Thursday, 29th September 2005 (4892 views)

German scientists have discovered a way to make gold nanoparticles jump at speeds of ten metres a second.

This technology could be used in practical applications leading to the possibility of self-cleaning surfaces and easier ways to spread fertiliser, reports PhysicsWeb.

Using colloidal lithography, researchers from the universities of Konstanz, Munich and Frieburg have been able to construct triangular gold nanostructures that jump into a spherical shape when melted by a laser.

The laser renders the gold nanoparticles molten, which causes them to spring into a droplet because liquid gold nanoparticles particles do not cling to a graphite surface.

During this process, the surface energy is converted into kinetic energy as the gold nanoparticles detach themselves from the surface to form a solid droplet.

Further research will now take place under zero gravity conditions and with other substances.

 

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