Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors







Heifer International

Wikipedia Affiliate Button


Home > Press > U of M researcher helps discover road to sustainable electronic devices

Abstract:
A recent discovery by a multinational team including a University of Minnesota scientist, professor Michael Sadowsky in the department of soil, water and climate, could lead to more environmentally friendly manufacturing of electronic devices.

U of M researcher helps discover road to sustainable electronic devices

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, MN | Posted on January 10th, 2008

Sadowsky and co-researchers found that the bacterium Shewanella has the unique ability to convert arsenate into arsenic sulfide nanotubes, tiny filaments that may find use in the optical, medical and electronics industries. The arsenic sulfide nanotubes are both electrically conductive and photoconductive. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal in December, 2007.

When Shewanella, a type of bacterium found in soil and water, converts arsenate to arsenic sulfide, it leaves behind a yellow residue, which the researchers realized is a tangle of nanotubes. While the tubes don't conduct electrically at first, after eight days they become conductive as well as photoactive.

The scientists believe that this is the first time that these specialized arsenic-sulfide nanotubes have been produced by biological rather than chemical means. Nanotubes hold great promise, as they can be used to make fuel cells and batteries, biosensors for metals and other compounds in the environment and electronics industries, said Michael Sadowsky, a University of Minnesota professor in the department of soil, water and climate and one of the study's authors. "The exciting thing is that these nanotubes produced by biological means may eventually allow us to produce novel semiconductor devices that could not be made other ways," he said.

The research team, which is led by scientists from a South Korean university, expects to turn its attention next toward making the nanotubes smaller and more uniform, as well as looking for other unique properties. The study's lead author, Hor-Gil Hur, is spending this academic year as a visiting scholar at the University of Minnesota.

####

About University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota is one of the most comprehensive public universities in the United States and ranks among the most prestigious. It is both the state land-grant university, with a strong tradition of education and public service, and the state's primary research university, with faculty of national and international reputation.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Becky Beyers
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
(612) 626-5754

Luisa Badaracco
University News Service
(612) 624-1690

Copyright © University of Minnesota

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related News Press

News and information

Nanoparticle Harnesses Powerful Radiation Therapy for Cancer May 20th, 2013

Microneedle-Delivered Nanoparticles Boost Antitumor Vaccines May 20th, 2013

Competition in the Quantum World May 20th, 2013

Elsevier Business Intelligence (EBI) to Host 'IN3 Medical Device 360 Boston,' June 24-26, 2013 May 20th, 2013

Chip Technology

Penn engineers' nanoantennas improve infrared sensing May 20th, 2013

UC Riverside scientists discovering new uses for tiny carbon nanotubes: Adding ionic liquid to nanotube films could build smaller gadgets, and create more cost effective 'Smart Windows' that darken in bright sun May 15th, 2013

Nanometrics Announces Upcoming Investor Events May 14th, 2013

HELIOS Program Develops Complete Supply Chain for Integrating Photonics with CMOS Circuit via IC Fabrication Processes May 14th, 2013

Sensors

New Nanopore Sensor Simplifies Analysis of Methylated DNA May 20th, 2013

Advancements and developments of solid-state nanopores sensors May 16th, 2013

Imec and Renesas collaborate on ultra-low power short range radios: Collaboration will develop robust wireless solutions for future electronics May 16th, 2013

Physicists discover a new kind of friction: Friction in the nano-world May 16th, 2013

Discoveries

Nanoparticle Delivers Large Protein Complex to Cancer Cell Nucleus May 20th, 2013

Protein 'Passport' Helps Nanoparticles Get Past Immune System May 20th, 2013

Nanoparticle Harnesses Powerful Radiation Therapy for Cancer May 20th, 2013

Microneedle-Delivered Nanoparticles Boost Antitumor Vaccines May 20th, 2013

Announcements

Competition in the Quantum World May 20th, 2013

Elsevier Business Intelligence (EBI) to Host 'IN3 Medical Device 360 Boston,' June 24-26, 2013 May 20th, 2013

Penn engineers' nanoantennas improve infrared sensing May 20th, 2013

Researchers Perform Fastest Measurements Ever Made of Ion Channel Proteins May 20th, 2013

Energy

New Nanopore Sensor Simplifies Analysis of Methylated DNA May 20th, 2013

Artificial Forest for Solar Water-Splitting: Berkeley Lab Researchers Report First Fully Integrated Artificial Photosynthesis Nanosystem May 17th, 2013

Moth-Inspired Nanostructures Take the Color Out of Thin Films May 17th, 2013

Solar panels as inexpensive as paint? It’s possible due to research at UB, elsewhere May 13th, 2013

Battery Technology/Capacitors/Generators/Piezoelectrics

Add boron for better batteries: Rice University theorists say graphene-boron mix shows promise for lithium-ion batteries May 17th, 2013

New Mechanism Converts Natural Gas to Energy Faster, Captures CO2 May 7th, 2013

Microwave oven cooks up solar cell material: Nanocrystal semiconductor for photovoltaics, medical sensors, heat reuse May 6th, 2013

Improving materials that convert heat to electricity and vice-versa May 5th, 2013

Fuel Cells

Researchers develop unique method for creating uniform nanoparticles May 6th, 2013

Surface diffusion plays a key role in defining the shapes of catalytic nanoparticles April 8th, 2013

Nanoparticles Combined with Light Reverses Rusting April 1st, 2013

Hydrogen stores wind and solar energy: Innovative "Power-to-Gas" concepts at Hannover Messe March 7th, 2013

Nanobiotechnology

Researchers Perform Fastest Measurements Ever Made of Ion Channel Proteins May 20th, 2013

Artificial Forest for Solar Water-Splitting: Berkeley Lab Researchers Report First Fully Integrated Artificial Photosynthesis Nanosystem May 17th, 2013

Glowing Plant Kickstarter Project Retains Digital Marketing Agency, Command Partners: Glowing Plant brings on top Charlotte-based digital marketing firm to assist in crowdfunding campaign May 16th, 2013

DNA-Guided Assembly Yields Novel Ribbon-Like Nanostructures: Approach could be useful in fabricating new kinds of materials with engineered properties May 16th, 2013

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE





  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoTech-Transfer
University Technology Transfer & Patents
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More












ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project








abbigliamento uomo
Computer Accessories
© Copyright 1999-2013 7th Wave, Inc. All Rights Reserved PRIVACY POLICY :: CONTACT US :: STATS :: SITE MAP :: ADVERTISE