news & events
Recent News
New x-ray technique reveals structure of printable electronics (April 15, 2012). An innovative X-ray technique has given NC State researchers new insight into how organic polymers can be used in printable electronics such as transistors and solar cells. NC State physicists Dr. Harald Ade and Dr. Brian Collins, with Dr. Michael Chabinyc at the University of California Santa Barbara, wanted to know why some processing steps resulted in better and more efficient devices than others. “Manufacturers know that some materials work better than others in these devices, but it’s essentially still a process of trial and error,” Ade says. “We wanted to give them a way to characterize these materials so that they could see what they had and why it was working.” Several media outlets--including PhysOrg.com, Nanowerk, and Science Daily--have reported on this research. NC State News Service
Functional oxide thin films create new field of oxide electronics (March 7, 2012). Researchers from NC State have developed the first functional oxide thin films that can be used efficiently in electronics, opening the door to an array of new high-power devices and smart sensors. This is the first time that researchers have been able to produce positively charged (p-type) conduction and negatively charged (n-type) conduction in a single oxide material, launching a new era in oxide electronics. “We avoided this problem by using the same material for p- and n-type conduction,” says Dr. Jay Narayan, the John C. Fan Distinguished Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State and co-author of a paper describing the research. NC State News Service
Researchers use ultrasonic vibration assisted nanomachining with an Atomic Force Microscope (February 22, 2012). Researchers from NC State, led by Dr. Jingyan Dong, are using ultrasonic vibration assisted nanomachining lithography to fabricate nano-patterns on PMMA films with increased writing speed and tunable feature dimensions. Scanning probe lithography offers a low-cost route to fabricating master patterns or masks, but in traditional AFM setups the line-width of the nanomachined features is determined mainly by the size of the AFM tip, which can place a restriction on the dimensions that are available. Nanotechweb.org
Researchers devise new means for creating elastic conductors (January 24, 2012). Researchers from NC State have developed a new method for creating elastic conductors made of carbon nanotubes, which will contribute to large-scale production of the material for use in a new generation of elastic electronic devices. “We’re optimistic that this new approach could lead to large-scale production of stretchable conductors, which would then expedite research and development of elastic electronic devices,” says Dr. Yong Zhu, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State, and lead author of a paper describing the new technique. NC State News Service
Upcoming Events
05/20/12 - 05/24/12 - New Diamond and Nano Carbons Conference (NDNC 2012), San Juan
Nanotech Reports & Presentations
The NC State Nanotechnology Initiative releases its FY 09-10 Annual Report (pdf) (July 1, 2010). This report highlights the NC State Nano Initiative's efforts in FY 09-10 to foster nanotechnology research, education, and industry outreach activities at the university and in the community.
"Investing in the South’s Nanotech Future" by the NC Dept. of Commerce's Office of Science & Technology (pdf) (July 7, 2010). Drs. John Hardin and Sharlini Sankaran of the NC Dept. of Commerce's Office of Science & Technology published this nanotechnology policy piece through the Southern Growth Policies Board, a non-partisan public policy think tank based in Research Triangle Park that is dedicated to strengthening the South’s economy and creating the highest possible quality of life.
"Recommendations on the Environmentally Responsible Development of Nanotechnology" from the Research Triangle Environmental Health Collaborative (July 1, 2010). The 2009 Summit on Environmentally Responsible Development of Nanotechnology identified critical issues in nano-enabled product development and manufacturing and explored the nanomanufacturing landscape so businesses can overcome barriers to success related to environmental/occupational health concerns. The summit's outcome is a guidance document that highlights these critical issues and provides business and policymakers with recommendations about how to successfully address them.
Emerging Technologies: Trust and Risk. Presentation by Dr. David Berube, NC State Research Professor of Science Communication and Director of the NCSU Public Communication of Science and Technology Project, to the Science, Expertise, and Ethics in Democracy CCI Interdisciplinary Panel at UNC-Greensboro on March 19, 2009. More of the NCSU Nanotoxicology Interdisciplinary Research Team's recent presentations can be accessed here, and the team's large collection of streamed videos can be accessed here.
Nanotechnology: Think Small and Look into the Future… Presentation by Dr. Gregory N. Parsons, NC State Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Director of the NC State Nanotechnology Initiative, to the Sanford Rotary Club on March 17, 2009.
If you would like to add a nanotechnology-related news item or event listing to this page, please send the information to nanotechnology@ncsu.edu.