Modern Materials–The Details Make the Difference
Modern materials technology goes “nano” because the presence, or the implementation of, nanostructures in a material can dramatically change its properties. It thus offers a huge potential to tailor synthetic materials.
X-FELO blows the lid off x-ray power records
The free electron laser oscillator hasn’t yet been built, but it’s developers say it will improve output by a hundred million times over Argonne National Lab’s Advanced Photon Source. Unlike self-amplified spontaneous emission methods, the X-FELO bounces waves among electrons to elevate narrow bandwidth brightness.
Is There Cyanide in Your Environment?
Mention cyanide and you almost always get an over-reaction due to its highly poisonous nature. And rightly so, the cyanide complex (CN-) binds with the enzyme cytochrome C oxidase to inhibit cellular respiration and energy production, resulting in cytotoxic hypoxia that very rapidly affects the central nervous system and heart.
Catalyst discovery leads to single-step amines without waste
The Univ. of California Riverside has filed for a patent on a new catalyst discovered by a researcher there in 2005. The ligand adds ammonia to carbon compounds to create carbon-nitrogen bonds without material waste, unlike the two-step process used by a wide array of industries.
Surprises are found in electronics’ Holy Grail
Graphene holds a world of promise for electronics, but its true properties remain largely unexplained. Newly evolved imaging techniques, such as infrared spectromicroscopy used at the DOE’s Advanced Light Source, are revealing the mechanics of single-layer carbon at the subatomic level.
X-rays uncover secrets of nanoparticle haloing
Many everyday liquids we use are actually colloids, or small globules suspended in solution. How such formations actually behave has been something of mystery before recent x-ray studies at Argonne National Lab’s Advanced Photon Source. Their work shows us how nanoparticlesself-organize around microspheres to form a halo.
Protons’ affinity for neutrons gets scientific proof
A combination of intense high-energy electron beams and sensitive detectors has allowed a scientific team of more than 60 members to piece together the puzzle of the short-range correlation phenomenon. The discovery should have an impact on our understanding of neutron star structure.
X-ray analysis may precipitate new law in chemistry
In the 19th century, a chemist discovered that some salts, or ionic compounds, interacted with proteins differently than other. The so-called “Hofmeister series” has attracted new R&D efforts in light of their importance in protein phenomena, yielding the proposed Law of Matching Water Affinities.
X-Ray Technologies Earn Gold at Pittcon
The 59th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy (Pittcon) was held March 1 - March 7 in New Orleans, La. New technologies were showcased by the 1,110 companies on the exhibition floor.
Meltfit is the One The Editors' Choice Silver Award at the 59th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spetroscopy (Pittcon) in March 2008 went to a product that utilizes a new method for coupling capillary columns in gas chromatography (GC), GCxGC, and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE): the Meltfit One, from NLISIS Chromatography, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Dangerous loners: plutonium nanoclusters Until modern analytical techniques using high-energy x-rays came along, the ability of nano-sized plutonium oxide particles to move into water supplies was little understood. Because they are charge-less, these toxic nanoclusters easily avoid being trapped by plant and animal life.
X-ray spectroscopy unlocks an age-old patina The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues in 2001 by the Taliban prompted outrage, but it also renewed research interest in the ancient rock paintings behind the destroyed figures. Using multiple synchrotron techniques, an international team of scientists made a startling discovery that may revise our understanding of art history.
Better resolution puts x-ray calorimetry in the limelight Detailed study of x-ray spectra has become a crucial tool for deep space astrophysics, with NASA’s Chandra and Astro-E2 marking breakthroughs in observation. Now, two high-technology firms have a grant to develop the technique’s next phase: mercury-cadmium-telluride sensors.
Getting particles to stand up in court The decline of lead use in modern ammunition has forced forensics specialists to look elsewhere, such as this tiny residue particle, left, magnified 200 times. One researcher has proposed a solid phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography to identify chemical compounds present in material ejected after gunfire.
Femtogram chemical measurements now attainable This extraordinary and previously impossible level of measurement required a novel atomic force microscopy cantilever that has a built-in heater-thermometer. Precise control up to 1000° C allows the device to perform repeatable infrared spectroscopy. The technology builds on science that earned a 2007 R&D 100 Award.
Droids to join the force Remember the sinister probe droid that landed on Hoth at the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back? Honeywell International’s new unmanned aerial vehicle is intended to serve much the same function. Miami-Dade Police Dept. is considering adding the sky drone to the force.
Human business activities under watch from the sky In addition to observations of carbon emissions, space agencies are beginning to monitor corporate operations in the interest of sustainable development. The European Space Agency, for example, has been studying Canada’s Athabasca oil sands ventures for the last three years.
Dirty, smoggy secrets see the light of day Recent research at the Univ. of California, San Diego, has yielded two substantial revisions to our understanding of pollution. First, “action” spectroscopy has confirmed the importance of a chemical reaction previously assumed to be a non-factor in smog. Second, black carbon pollution is much more potent than we thought.
Reconstructing the scene of a supernova The recent classification of a 400-year-old supernova—a bright and powerful Ia class explosion—is important for a couple reasons. It’s the first time light spectra (echoes) were obtained for an “ancient” explosion, and it’s also the first time both x-ray and optical data have been combined to corroborate detailed supernova models.
Hubble finds first extrasolar organic particle Nicknamed the “Dust Buster”, the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope has become the first instrument to detect an extrasolar organic particle, methane. The discovery validates the utility of interstellar spectroscopy.
The riddle of the molecular sandwich Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy is a highly sensitive but little used technique used to detect molecular vibration. It might be the only way, say NIST scientists, to measure current flow through simple molecular electrical devices, a necessary step toward electronics miniaturization.
Pittcon 2008: Solvent delivery system does away with syringes Injection and fraction collection can be a time-consuming process in laboratory, exacerbated by the need to replace syringes and switch pump direction. Gilson’s GX-281 does away with such inconveniences and adds features like high flow range, integrated barcode scanner, and a flowing jet wash.
Pittcon 2008: Editor’s Choice Awards The 200 editors in attendance at the annual Pittcon trade show, in New Orleans this year, have found their favorite products. Their picks rewarded efficiency, compact design, flexibility, and accessibility—all features exemplified by the top three winners.
Pittcon 2008: Reusable chips help slash electrophoresis costs Capillary electrophoresis has greatly benefited from microchip technology, but costs have prohibited uptake over gel-based systems. Shimadzu’s new MCE-202 MultiNA, introduced at Pittcon 2008 this week, features microchips that can process 3,600 or more DNA and RNA analyses before replacement.
Space is a gold mine for nanometer diamonds Based on Spitzer Space Telescope observations, NASA estimates as many as 10,000 trillion nanodiamonds can exist in a single gram of cosmic dust and gas. Until new IR spectrometry methods were tried, however, such materials have evaded human knowledge.
Last Thursday, the R&D Daily made one of its occasional forays into the fast-paced world of semiconductor technology, specifically extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL). According to new measurements from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the photoresists designed for use with this hotly-anticipated new technology are twice as effective is previously thought.
The discrepancy was caused by an older measurement method. Unfortunately, it’s not great news for EUV developers because it strongly indicates existing optics are only half as effective as previously thought.
However, judging from a recent conversations with technical leaders at Cymer, a major U.S. maker of radiation sources for semiconductor lithography, the rolling ball that is EUVL won’t be stopped anytime soon.
Cymer is one of just a few companies at the forefront of a race to develop a viable EUV scanner to replace existing 193 nm argon-fluoride-based devices which now dominate the semiconductor industry. Like other companies, it pushing to design a powerful light source in the about 13 nm wavelength range. So far, it has achieved 25 W of continuous power and intends to break 100 W by year’s end. And, like other companies, it must deal with the intense heat generated by such light and design robust optics which are efficient enough to achieve conversion goals.
Only with adequate conversion efficiency will developers of EUVL be in a position to deliver the performance needed when the market wants it.
It remains to be seen whether EUVL is the new standard in 2012 (the target date for widespread adoption of new scanners). But R&D Magazine will be closely following the progress of this and other technologies aimed at the next-generation of microchips; the push to keep us on the path of that oft-cited economic law of Gordon Moore will continue to surprise us.
