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Friday, 12th June 2009 (1007 views)

Scientists in the US have come up with a new way of linking nanocrystals together.

Chemistry World reports that Maksym Kovalenko of the University of Chicago has been working on a project to develop an 'electronic glue', which improves coupling.

Part of the research saw his team replace organic ligands on gold nanocrystals with a complex of tin sulphide.

Through gentle heating, the gold nanoparticles bonded together in a "tight honeycomb structure", which made the material "highly conductive".

Mr Kovalenko stated that one of the problems involved in working with nanocrystals "is getting the crystals to 'talk' to one another".

However, Thomas Nann of the University of East Anglia suggested this research was a huge step forward for the science "as it allows the exciting electronic properties of nanoparticles to be fully exploited".

In other nanotechnology news, the Orlando Sentinel has revealed that gold nanoparticles are being used by a group of scientists in Florida to develop an over-the-counter prostate cancer test.

 

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