The other nanotech - p1

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.379

The commercial success of low-tech nano-enabled products, such as sports equipment and lubricants, could pave the way for more advanced nanodevices and applications.

Full Text - The other nanotech | PDF (62 KB) - The other nanotech

Subject Categories: Education and research | Industry and IPR

How spintronics went from the lab to the iPod - pp2 - 4

W. Patrick McCray

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.380

The commercial success of products based on giant magnetoresistance is often cited as a reason for supporting basic physics research. The reality is more complex, given the range of bodies, including IBM and the US military, involved in developing new technologies based on this Nobel-prize-winning discovery.

Full Text - How spintronics went from the lab to the iPod | PDF (221 KB) - How spintronics went from the lab to the iPod

Subject Categories: Nanomagnetism and spintronics | Education and research | Industry and IPR

From two cultures to new cultures - pp5 - 6

Chris Toumey

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.382

The differences between the sciences and the humanities have been debated in academic circles for decades. Chris Toumey explores how nanotechnology fits into this picture and how the nature of science itself is a legitimate subject for researchers in the humanities and social sciences.

Full Text - From two cultures to new cultures | PDF (163 KB) - From two cultures to new cultures

Subject Category: Education and research

A new approach to intellectual property - pp7 - 8

Adarsh Sandhu

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.381

A company founded by two ex-Microsoft employees is buying up patents in nanotechnology and other areas on a grand scale, as Adarsh Sandhu reports.

Full Text - A new approach to intellectual property | PDF (122 KB) - A new approach to intellectual property

Subject Category: Industry and IPR

Our choice from the recent literature - pp10 - 11

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.383

Full Text - Our choice from the recent literature | PDF (233 KB) - Our choice from the recent literature

Top down bottom up: Classified research - p11

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.384

Full Text - Top down bottom up: Classified research | PDF (146 KB) - Top down bottom up: Classified research

Subject Category: Environmental, health and safety issues

Molecular self-assembly: Helping themselves - pp13 - 14

Sijbren Otto

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.387

By using reversible enzyme reactions involving short peptides, molecular synthesis can be controlled by the self-assembly of the resulting products.

Full Text - Molecular self-assemblyHelping themselves | PDF (107 KB) - Molecular self-assemblyHelping themselves

Subject Categories: Molecular self-assembly | Surface patterning and imaging

Nanoparticles: Designer labels for virus coats - pp14 - 15

Isaac S. Carrico & Kent Kirshenbaum

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.389

Protein nanoparticles derived from viruses are commonly studied, but a new rod-shaped thermophilic virus isolated from acidic hot springs may yield another class of protein building blocks that are stable and can be selectively modified with diverse chemical groups.

Full Text - NanoparticlesDesigner labels for virus coats | PDF (130 KB) - NanoparticlesDesigner labels for virus coats

Subject Categories: Nanobiotechnology | Nanomaterials | Synthesis and processing

Quantum dots: Putting the squeeze on nanocrystals - pp16 - 17

Sandra J. Rosenthal & James R. McBride

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.386

Lattice strain has long been avoided in the world of quantum dots, but it is now being used to tune the colour of light emitted by these structures

Full Text - Quantum dotsPutting the squeeze on nanocrystals | PDF (146 KB) - Quantum dotsPutting the squeeze on nanocrystals

Subject Categories: Nanoparticles | Organic-inorganic nanostructures | Photonic structures and devices

Nanowires: Bringing order to twin-plane defects - pp17 - 18

Frances M. Ross

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.388

Two independent groups have demonstrated an unprecedented degree of control over the crystal structure and defect distribution in semiconductor nanowires

Full Text - NanowiresBringing order to twin-plane defects | PDF (154 KB) - NanowiresBringing order to twin-plane defects

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | Nanomaterials | Synthesis and processing

Surface patterning: Electric fieldwork - p18

Tim Reid

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.385

Full Text - Surface patterningElectric fieldwork | PDF (107 KB) - Surface patterningElectric fieldwork

Subject Category: Surface patterning and imaging

Enzyme-assisted self-assembly under thermodynamic control - pp19 - 24

Richard J. Williams, Andrew M. Smith, Richard Collins, Nigel Hodson, Apurba K. Das & Rein V. Ulijn

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.378

The production of functional molecular architectures through self-assembly is commonplace in nature, but it is still a major challenge to achieve similar complexity in the laboratory. It has now been shown that reversible enzyme-catalysed reactions can drive synthetic self-assembly. This approach could ultimately lead to the fabrication of functional nanostructures with enhanced complexities and fewer defects.

Abstract - | Full Text - Enzyme-assisted self-assembly under thermodynamic control | PDF (739 KB) - Enzyme-assisted self-assembly under thermodynamic control | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Molecular self-assembly | Surface patterning and imaging

See also: News and Views by Otto

High-throughput solution processing of large-scale graphene - pp25 - 29

Vincent C. Tung, Matthew J. Allen, Yang Yang & Richard B. Kaner

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.329

Graphene is a promising material for the next-generation of nanoelectronic devices, but it has been difficult to produce single-layer samples in bulk quantities. A solution-based process for the large-scale production of single-layer, chemically converted graphene has now been demonstrated and used to make field-effect devices with currents that are three orders of magnitude higher than previously reported for chemically produced graphene.

Abstract - | Full Text - High-throughput solution processing of large-scale graphene | PDF (870 KB) - High-throughput solution processing of large-scale graphene | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Synthesis and processing

Gram-scale production of graphene based on solvothermal synthesis and sonication - pp30 - 33

Mohammad Choucair, Pall Thordarson & John A. Stride

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.365

Most techniques for producing graphene use graphite as a starting material and are labour-intensive. The direct chemical synthesis of carbon nanosheets in gram-scale quantities from the common laboratory reagents ethanol and sodium has now been demonstrated. The ability to produce bulk graphene samples from non-graphitic precursors with a scalable, low-cost approach should take us a step closer to real-world applications of graphene.

Abstract - | Full Text - Gram-scale production of graphene based on solvothermal synthesis and sonication | PDF (480 KB) - Gram-scale production of graphene based on solvothermal synthesis and sonication | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Synthesis and processing

Power generation with laterally packaged piezoelectric fine wires - pp34 - 39

Rusen Yang, Yong Qin, Liming Dai & Zhong Lin Wang

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.314

Nanogenerators based on piezoelectric nanowires have already been demonstrated, but these devices were not mechanically robust. A new approach overcomes such problems by avoiding sliding contacts. Repeatedly stretching and releasing a piezoelectric wire in the new devices can generate electricity with an efficiency of 6.8%.

Abstract - | Full Text - Power generation with laterally packaged piezoelectric fine wires | PDF (601 KB) - Power generation with laterally packaged piezoelectric fine wires | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | Nanomaterials | Nanosensors and other devices

Fast, sensitive and spectrally tuneable colloidal-quantum-dot photodetectors - pp40 - 44

Jason P. Clifford, Gerasimos Konstantatos, Keith W. Johnston, Sjoerd Hoogland, Larissa Levina & Edward H. Sargent

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.313

Previous photodetectors based on solution-processed colloidal quantum dots have demonstrated either rapid response times or high sensitivity. Researchers have now taken advantage of new insights into charge transport in these devices to build photodiodes that offer both rapid response times and high sensitivity.

Abstract - | Full Text - Fast, sensitive and spectrally tuneable colloidal-quantum-dot photodetectors | PDF (614 KB) - Fast, sensitive and spectrally tuneable colloidal-quantum-dot photodetectors | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | Nanoparticles | Photonic structures and devices

Optically monitoring the mechanical assembly of single molecules - pp45 - 49

Stefan K. Kufer, Mathias Strackharn, Stefan W. Stahl, Hermann Gumpp, Elias M. Puchner & Hermann E. Gaub

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.333

The mechanical deposition of single molecules on a surface can be optically monitored with nanometre precision using a combination of total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Abstract - | Full Text - Optically monitoring the mechanical assembly of single molecules | PDF (532 KB) - Optically monitoring the mechanical assembly of single molecules | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Molecular self-assembly | Nanomaterials | Synthesis and processing

Controlled polytypic and twin-plane superlattices in iii–v nanowires - pp50 - 55

P. Caroff, K. A. Dick, J. Johansson, M. E. Messing, K. Deppert & L. Samuelson

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.359

The growth temperature and diameter of indium arsenide nanowires have been tuned to fabricate highly–reproducible polytypic and twin–plane superlattices within single nanowires. In addition to reducing defect densities, this level of control should also lead to band–gap engineering and novel electronic behaviour.

Abstract - | Full Text - Controlled polytypic and twin-plane superlattices in iii–v nanowires | PDF (1,120 KB) - Controlled polytypic and twin-plane superlattices in iii–v nanowires | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | Nanomaterials | Synthesis and processing

See also: News and Views by Ross

Tuning the optical and electronic properties of colloidal nanocrystals by lattice strain - pp56 - 63

Andrew M. Smith, Aaron M. Mohs & Shuming Nie

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.360

A new class of quantum dots with a soft core and a compressive shell has optical and electronic properties that can be tuned by strain.

Abstract - | Full Text - Tuning the optical and electronic properties of colloidal nanocrystals by lattice strain | PDF (997 KB) - Tuning the optical and electronic properties of colloidal nanocrystals by lattice strain | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | Nanoparticles | Organic-inorganic nanostructures | Photonic structures and devices

See also: News and Views by Rosenthal & McBride

Processing and properties of highly enriched double-wall carbon nanotubes - pp64 - 70

Alexander A. Green & Mark C. Hersam

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.364

Current methods for synthesizing double-wall carbon nanotubes also produce single- and multi-wall nanotube impurities. Density gradient ultracentrifugation has now been used to separate double-wall nanotubes from such mixtures. The resulting material has distinct advantages over single-wall nanotubes when used in transparent conductors.

Abstract - | Full Text - Processing and properties of highly enriched double-wall carbon nanotubes | PDF (1,339 KB) - Processing and properties of highly enriched double-wall carbon nanotubes | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Electronic properties and devices | Nanomaterials