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Thursday, 18th June 2009 (1110 views)

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee have made a breakthrough that could lead to more efficient electronic devices.

Scientists based at the site have used nanotechnology - in which gold is often a key substance - in the discovery of a way to measure the conducting capabilities of ferroelectric materials, something that may result in electronics becoming smaller, more powerful and more energy-efficient.

The work has been published in the journal Science and Peter Maksymovych, one author of the work, stated that the team is "excited" about the find.

"For years, the challenge has been to develop a nanoscale material that can act as a switch to store binary information," he remarked, adding that being able to implement the findings will result in the development of "ultra-dense" computer memory.

One electronics firm that is already operating in the nanotechnology sector is IBM, which recently agreed a deal with the Bulgarian government that will see it work in partnership with the country's researchers to develop the use of nanoscience.

 

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