Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "Researchers directly deposit gold nanoparticles in suspension"
Google Search
Web
www.nanotech-now.com
Home > Press > Researchers directly deposit gold nanoparticles in suspension
Abstract:
The delivery, manipulation and assembly of functional materials such as metal
nanoparticles into predefined architectures and patterns is of great interest in
nanotechnology. Nanoscale patterns of nanoparticles have the potential to be used in
miniature electronic circuits or in plasmon waveguides to guide the transport of
electromagnetic energy below the diffraction limit. Nanoparticles functionalized with
biological materials can also be placed between electrodes for use in biosensing
applications.
The latest news from
around the world, FREE
Full Name
Email Address
Subscribe
Researchers directly deposit gold nanoparticles in suspension
Chicago, IL | Posted on August 9th, 2007
Researchers from Northwestern University have now demonstrated the ability of a thirdgeneration nanofountain probe (NFP) to directly deposit gold nanoparticles, 15
nanometers in diameter, onto silicon substrates. The research is published online by the
scientific journal Langmuir.
Our NanoNews Digest
Sponsors
"Such a direct-write method of deposition provides better control over resultant patterns
and simplifies the process of fabricating functional structures, as compared to
conventional photolithographic or microstamping techniques," said Horacio D. Espinosa,
professor of mechanical engineering in the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering
and Applied Science and co-author of the paper. Espinosa's group pioneered the
development of the nanofountain probe.
The NFP is a cantilevered probe chip that can be mounted on commercial atomic force
microscopy (AFM) equipment. On-chip reservoirs hold liquid inks such as nanoparticle
solutions, which are delivered through enclosed channels to ring-shaped apertured tips.
High throughput microfluidic transport of molecular inks to AFM tips is of great interest
since fluid is a very effective medium for the direct delivery of molecules, which selfassemble on substrates with very specific nanoscale architectures.
"The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a robust microsystem platform for the
mass production of nanoscale devices, sensors and structures using chemicals,
biomolecules, nanoparticles, nanotubes and nanowires," said Espinosa.
Previous versions of the nanofountain probes were shown to be capable of depositing
solutions of fluorescent dyes, alkanethiols and DNA. Among several design changes, the
latest nanofountain probes have deeper microchannels to allow the facile delivery of
larger particles such as gold nanoparticles 15 nanometers in diameter.
Probe-based deposition techniques are amenable to high-resolution, nanoscale and
flexible patterns in which the desired structure can be easily altered at any time. Dip-pen
nanolithography (DPN), in which a commercial AFM probe is coated with molecules to be
deposited, is capable of making high-resolution patterns of many chemicals and
biological materials. However, standard DPN techniques have not been able to deposit
suspensions of solid nanoparticles.
Premium Products
Only the news you
want to read!
Learn More
University Technology
Transfer & Patents
Learn More
Full-service, expert
consulting
Learn More
Highly tailored
technology monitoring
service
Learn More
"The nanofountain probe is not only capable of delivering such solutions but can do so
continuously because the inks are contained in reservoirs on the chip," said Andrea Ho, a
co-author and graduate student in Espinosa's group.
Because NFPs are batch-fabricated using standard micromachining processes, they can
easily be mass-produced. The current NFPs produce nanoscale patterns with a linear
array of 12 writing tips, but their design allows for straightforward scaling up to 2D
arrays of tips. This would allow for the high-throughput, parallel deposition of
nanoparticles with high resolution.
In addition to Espinosa and Ho, the Langmuir paper was authored by former postdoctoral fellow Bin Wu (lead author) and former research associate Nicolaie Moldovan.
####
For more information, please click here
http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=24375 (1 of 3)9/4/2007 1:59:20 PM
Subscribe to the Forbes/
Wolfe Nanotech Report
& Get 2 Free Reports
Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "Researchers directly deposit gold nanoparticles in suspension"
Contacts:
Megan Fellman
fellman@northwestern.edu
847-491-3115
Copyright © Northwestern University
If you have a comment, please Contact us.
Nanotechnology Now
Featured Books
Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely
responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related News Press
Sensors
Researchers work on self-healing structure materials August 31st, 2007
MEMS og mikrosystemer i Kina August 31st, 2007
Nanoscale system to measure cellular forces August 28th, 2007
High-sensitivity, rapid-response nanotechnology NOx sensor August 27th, 2007
Discoveries
Ball lightning's frightening . . . but finally explained September 3rd, 2007
Nanotechnology Now
visitors receive a 10%
discount on the
Nanopolis educational
series Exploring
Nanotechnology,
Exploring Matter with
Synchrotron Light and
Exploring Matter with
Neutrons when using
this link.
Sucking nanospaghetti through nanopores - the art of single-molecule spectroscopy
September 3rd, 2007
Nanomagnetic sponges to clean precious works of art September 3rd, 2007
Nano Dandelions September 3rd, 2007
Announcements
U.S.-Singapore team applying nanoelectronics to embedded computing September
4th, 2007
Public Debate: Nanomedicine… hype? Or a real revolution in healthcare? September
4th, 2007
Poll Findings Released on Nanotech Awareness, Trust and Food Products September
4th, 2007
Farfield Expands International Patent Portfolio September 4th, 2007
http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=24375 (2 of 3)9/4/2007 1:59:20 PM
Subscribe to the Forbes/
Wolfe Nanotech Report
& Get 2 Free Reports
Barnes&Noble.com
Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "Researchers directly deposit gold nanoparticles in suspension"
blog~nano
Building Gods
Quantum leap
Inapplicable
Intuitions
© Copyright 1999-2007 7thWave, Inc. All Rights Reserved
http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=24375 (3 of 3)9/4/2007 1:59:20 PM
PRIVACY POLICY :: CONTACT US :: STATS :: SITE MAP :: ADVERTISE