Nanotechnology: Think Small, Win Big With These Cutting Edge Techniques (Technical Insights)

Frost & Sullivan, December 1998

Combining chemistry and mechanical engineering, nanotechnology seeks to build structures with atoms and molecules-machines, such as single electron transistor, or an abacus that calculates by moving single molecules around like beads. This report from Technical Insights presents investors and R&D executives with the most up to date survey of current applications, research direction, technical challenges, and market potential of nano-scale devices. The report features an overview of nanotechnology research and an explanation of the sciences involved.

Executive Summary

1. Introduction

2. Nanomachines, Mesomachines, and MEMs (Microelectrical Mechanical Systems)

Mems Branch Out from Air Bags

Micro Air Vehicles Test Miniaturization Limits
Crawling, Flying Mechanical Insect

Fixed Wing MAV

Micropump Has No Moving Parts

Micromechanical Mirrors Route Light Signals

MEMS Device Aligns Fiber Optics Inside Package

Power Nanotube Gears with Laser

Microcantilevers Put Sensor Array on Chip

Cheap Mems Laser Scanner Is Coming

Get MEMS-Design Act Together
Small Is Nice; Reliable Is Better

MEMS Resonator Pushes Toward Phone-on-a-Chip

MEMS Filter Will Miniaturize Communications

MEMS Creates Analysis on-a-Chip

MEMS Clock Times System on-a-Chip

MEMS Actuator Moves with a Bang

Molecular Propeller Rotates

3. Lasers, Fiber Optics, and Detectors

Laser Wrench Manipulates Nano Objects
Hey, It Really Is an Atom Laser

Laser Patterns Copper on Atomic Scale
Pattern Diamond, Graphite with Laser CVD

Ultrasonic Pulses Measure Film Thickness
With Feedback, Control Quantum Dot, Molecules

Micromachine Variable Lasers
Detectors: Micromachined Trampoline Measures Large Pulses
Detectors: Count Current an Electron at a Time

Laser Nanosensor Measures Roughness

4. Visualization: Microscopy, Spectroscopy, Holography

Near-Field Microscopes as Fast as vV
See What Atoms Are Doing in Real Time: Electron Holography
We're Well on the Way to Neutron Microscope

Microscope Images Microwave Fields

Watch Sputtering at Atomic Level

Rethought NMR Shows What Molecules Are Up To
Kondo Effect: Tunnel into a Single Magnetic Atom with STM

Get That Electron Microscope out of the Basement
Centrifuge Polarizing Microscope: Freeze-Frame Look at Centrifuged Molecules
STM: Is It a Left- or Right-Handed Molecule?
STM: Movie Shows Atomic Lattice Growth
STM: Identify Each Molecule on Surface

Radically Speed X-Ray Crystallography

Cat Scan for Tiny Things

Sense Something without Interacting

Nanotube Tips Manipulate Molecules

5. Molecular Manipulation

Molecular Manipulation

- STM (Scanning-Tunneling Microscope)

- STM Broom Sweeps Molecules across Surface

- Data Storage: Array of Stms Will Start Nanotechnology Moving

- Molecular Wrench: Rotate a Single Molecule and Watch It Turn
AFM (Atomic Force Microscope)

- See Nanometer-Scale Liquid Surface Events with AFM

- Nanoscale Mechanical Electrometer Is Very Sensitive

- Move Molecule-Sized Particles Precisely

6. Nanostructures

Nanotubes

- Put Nanotubes Where You Want Them

- Nanotubes Can Be Metals, But Not Normal Ones

- Get Down to Business With Nanotubes

- Put Metal Inside a Single-Wall Nanotube

- Single Nanotube Makes a Transistor

- Slice Nanotubes into Macromolecules

- Cast Graphitic Nanotubes for Energy

- How Do Nanotubes Conduct?

- Wider Nanotubes Conduct Further

- Coaxial Nanocable Combines Functions

- Line up Pure Nanotubes

- Make Electrochemical Capacitors with Nanotube Electrodes

- Carbon Nanotubes Show Surprising Resilience

- Probe Matter at Molecular Level with Nanotubes

Nanocrystals

- Nanocrystals in Polymers Boost Optical Signals

- How Does Your Nanocrystal Grow?

Nanowires

- Nanowires Will Shrink Memories

- Use Focused Laser to Create Nanowires
Nanocages, Nanoboxes, Zeolites and Sieves

- New Nano Cage Is a Cube

- Block Copolymers: Make Capsule Big Enough to Hold Buckyballs

- Virus Works as Nano Factory for Materials

- Angstrom-Scale Molecular Box Is Roomy

- Organic Zeolite Catalyst Cuts Waste

- Carbon Nanocages Encapsulate Range of Applications

Nanoparticles

- Nanofluids Carry off More Heat

- Big Award Jump Starts Microoptics Research

- Nanoparticles Improve Batteries, Wear Parts

- Nanopowders, Nanoflakes Show Improved Conductivity

Buckyballs

- There Are Buckyballs and There Are Buckyballs

- Peer into the Smallest Buckyball

Quantum Dots

- Make More Efficient Laser from Quantum Dots

- Quantum Dots Will Make Even Better Modulators

- Make Lots of Dots-All Alike

- Learn How to Control Quantum Dots

- Tunable Kondo Effect Found in Quantum Dots
Dendrimers: Light-Focusing Molecules

- Add New Way To Focus Fine Light Line on Chip

Silicon

- Patterned Silica Could Give Carbon Nanotubes a Run

- Smooth to the Last Atom

- Get to Know Silicon Cluster Structures

- Silicon Nanoparticles Emit Light

- Ouchless Microneedles Deliver Drugs

General Properties of Nanostructures

- What Do Nano Things Do to Macro Things?

- Smaller Is Stronger-Until You Get to Nano

- Crash on An Atomic Level

- Friction Depends on How the Molecule Tilts

- Control Properties at Different Nano-Lengths

- Clusters Are Bridges to Nanoworld

- Surface Nanostrain Clutches Atoms

- Buckle up Your Microstructure

- Too Small to Have Melting Temperature

- Build Complex 3D Microstructures

- Watch Shock on Atomic Level

7. Lithography

Tiny Lenses Make Tiny Chip Features

Atom Bombardment Etches Nanostructures

Patterned Substrates Make Nanocircuits

Take Nanolithography to the Limit

Nanolithography Is Sharpened

Pattern Magnetics for Dense Storage

Nanofab Lens Focuses Electron Beam

8. Chemistry

Biosensors and Lab-on-a-Chip Designs

- Pebbles: Put Nanosensors inside Living Cell

- Build Biochips a Molecule at a Time

- Nanofabricated Biochip Detects Bad Meat

- Microfabricated Lab Finds Germs

- Micromachined Chemical Amplifier Speeds Analysis

- Catch Live Molecules on the Move

- Mark Subcellular Compartments

- Smaller Chemistry Is Faster Chemistry

Production of Nanoparticles and Nanostructures

- Process Yields High-Volume, Low-Cost Nanoparticles

- Pattern Nano Particles with Templates

- Tin Worms Dig out Nano Devices

- Organize Metallic Nanoparticles in Mesopores

- Build Ultrathin Films by the Nanolayer

- Superhelices Make Big Building Blocks

- Draw Nanochunks onto Surface

- Nanomagnets: Atomization Process Makes Magnetic Powder

- Make Nanotubes Long Enough For Electronics

- Self-Organize Properties in Nanostructures

- Build Materials One Layer at a Time

Catalysis and Separation

- Encapsulate Left- or Right-Handed Molecules

Molecular Sieves and Filters

- Bigger, More Flexible Mesoporous Sieves

- Ceramic Filter Has Nanometer Pores

- Spheres Leave Highly Structured Nanopores

Nanocoatings

- Agglomeration Lets You Spray Nanoparticles

- Use Nanopowders to Bond Alumina

Membranes

- Defect-Free Silica Membranes Separate Gases

9. Electronics
Transistors, Batteries

- Single Electron Transistor Shows Kondo Effect

- Rsfq Promises Another Kind of Single Electron Transistor

- Nanoscale Electrometer Works at Warm 4.2 K

- Refrigerate a Little Space a Lot

- Photosynthesis Can Power Nanomachines

- Get Battery Down to Mems Scale

- Shrink Electronics Down to Single Atoms

- Battery Nanocomposite Works Cooler

DNA

- DNA Helps Connect Nanoelectronics

- DNA Guides Microcircuit Assembly

- DNA Glues Optoelectronic Components

10. Computing

Semiconductors and Computer Chips

- Salicide Process Gets into Submicron Gates

- Micropassages Cool Chips

Quantum Computers

- Use Simple Quantum Computers Creatively

- Quantum Leap into Intricacies of Silicon

- See Artificial Molecules Move

Internet Communications

- Manipulate Remote Microscope on the Internet

Cryptography

- How to Implement a Quantum Secure Network

11. Selected Patents in Nanotechnology

MEMS

Biosensors and Lab-on-a-Chip Designs

Imaging
Electronics, Computing, and Fiber Optics
Nanotubes, Nanocrystals, and Other Nanostructures

- Buckyballs (Fullerenes)

- Nanotubes, Nanoparticles, and Nanowebs

Resources
B.1 Research and Corporate Contacts
B.2 Websites Relating to Nanotechnology
B.3 Listing of Grants Awarded in NSF Partnership in Nanotechnology Program

Figures

1. Close-up View of MEMS Hinge

2. Nano-Scale Six Gear Chain

3. STM Image of Ten Molecules Moved Along Copper Surface

4. Electrostatic Trapping

5. Micro Relay (AFIT) Structure

6. MEMS Rotary Side Drive Motor

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