The different dimensions of nanotechnology - p135

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.24

Materials can have one, two or three dimensions in the nanoscale regime, which adds to the variety of phenomena that can be explored in nanoscience and technology.

Full Text - The different dimensions of nanotechnology | PDF (86 KB) - The different dimensions of nanotechnology

Subject Category: Education and research

Hearts and minds and nanotechnology - pp136 - 137

Chris Toumey

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.16

New research by social scientists is presenting a clearer picture of the factors that influence the public perception of nanotechnology and, as Chris Toumey reports, the results present challenges for those working to increase public acceptance of nanoscience and technology.
See focus on public perceptions of nanotechnology.

Full Text - Hearts and minds and nanotechnology | PDF (219 KB) - Hearts and minds and nanotechnology

Subject Category: Ethical, legal and other societal issues

Our choice from the recent literature - pp138 - 139

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.27

Full Text - Our choice from the recent literature | PDF (214 KB) - Our choice from the recent literature

Top down bottom up: Change of direction - p139

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.28

Full Text - Top down bottom up: Change of direction | PDF (152 KB) - Top down bottom up: Change of direction

Subject Category: Nanosensors and other devices

Scanning tunnelling microscopy: Quantum holography for real - pp141 - 142

Eric J. Heller

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.30

Information can be encoded in electron waves on a surface using electronic holograms constructed from single molecules. The information is stored in two spatial dimensions and one energy dimension, and is read with a scanning tunnelling microscope.

Full Text - Scanning tunnelling microscopyQuantum holography for real | PDF (226 KB) - Scanning tunnelling microscopyQuantum holography for real

Subject Categories: Computational nanotechnology | Electronic properties and devices | Surface patterning and imaging

Scanning tunnelling microscopy: Probing superconductivity at the nanoscale - p142

Adarsh Sandhu

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.23

Full Text - Scanning tunnelling microscopyProbing superconductivity at the nanoscale | PDF (389 KB) - Scanning tunnelling microscopyProbing superconductivity at the nanoscale

Subject Category: Surface patterning and imaging

Printed electronics: Nanotube inks make their mark - pp143 - 144

Takao Someya

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.32

Semiconducting inks based on carbon nanotubes have mobilities that are comparable with those of polycrystalline silicon, and could one day match the performance of single-crystal silicon. A host of applications based on this inexpensive approach to electronics are expected.

Full Text - Printed electronicsNanotube inks make their mark | PDF (227 KB) - Printed electronicsNanotube inks make their mark

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Electronic properties and devices | Synthesis and processing

Nanomedicine: AFM tackles osteoarthritis - pp144 - 145

Thomas Aigner, Nicole Schmitz & Jochen Haag

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.29

Current diagnostic tools detect cartilage degeneration only at advanced stages, but the atomic force microscope can now detect structural changes earlier, paving the way for treatment of joint diseases.

Full Text - NanomedicineAFM tackles osteoarthritis | PDF (117 KB) - NanomedicineAFM tackles osteoarthritis

Subject Categories: Nanomedicine | Structural properties

Molecular magnets: Chemistry brings qubits together - pp145 - 146

Wolfgang Wernsdorfer

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.21

It is possible to couple the spins of molecular nanomagnets — each acting as a quantum bit — to make an entangled state that could prove useful in a quantum computer.

Full Text - Molecular magnetsChemistry brings qubits together | PDF (172 KB) - Molecular magnetsChemistry brings qubits together

Subject Categories: Nanomagnetism and spintronics | Quantum information

Correlated electron systems: Gap opens in metallic nanotubes - pp147 - 148

Christian Schönenberger

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.31

The observation of a Mott transition from a metal to an insulator in an ultraclean carbon nanotube could open the door to a new generation of experiments that explore the influence of electron correlations on the properties of condensed-matter systems.

Full Text - Correlated electron systemsGap opens in metallic nanotubes | PDF (161 KB) - Correlated electron systemsGap opens in metallic nanotubes

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

Giving catalysis the edge - p148

Daniel E. Resasco

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.17

Full Text - Giving catalysis the edge | PDF (139 KB) - Giving catalysis the edge

Observation of the smallest metal nanotube with a square cross-section - pp149 - 152

M. J. Lagos, F. Sato, J. Bettini, V. Rodrigues, D. S. Galvão & D. Ugarte

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.414

The interplay between atomic and electronic structure, in association with applied mechanical stress, can lead to surprising differences between the atomic arrangements found in nanoscale and macroscopic structures. The spontaneous formation of the smallest possible metal nanotube with a square cross-section has now been observed during the elongation of silver nanocontacts.

Abstract - Observation of the smallest metal nanotube with a square cross-section | Full Text - Observation of the smallest metal nanotube with a square cross-section | PDF (538 KB) - Observation of the smallest metal nanotube with a square cross-section | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Structural properties

Infrared nanoscopy of strained semiconductors - pp153 - 157

A. J. Huber, A. Ziegler, T. Köck & R. Hillenbrand

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.399

Knowledge about strain at the nanoscale is essential for tailoring the mechanical and electronic properties of materials. It has now been shown that infrared near-field microscopy can provide direct, non-invasive mapping of residual strain fields, with nanoscale resolution. In addition, plasmon-assisted near-field imaging of free-carrier properties in nanoscale strain fields has been demonstrated.

Abstract - Infrared nanoscopy of strained semiconductors | Full Text - Infrared nanoscopy of strained semiconductors | PDF (529 KB) - Infrared nanoscopy of strained semiconductors

Subject Categories: Nanometrology and instrumentation | Surface patterning and imaging

Large voltage-induced magnetic anisotropy change in a few atomic layers of iron - pp158 - 161

T. Maruyama, Y. Shiota, T. Nozaki, K. Ohta, N. Toda, M. Mizuguchi, A. A. Tulapurkar, T. Shinjo, M. Shiraishi, S. Mizukami, Y. Ando & Y. Suzuki

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.406

A voltage-induced symmetry change in a ferromagnetic material can change its magnetization or magnetic anisotropy, but these effects are too weak to be used in memory devices. Researchers have now shown that a relatively small electric field can cause a large change in the magnetic anisotropy of a few atomic layers of iron. The results could lead to low-power logic devices and non-volatile memory cells.

Abstract - Large voltage-induced magnetic anisotropy change in a few atomic layers of iron | Full Text - Large voltage-induced magnetic anisotropy change in a few atomic layers of iron | PDF (752 KB) - Large voltage-induced magnetic anisotropy change in a few atomic layers of iron | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomagnetism and spintronics | Structural properties

A smart dust biosensor powered by kinesin motors - pp162 - 166

Thorsten Fischer, Ashutosh Agarwal & Henry Hess

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.393

A 'smart dust' biosensor — composed of tiny particles that can move, sense and process signals — can capture, tag and transport analytes to a detection region. Built from antibody-functionalized microtubules and kinesin motors powered by caged ATP molecules, this small and autonomous sensor could have many applications in biomedicine and biodefence.

Abstract - A smart dust biosensor powered by kinesin motors | Full Text - A smart dust biosensor powered by kinesin motors | PDF (714 KB) - A smart dust biosensor powered by kinesin motors | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Molecular machines and motors | Nanosensors and other devices

Quantum holographic encoding in a two-dimensional electron gas - pp167 - 172

Christopher R. Moon, Laila S. Mattos, Brian K. Foster, Gabriel Zeltzer & Hari C. Manoharan

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.415

Information has been encoded into the quantum wavefunctions of a two-dimensional electron gas using electronic holograms constructed from single molecules. The information is stored in two spatial dimensions and one energy dimension and is read with a scanning tunnelling microscope, to enable information densities exceeding 20 bits nm^-2.

Abstract - Quantum holographic encoding in a two-dimensional electron gas | Full Text - Quantum holographic encoding in a two-dimensional electron gas | PDF (1,369 KB) - Quantum holographic encoding in a two-dimensional electron gas | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Computational nanotechnology | Electronic properties and devices | Surface patterning and imaging

See also: News and Views by Heller

Engineering the coupling between molecular spin qubits by coordination chemistry - pp173 - 178

Grigore A. Timco, Stefano Carretta, Filippo Troiani, Floriana Tuna, Robin J. Pritchard, Christopher A. Muryn, Eric J. L. McInnes, Alberto Ghirri, Andrea Candini, Paolo Santini, Giuseppe Amoretti, Marco Affronte & Richard E. P. Winpenny

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.404

The ability to assemble weakly-interacting subsystems is a prerequisite for implementing quantum-information processing. In recent years, molecular nanomagnets have been proposed as suitable candidates for qubit encoding and manipulation, with antiferromagnetic Cr₇Ni rings of particular interest. It has now been shown that such rings can be chemically linked to each other and the coupling between their spins tuned through the choice of chemical linker.

Abstract - Engineering the coupling between molecular spin qubits by coordination chemistry | Full Text - Engineering the coupling between molecular spin qubits by coordination chemistry | PDF (476 KB) - Engineering the coupling between molecular spin qubits by coordination chemistry | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomagnetism and spintronics | Quantum information

See also: News and Views by Wernsdorfer

Quantitative time-resolved measurement of membrane protein–ligand interactions using microcantilever array sensors - pp179 - 185

Thomas Braun, Murali Krishna Ghatkesar, Natalija Backmann, Wilfried Grange, Pascale Boulanger, Lucienne Letellier, Hans-Peter Lang, Alex Bietsch, Christoph Gerber & Martin Hegner

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.398

Membrane proteins are central to many biological processes, but it is difficult to measure their interactions with other objects. Sensors based on arrays of resonating microcantilevers have now performed label-free and time-resolved measurements of the interactions between a protein receptor and a bacterial virus under physiological conditions.

Abstract - Quantitative time-resolved measurement of membrane protein-ligand interactions using microcantilever array sensors | Full Text - Quantitative time-resolved measurement of membrane protein–ligand interactions using microcantilever array sensors | PDF (777 KB) - Quantitative time-resolved measurement of membrane protein–ligand interactions using microcantilever array sensors | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanobiotechnology | Nanosensors and other devices | NEMS

Early detection of aging cartilage and osteoarthritis in mice and patient samples using atomic force microscopy - pp186 - 192

Martin Stolz, Riccardo Gottardi, Roberto Raiteri, Sylvie Miot, Ivan Martin, Raphaël Imer, Urs Staufer, Aurelia Raducanu, Marcel Düggelin, Werner Baschong, A. U. Daniels, Niklaus F. Friederich, Attila Aszodi & Ueli Aebi

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.410

Atomic force microscopy can be used to detect the early onset of osteoarthritis in cartilage samples obtained from mice and patients, well before conventional diagnosis methods. This work could lead to a minimally invasive tool for the early detection of osteoarthritis and the development of more effective therapies for treating this disease.

Abstract - Early detection of aging cartilage and osteoarthritis in mice and patient samples using atomic force microscopy | Full Text - Early detection of aging cartilage and osteoarthritis in mice and patient samples using atomic force microscopy | PDF (774 KB) - Early detection of aging cartilage and osteoarthritis in mice and patient samples using atomic force microscopy | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomedicine | Structural properties

See also: News and Views by Aigner et al.

Real-time magnetic resonance imaging and quantification of lipoprotein metabolism in vivo using nanocrystals - pp193 - 201

Oliver T. Bruns, Harald Ittrich, Kersten Peldschus, Michael G. Kaul, Ulrich I. Tromsdorf, Joachim Lauterwasser, Marija S. Nikolic, Birgit Mollwitz, Martin Merkel, Nadja C. Bigall, Sameer Sapra, Rudolph Reimer, Heinz Hohenberg, Horst Weller, Alexander Eychmüller, Gerhard Adam, Ulrike Beisiegel & Joerg Heeren

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.405

Nanocrystals - such as quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles - embedded in lipoproteins can be used to image and quantify the kinetics of lipid metabolism in vivo in a non-invasive manner using fluorescence and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract - Real-time magnetic resonance imaging and quantification of lipoprotein metabolism : in vivo: using nanocrystals | Full Text - Real-time magnetic resonance imaging and quantification of lipoprotein metabolism in vivo using nanocrystals | PDF (1,403 KB) - Real-time magnetic resonance imaging and quantification of lipoprotein metabolism in vivo using nanocrystals | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomedicine | Nanoparticles