Nanotechnology gives sensitive read-out heads for compact hard disks

This year's physics prize is awarded for the technology that is used to read data on hard disks. It is thanks to this technology that it has been possible to miniaturize hard disks so radically in recent years. Sensitive read-out heads are needed to be able to read data from the compact hard disks used in laptops and some music players, for instance.

In 1988 the Frenchman Albert Fert and the German Peter Grünberg each independently discovered a totally new physical effect – Giant Magnetoresistance or GMR. Very weak magnetic changes give rise to major differences in electrical resistance in a GMR system. A system of this kind is the perfect tool for reading data from hard disks when information registered magnetically has to be converted to electric current. Soon researchers and engineers began work to enable use of the effect in read-out heads. In 1997 the first read-out head based on the GMR effect was launched and this soon became the standard technology. Even the most recent read-out techniques of today are further developments of GMR.

A hard disk stores information, such as music, in the form of microscopically small areas magnetized in different directions. The information is retrieved by a read-out head that scans the disk and registers the magnetic changes. The smaller and more compact the hard disk, the smaller and weaker the individual magnetic areas. More sensitive read-out heads are therefore required if information has to be packed more densely on a hard disk. A read-out head based on the GMR effect can convert very small magnetic changes into differences in electrical resistance and there-fore into changes in the current emitted by the read-out head. The current is the signal from the read-out head and its different strengths represent ones and zeros.

The GMR effect was discovered thanks to new techniques developed during the 1970s to produce very thin layers of different materials. If GMR is to work, structures consisting of layers that are only a few atoms thick have to be produced. For this reason GMR can also be considered one of the first real applications of the promising field of nanotechnology.

Organic molecular nanotechnology

The vision of revolutionary bottom-up nanotechnology is based on a concept of molecular assembly technologies where nanoscale materials and structures self-assemble to microscale structures and finally to macroscopic devices and products. We are a long way from realizing this vision but researchers are busily laying the foundation for nanoscale engineering. Assembling nanoscopic components into macroscopic materials is an appealing goal but one of the enormous difficulties lies in bridging approximately six orders of magnitude that separate the nanoscale from the macroscopic world. Until machinery capable of automated and industrial-scale nano-assembly can be built, the parallelism of chemical synthesis and self-assembly is necessary when controlling materials at the nanoscale. An obvious direct approach to molecular nanotechnology therefore is to start with organic molecules as building blocks. Modest from the viewpoint of molecular manufacturing visionaries, but quite fascinating to a lot of scientists, research into nanofibers, as a modification of organic crystals, is making good progress. New research results coming out of Denmark offer the basis for a novel organic-molecule-based nanotechnological concept that allows for a multitude of applications in fundamental research and in device applications. Essentially, this concept is based on three steps: 1) directed self-assembled surface growth of nanofibers from functionalized molecules; 2) transfer and manipulation of individual fibers as well as of ordered arrays; and 3) device integration. "Work in our group has allowed us to overcome the previous obstacles of growing molecular nanowires – namely the controlled growth of crystallites of predefined shapes and predefined mutual orientations and their transfer onto more complicated target substrates" Dr. Horst-Günther Rubahn tells Nanowerk."The result is an organic molecular nanotechnology that allows for the generation of mutually aligned, morphologically well-defined light-emitting organic nanofibers from functionalized molecules, essentially bridging the gap between the nanoscopic and microscopic worlds. Our nanofibers can be transferred easily and destruction-free as individual entities or in a massive parallel fashion onto pre-structured target substrates. Due to their crystalline perfection and due to the morphological control, organic nanofibers are perfectly suited for fundamental studies of optics, mechanics, and electronics on the mesoscale. Applications as passive and active elements in printed all-optical chips are within reach." The work of Rubahn, a professor at the University of Southern Denmark's Mads Clausen Institute, and his collaborators from the University of Oldenburg and the University of Bonn, both in Germany, advances bottom-up nanotechnology since it shows that it is possible to generate on a large scale well-oriented and well-defined nanostructures, the properties of which can be modified at will. "In addition" says Rubahn, "discontinuous growth of the kind demonstrated in our work is interesting per se for a better control of organic thin film growth. Such control, in turn, is most relevant for future organic electronics and photonics – from flat screens to photonic circuits." In their paper in the January 18, 2008 online edition of Small ("Organic Molecular Nanotechnology") the scientists introduce their three-step concept that provides a new route to bottom-up organic nanotechnology. Step 1: In their work the researchers came to the conclusion that the growth of oriented nanofibers from functionalized quaterphenylenes on muscovite mica is a generic process that can be performed with a variety of different functionalizations of quaterphenylenes. "The ordered form of discontinuous organic molecular film growth forms the basis of our nanotechnological concept" says Rubahn. "Our detailed investigations have shown that the growth of large, parallel oriented fibers or 'needles' is due to the unique combination of an atomically flat, single-crystalline growth substrate with large electric dipole domains and molecules that fulfill, in their crystalline bulk form, quasiepitaxial relationships between adsorbate and substrate." He describes the second step of their nanotechnological concept as the detachment, controlled transfer, and mechanical manipulation of the as-grown nanofibers. "By using an appropriate combination of liquid, external energy, and specific surface morphology, nanofibers can be stamped as single entities or as ordered arrays onto storage media and from there onto arbitrary substrates" Rubahn explains. "Alternatively, they can be transferred into liquids or gels for further manipulation. These manipulation processes appear to be working for functionalized nanofibers as well and they take great advantage of the chemical inertness and thermal stability of the nanofibers." Finally, in step three – due to the ease of nanofiber transfer – numerous possibilities for device integration come into technological reach. Rubahn cites examples such as the transfer of individual fibers onto optoelectronic circuits for electroluminescence applications or mass transfer of nanofiber arrays onto precious documents, such as banknotes, for security purposes. "It is important to note that neither the individual nor the mass transfer process mechanically affects the morphology of the nanofibers, thus their specific properties (dichroism, waveguiding, optical resonance) are fully functional on the new substrate" says Rubahn. The research team also points out that their novel concept is related to the morphology of the organic nanofibers as well as their high degree of crystallinity and the specific orientation of the molecular building blocks. The result is a new class of materials of on a nanoscale morphologically tailored fibers with specific optoelectronic and chemical properties. Typical widths of the nanofibers range from less than a hundred to a few hundred nanometers with heights of the order of a few tens of nanometers and lengths between a few hundred nanometers and a millimeter. Since the nanofibers are emitting intense visible light they are obvious candidates for basic nanophotonic investigations.

The list of potential applications includes nanoscale frequency doublers, nanolasers with low threshold, generic nanosensor platforms etc. Rubahn has set up a company – Nanofiber A/S — to commercialize his research on organic nanofibers. One of the company's first products are security markers that incorporate organic nanofibers, called 'nanomarkers.' The work of Rubahn's team has opened the way for new materials for advanced applications such as core/shell wires and segmented nanowires from different organic materials or even from combinations of organic and inorganic compounds. For now, there are still some basic challenges to be overcome, such as the stability of the organic material as well as investigating the potential toxicity of the nanofibers.

nanotechnology in america

More and more companies from the USA and Japan are investing and launching partnerships in France to take advantage of its cutting-edge nanotechnology expertise. France boasts several zones dedicated to advancing nanotechnology excellence, including the SCS cluster in Sophia Antipolis, the Systematic cluster in the Paris region and notably, the global micro-nanotechnology cluster Minalogic in Grenoble. In 2007, Minalogic will strengthen its leader status by investing €80 million (approx. $108 million) into eight new collaborative projects focused on micro and nanotechnologies for next-generation semiconductors and new manufacturing processes, and it recently welcomed Hewlett-Packard (HP) as its 50th partner. Starting in September, HP will help cluster members save valuable amounts of time and money with access to highly advanced 2-TeraFlop data processors, called Virtual Nodes. On the research side, France’s world-class nanotech laboratory CEA-Leti and the leading Japanese lithography company Nikon announced a joint effort to examine Double Patterning and Double Exposure technology for 32-nm semiconductor devices. “Leti offers an outstanding, state-of-the-art facility with all of the processes required for Double Patterning,” says Toshikazu Umatate, Executive Officer, Precision Equipment Company, Nikon Corporation. Another Japanese leader, Yamatake, is already working with Leti to develop nanotechnologies. International companies looking to expand in nanotechnology are also choosing France for their European headquarters. The California-based analog semiconductor company Monolithic Power Systems, ranked as one of the fastest growing companies in Silicon Valley by Deloitte, has now opened its headquarters in Bernin-Crolles. Boc Edwards, part of the Linde Group, has also moved its European semiconductor business headquarters from London to Grenoble to be closer to its electronics customers and to recruit skilled talent in the region. France’s expertise is expected to grow on the healthcare side of nanotechnologies following the recent announcement of the opening of Clinatec, an experimental nanotechnology-based neurosurgery clinic expected to be set up in the next three years. The clinic will benefit from the work being carried out at Minatec, Europe’s largest research center in micro-nanotechnologies.

Nanomaterials - Worldwide Market Challenges & Opportunities

NanoMaterials are redefining trends in vital industries such as automobile, and paints & coatings among others. Nanomaterials of all types are poised to find growing interest from healthcare and electronics sectors. Oxides and metals are expected to capture a major share of global NanoMaterial revenues in the short-term. Emerging NanoMaterials such as single-wall nanotubes, and dendrimers are forecast to contribute significantly to market growth. In terms of end-use, healthcare and electronics are key segments. Commercial usage of NanoMaterials is limited to few applications such as sunscreen lotions, wafer polishing, and treatment of textiles.

These and other market data and trends are presented in 'Nanomaterials: Worldwide Market Challenges & Opportunities' by BizAcumen, Inc. Our reports are designed to be most comprehensive in geographic coverage and vertical market analyses.

Carbon Fibers - Global Strategic Business Report

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Carbon Fibers in Metric Tons.The market for ‘Carbon Fiber’ is analyzed by the following end-use segments: Aerospace and Defense, Sports Goods, and Industrial Applications. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for US, Japan, Europe, and Rest of World. Annual forecasts are provided for each region for the period of 2006 through 2015. A ten-year historic analysis is also provided for this market. The report profiles 61 companies including many key and niche players worldwide such as Cytec Industries, Inc., Hexcel Corp., Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., Grafil, Inc., SGL Carbon Group, Teijin Ltd., Toho Tenax Co., Ltd., Toho Tenax America, Inc., Toray Industries, Inc., Toray Carbon Fibers America, Inc., and Zoltek Companies, Inc. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are mostly extracted from URL research and reported select online sources.

Please note: Reports are sold as single-site single-user licenses. The delivery time for hard copies is between 3-5 business days, as each hard copy is custom printed for the organization ordering it. Electronic versions require 24-48 hours as each copy is customized to the client with digital controls and custom watermarks.

Nanomaterials - Worldwide Market Challenges and Opportunities

NanoMaterials are redefining trends in vital industries such as automobile, and paints & coatings among others. Nanomaterials of all types are poised to find growing interest from healthcare and electronics sectors. Oxides and metals are expected to capture a major share of global NanoMaterial revenues in the short-term. Emerging NanoMaterials such as single-wall nanotubes, and dendrimers are forecast to contribute significantly to market growth. In terms of end-use, healthcare and electronics are key segments. Commercial usage of NanoMaterials is limited to few applications such as sunscreen lotions, wafer polishing, and treatment of textiles.

The Global Market for Nanotubes to 2015: A Realistic Assessment

Carbon nanotubes open up tremendous possibilities for materials enhancement in a wide range of markets. Contrary to most hyperbolic estimates, the current global market for carbon nanotubes has been measured by Nanoposts.com at approximately $90.5million. At present nanotubes represent a niche materials additives market; but one with limitless revenue potential.

New functionalised nanotubes applications will come onto the market in the next few years that will greatly increase global revenues to $1.4 billion plus by 2015; driven mainly by the needs of the electronics and data storage, defence, energy, aerospace and automotive industries. As commercial-scale production ramps up, the significant decrease in cost for these high performance materials will also drive new applications. Up to now, most carbon nanotubes production has been on a pilot-scale level; however scale-up of production by large multi-nationals such as Arkema, Bayer MaterialsScience and Showa Denko and access to cheaper nanotubes from Russian and China will greatly increase commercialization opportunities.

The 87 page report “The Global Market for Nanotubes to 2015: A realistic assessment” provides in-depth coverage of one of the most active and commercially important areas of nanotechnology and includes:

Global revenue figures and projections 2006-2015 across all markets
Key drivers across all markets
Products, applications and market trends

Profiles of over 80 major and minor companies developing commercial applications of nanotubes including:
Bayer MaterialScience
BASF
Thomas Swan
Nanocomp
Nanocyl
Arkema
Mitsui
Toray
IBM
Surrey Nanosystems
Nanotero
Natural Nano
Unidym
Eikos

Sectors covered include:

Aerospace & Aviation
Automotive
Construction
Defence
Electronics & Data Storage
Energy
Environment
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Personal Care
Printing & Packaging
Sporting Goods
Textiles

Nanomaterials - Global Strategic Business Report

Nacbo (Italy)
Nano Interface Technology, Inc (USA)
Nano Science and Technology Network of CAS (China)
Nano- DTU (Denmark)
Nanobiomagnetics, Inc (USA)
NanoBioTec GmbH (Germany)
Nanobiotix SA (France)
Nano-C, Inc (USA)
Nanocarblab (Russia)
Nanocarrier Company (Japan)
Nanocerox, Inc (USA)
Nanoco Technologies Ltd (UK)
Nanocraft, Inc (USA)
Nanocrystal Imaging Corporation (USA)
Nanocs, Inc (USA)
Nanocyl SA (Belgium)
Nanodynamics, Inc (USA)
Nanoener, Inc (USA)
Nanofactory Instruments AB (Sweden)
Nanofilm Limited (USA)
Nanogate Technologies GmbH (Germany)
NanoGram Corporation (USA)
Kainos Energy Corporation (USA)
NanoHorizons, Inc (USA)
NanoLab, Inc (USA)
Nanoledge (France)
Nanologica AB (Sweden)
Nanomat, Inc (USA)
Nanomaterials Company (USA)
Nanomaterials Discovery Corporation (USA)
Nanomaterials Research LLC (USA)
Nanomaterials Technology Pte, Ltd (Singapore)
NanoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc (USA)
Nanometrix, Inc (Canada)
Nanominerals Corporation (Canada)
Nanomix, Inc (USA)
Nanophase Technologies Corporation (USA)
Nanopore, Inc (USA)
Nanopowder Enterprises, Inc (USA)
Nanoprobes, Inc (USA)
Nanoproducts Corporation (USA)
Nanoquest Pty, Ltd (Australia)
NANOSAFE (USA)
Nanoscale Materials, Inc (USA)
Nanoscape AG (Germany)
NL Nanosemiconductor GmbH (Germany)
Nanosolar, Inc (USA)
Nanosolutions GmbH (Germany)
Nanosonic, Inc (USA)
Nanosphere, Inc (USA)
The NanoSteel Company (USA)
Nanostellar, Inc (USA)
Nanostructured & Amorphous Materials, Inc (USA)
Nanosys, Inc (USA)
Nanotechnologies, Inc (USA)
Nano-Tex (USA)
Nanothinx SA (Greece)
Nanova LLC (USA)
Nanowerk LLC (USA)
Nano-X GmbH (Germany)
Nantero, Inc (USA)
NaturalNano, Inc (USA)
NEC Corporation (Japan)
NEI Corporation (USA)
Nektar Therapeutic (USA)
Neophotonics Corporation (USA)
Netcomposites (UK)
NexTech Materials Ltd (USA)
nGIMAT Co (USA)
NN-Labs (USA)
Noble Polymers LLC (USA)
n-TEC (Norway)
Ntera (Ireland)
Nucryst Pharmaceuticals Corporation (USA)
Nyacol
Nano Technologies, Inc (USA)
Optiva, Inc (USA)
Ormecon GmbH (Germany)
Oxford Applied Research Ltd (UK)
Oxonica Ltd (UK)
Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation (USA)
PharmaSol GmbH (Germany)
Phelps Dodge Corporation (USA)
Climax Engineered Materials (USA)
Plasmachem GmbH (Germany)
PolyOne Corporation (USA)
Powdermet, Inc (USA)
PowerMetal Technologies, Inc (USA)
Praxair, Inc (USA)
Psimedica Limited (UK)
Qinetiq Group PLC (UK)
QinetiQ Nanomaterials Ltd (UK)
Qtech Nanosystems (P) Ltd (India)
Quantiam Technologies, Inc (Canada)
QuantumSphere, Inc (USA)
Raymor Industries, Inc (Canada)
AP&C Advanced Powders and Coatings, Inc (Canada)
Rhodia SA (France)
Reactive Nanotechnologies, Inc (USA)
Rockwell Scientific Company LLC (USA)
Rosseter Holdings Limited (Cyprus)
RTP Company (USA)
Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) (Vietnam)
Salvona Technologies LLC (USA)
Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd (South Korea)
Thai Samsung Electronics (Thailand)
Seldon Laboratories LLC (USA)
Sensatex, Inc (USA)
SES Research (USA)
Shenzhen Chengyin High-Tech Company Limited (China)
Shenzhen Junye Nano Material Co, Ltd (SJNMC) (China)
Shenzhen Nanotech Port Co, Ltd (China)
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co, Ltd (Japan)
Showa Denko KK (Japan)
Sigma Technologies Intl, Inc (USA)
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (USA)
Southern Clay Products, Inc (USA)
Southwest Nanotechnologies, Inc (USA)
Spire Corporation (USA)
Starpharma Holdings Limited (Australia)
Strem Chemicals, Inc (USA)
Süd-Chemie AG (Germany)
Sumi Long Nanotechnology Materials (Shenzhen) Co, Ltd
(China)
Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)
Sun Nanotech Company Limited (China)
Sunraynano Advanced Science Co, Ltd (USA)
Sunyx GmbH (Germany)
Synthesechemie GmbH (Germany)
Tailored Materials Corporation, Inc (USA)
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (The Netherlands)
The AWM Companies (Switzerland)
Thomas Swan & Co, Ltd (UK)
Toray Industries, Inc (Japan)
Tosoh Corporation (Japan)
TPL, Inc (USA)
Triton Systems, Inc (USA)
Umicore SA (Belgium)
US Global Nanospace, Inc (USA)
Versilant Nanotechnologies (USA)
Voridian (USA)
Vulvox Nano/Biotechnology Corporation (USA)
Wacker-Chemie GmbH (Germany)
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc/Greatbatch, Inc (USA)
Xintek (USA)
Zia Laser, Inc (USA)
Zyvex Corporation (USA)
B RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
Ball State University (USA)
California Institute Of Technology (USA)
CASE-Southwest Missouri State University (USA)
Centre For Nanomaterials Applications In Construction
(Spain)
Clarkson University (USA)
CNT@Cambridge (UK)
CNT-Center For Nanotechnology (USA)
Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research
Organization (CSIRO) (Australia)
GE Global Research (USA)
Georgia Institute Of Technology (USA)
Goddard Space Flight Center (USA)
Hebrew University Of Jerusalem (Israel)
IBM Almaden Research Center (USA)
IBM Research
Nanoscale Science Department (USA)
Johnson Space Center (USA)
Kettering University (USA)
Kyoto University (Japan)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (USA)
Motorola Labs (USA)
Nanux Co, Ltd (Korea)
NASA Ames Research Center (USA)
National Physical Laboratory (UK)
National Polytechnique Institute Of Toulouse (France)
NTT Basic Research Laboratories (Japan)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA)
Philips Research (The Netherlands)
Polymer Research Center (Japan)
Purdue University (USA)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Carbon Nanomaterials
Research Group (USA)
Rice University (USA)
Samsung Advanced Institute Of Technology (South Korea)
Seoul University (South Korea)
Superconductivity Technology Center (USA)
Superlattice Nanomaterials Lab (Republic Of Korea)
Swiss Federal Institute Of Technology (Switzerland)
The National Dendrimer And Nanotechnology Center (USA)
The University Of Tokyo
Hirao Laboratory (Japan)
University of Akron (USA)
University of California (USA)
University of Cambridge (UK)
University of Illinois (USA)
University of North Carolina (USA)
University of Texas (USA)
Weizmann Institute (Israel )