Thursday, 10th June 2004 (3110 views)

Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley say they have devised a method that will make better use of gold in nanotechnology.

Experts say that typically the difficulty in using nano-scale quantities of any metal is how to position them precisely, according to Technology Research News.

Now thanks to a revolutionary breakthrough experts say they have found a way to move globules of molten metal which measure just 30 nanometers - one millionth of a millimetre - in diameter.

By condensing a globule of metal onto one end of a carbon nanotube, scientists can then use voltage to draw the droplet along the exterior of the tube, moving it from one end to the other - if the voltage is reversed then the direction of the globule can be changed.

The technique could hold the key to 'nano-manufacturing', enabling a practical method of moving tiny quantities of metal without having to resort to the time consuming practice of moving individual atoms.

The method, which is detailed in science journal Nature, can also be used with indium, tin and platinum. The scientists behind the technique say it could potentially be ready for commercial exploitation within five years.

 

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