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Manipulating novel materials
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13/03/2008
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The next breakthroughs in the electronics size barrier are likely to come from chips and data storage devices created out of novel materials such as organic molecules and polymers, says the US National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST).
NIST researchers claim to have improved the ability to manipulate block copolymers – polymers made of a mixture of two or more different molecule building blocks that are tethered at a junction point. According to the team, block copolymers can be used to form arrays of tiny dots which, in turn, could be used as the basis for electronic components that pack terabytes of memory in something as small as a pack of gum.
One of the challenges in polymer nanotechnology is how to control their self assembly, but NIST says one of its recent accomplishments has been in developing accurate measurements of thin film polymeric nanostructure in 3d. NIST researcher Ron Jones, together with colleagues from NIST, the University of Maryland and IBM, has used NIST’s neutron scattering and reflectivity facility to deflect neutrons off block copolymer films from different angles. By combining the 2d neutron scattering pictures into a single composite scattering pattern, researchers can then see if the nanoscale polymer structures are in their required positions.
Further work being carried out at NIST focuses on moving copolymer molecules into the correct location.
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Author
Graham Pitcher
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Source
NIST
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