniformity of carbon nanotubes, but they possess a wider range of electrical and optical properties. Porphyrin tubes are also self-assembling at room temperature, while carbon tubes require high temperatures. http://www.machinedesign.com/ASP/viewSelectedArticle.asp?strArticleId=58366&strSite=MDSite&Screen=CURRENTISSUE&CatID=3
10. The Best of NanoTech Week NanoWeek eDigest 09May05.doc
11. Nanotechnology delivers military power Military & Aerospace Electronics – May 2005 www.milaero.com
Technology Focus by Ben Ames p34-37
1. energy absorbing materials
2. mechanically active materials and device
3. sensing and counteraction
4. biomaterials and nanodevices for soldier medical technology
5. processing and characterization
6. modeling and simulation of materials and processes
7. systems, design, hardening, and integration
Quantum Sphere
2004 factory opened in
also useful for composites, EMI shielding
Doug Carpenter, Chief Science Officer – projects Pt nanopowders as path to better fuel cells
Altair Nanomaterials, Inc.
Altair anodes tested by Telcordia Technologies,
Lithium titanate – 20-25 nm crystals – strong enough so they do not break when lithium is added during charging process
Surface area of 100 sq mi / gm compared to 2 -3 sq meters / gm
Altair also claims to reduce Titanium Oxide to pure titanium very quickly (cost?)
Altair also working to use nanoparticles for chem. / bio hazard sensors
Konarka Technologies, Inc.
Use nanomaterials to inject dye into TiO2 – dye absorbs light, travels through TiO2 and a series of electrodes, becoming electrical energy – flexible thin film and plastics – 8-10% efficiency (vs 15% for rigid cells) – goal = improve to 20% eff.
12. U of MN – Nanotechnology and Occupational Health nano occ health Oct05_prelimprog.pdf
13. PCAST Review of NNI Report executive summary
- Where to we stand? US is acknowledged leader in nanotech R&D. Approx $1B annual Fed Govt funding is roughly ¼ of the current global investment of all nations. Total annual US R&D spending (Fed, State, and private) is approx $3B, or about 1/3 of approx $9B in total worldwide spending in public and private sectors. In addition US leads in the number of start-up companies based on nanotech, and in research output as measured by patents and publications. Our leadership position however is under increasing competitive pressure from other nations as they ramp up their own programs.
- Is the Money Well Spent and the Program Well Managed? NNAP members believe strongly that the money is very well spent and that continued robust funding is important for the Nation’s long-term economic well-being and national security. Nano holds tremendous potential for stimulating innovation and thereby enabling or maintaining
NNI appears well positioned to maintain
- Are We Addressing Societal Concerns and Potential Risks? The societal implications of nano – including environmental and health effects – must be taken into account simultaneously with the scientific advances being underwritten by the Federal Govt. NNI generally recognizes this and is moving deliberately to identify, priorities and address such concerns.
- Environment, Health, and Safety: Risks do exist. Appropriate attention and adequate resources are devoted to ensure protection of the public and environment.
- Education: We need a large and trained workforce to be competitive globally. NNI has range of education-related programs for all levels and the public at large, but cannot do it alone.
- Other societal dimensions: Also studying economic, workforce, and ethical dimension.
- How Can We Do Better? NNAP will monitor progress on the program elements above. The following recommendations aim to further strengthen NNI.
Tech Transfer. The level of interest and investment across many industrial sectors is growing and will likely outpace Govt investment in the
· NNI’s outreach to, and coordination with, the States should be increased. Such efforts would complement those NNI activities already underway with various industrial sectors. The States perform a vital roll in fostering economic development through business assistance programs, tax incentives, and other means. In addition, collectively, the States are spending substantial amounts in support of nano R&R and commercialization. NNAP members believe that practical application of NNI funded research results, workforce development and other national benefits will increase with improved Fed-State coordination.
· NNI should examine how to improve knowledge management of NNI assets. This would include assets such as user facilities and instrumentation available to outside researchers, research results, and derivative intellectual property. Through mechanisms such as publicly available and searchable databases, NNI can – and should – improve infrastructure utilization and the transfer of technology to the private sector.
NNAP notes that, although ultimate commercialization of nanotechnology is desirable and to be supported, the NNI must remain mindful that its primary focus is on developing an understanding of the novel properties that occur at the nanoscale and the ability to control matter tat the atomic and molecular level. While we all want eh US to benefit economically from nano as quickly as possible, it is critically important that the basic IP surrounding nanotech be generated and reside within this country. Those who hold this knowledge will ‘own’ commercialization in the future.
· NNI should continue its efforts to understand the possible toxicological effects of nanotechnology and, where harmful human or environmental effects are proven, apply appropriate regulatory mechanisms. Nano products should not be immune from regulation, but such regulation must be rational and based on science, not perceived fears.
NNAP notes that research on environmental and health implications of nanomaterials and products should be coordinated with other nations and groups around the world to ensure that efforts are not duplicated unnecessarily and information is shared widely.
14. Review of SME Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology and Manufacturing – 04May05
A. Keynote: Innovation and Miniaturization, Darrel Unterecker – Sr. Dir. R&D, Medtronic
B. Session Keynote: New Frontiers for Nanomanufacturing – Mihail Roco, Sr. Advisor on Nanotechnology
C. Molecular Nanotechnology and Manufacturing: The Next Industrial Revolution – David Forrest, IMM
D. Accomplishments and Challenges in Commercializing Carbon Nanotubes – Brian Lim, Atomate
E. Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience: Essential Enabling Tools for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – Peter Cummings,
Minnesota Nanotechnology Study Group Notes - 13 April 2005
Some topics and links
Scientists model Lord of the Nanorings, 22Mar05 – U.Nebraska, Lincoln – modeled a ring of 20 boron atoms that is so stable that the rings can be stacked to create a tube of virtually any length with a diameter of a mere 2.6 nanometers.http://www.physorg.com/news3471.html
HP Unveils Plans to Replace Silicon with Nanotechnology, 15Mar05 – strategic transition plan to migrate to crossbar-latch architecture for widespread use in 6 to 10 years http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1776478,00.asp
Record Resolution TEM subAngs, R&D Mag online Feb 05 p17 – Carl Zeiss group demonstrates UHRTEM resolution of 0.8Å.
Nano World: Water, water everywhere nano, 18Mar05 - One of the biggest applications of nanotechnology could be solving the global shortage of pure water, experts told UPI's Nano World. "It's the new oil of the 21st century," said F.Mark Modzelewski, Lux Research. http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=87700
NanO: The Next Dimension – A European Introduction to Nanotech - Video Link
Available through NanoNews from The Nano Technology Group http://www.thenanotechnologygroup.org/index.cfm?Content=98&Menu=28
Nanotechnology – A UK
HARNESSING MICROBES, ONE BY ONE, TO BUILD A BETTER NANOWORLD, 17Mar05 - scientists at the UW Madison has successfully used single bacterial cells to make tiny bio-electronic circuits. Includes video. http://www.news.wisc.edu/releases/print.php?id=10831 Link
Smart Materials Respond to Changing Environments, R&D Mag online Mar05 – discussion of piezoresistive, magnetostrictive, and shape memory alloy materials including Georgia Techs work on ZnO nano-piezo
NSTI Nanotech Conference –
Rural Nanotechnology Gets Boost in Bonding Bill, 11Apr05 – RINTek gets $600K from MN – Rushford Institute for Nanotechnology www.rinteknano.com
• producing, storing and converting energy • boosting agricultural productivity
• treating and remediating water • diagnosing and screening for disease
• delivering drugs • processing and storing food
• maintaining air quality • construction
• monitoring health • detecting and controlling vectors and pests.
http://abc.net.au/science/news/enviro/EnviroRepublish_1344367.htm Link
Biophan & New Scale Patent on Tiny, Nano-Precise SQUIGGLE Motor, 12Apr05 – simple 4 part piezo-ceramic motor makes 20 nm steps by ultrasonic vibration on threaded screw – compatible with MRI, plan for drug delivery http://www.nanoinvestornews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4207 Link
Looking at electrons without touching, 21Jan05 - Canada lab can observe single-electron effects in quantum structures without attaching leads to the system being studied. “electrostatic force spectroscopy”, relies on an atomic force microscope and has a spatial resolution of 50 nm http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/4/1/14?alert=1
Top 7 NNI Projects for Molecular Nanotech, 06Apr05 - Tihamer Toth-Fejel Foresight SAM, comments on best 7 of 43 NNI Projects http://nanodot.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/05/2219208
NNI plans for 3D nanosystems, molecular nanosystems, 03Apr05 - ChrisPeterson comments on Mike Rocco talk. http://nanodot.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/03/0150210
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