Sarnoff to Commercialize

ExxonMobil Nanomaterials
Sarnoff Corp., Princeton, N J., signed
a five-year strategic agreement with
ExxonMobil Research & Engineering
Co. (EMRE), Fairfax, Va., under which
connmercialization opportunities for
EMRE's groundbreaking portfolio of
mesoporous materials will be identified in markets outside ofthe petrochemical industry.
The materials, which include novel
high-surface-area silicas, are among
the first nanomaterials ever created
and have been commercialized by
ExxonMobil for its own use. Under
the agreement Sarnoff will work
with EMRE to position these materials in other markets, such as electronics and optics. Sarnoff is pursuing select third-party participation
in developing electronic systems
and devices based on these nanomaterials. (Visit www.sarnoff.com)

Improved Semiconductor
Manufacturing Processes
In a move that will disrupt traditional
semiconductor manufacturing
methods, NanoDynamics Inc.
(Buffalo, N.Y.) will commercialize new
nanowire fabrication technologies
developed by its New Zealandbased partner, Nano Cluster Devices
Ltd. (NCD). Commercialization will be
driven by U.S.-based Nano Cluster
Devices decontrolled by
NanoDynamics. NCD's technology
enables highly controllable, selfassembled atomic clusters to
achieve faster, more precise semiconductor fabrication.
The electronics and semiconductor industries often address deficiencies in essential properties by
encapsulating the materials in
another substance. Using atomic
layer deposition technology from
ALD NanoSolutions Inc.,
Broomfield, Colo., NanoDynamics
has developed a new manufacturing approach to creating uniform,
nanometer-thick coatings that
encapsulate powders, along with
any number of other elements.

enabling them to retain inherent

thermal and conductive properties,
while eliminating reactivity and
functionality issues. (Visit
www.nanodynamics.com)

Beyond Moore's Law

The Network for Computational
Nanotechnology at Purdue
University, West Lafayette, Ind., will
use a grant from NSF and
Nanoelectronics Research Corp. (an
industry consortium) to tackle a critical question related to the inevitable
demise of Moore's Law.
The rule states that the number of
transistors on a computer chip
doubles about every 18 months,
driving rapid progress in computers and telecommunications. It is
believed that the limits of physics
will soon make it impossible to
continue at the same pace. Some
observers predict Moore's Law will
hit a brick wall in about a decade.
Four new students added to
Purdue's research team will be dedicated to looking at the question of
whether there is an electronic device
that can replace or complement the
CMOS (complementary metal oxide
semiconductor chip) transistor when
Moore's Law ends. (Contact: Mark
Lundstrom,tel 765-494-3515, E-mail
lundstro@purdue.edu)

IEEE Standard to Define

Properties of CNTs
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are finding broad use as additives that
improve the physical and electrical
properties of plastics and other
materials. Unfortunately, different
suppliers measure and report the
properties of carbon nanotubes in
different ways.
To resolve this situation, IEEE
(Piscataway, N.J.) has begun work
on IEEE PI 690,"Standard
Methods for the Characterization of
Carbon Nanotubes Used as
Additives in Bulk Materials."
When completed, it will be the
first standard to define methods for

January 2006

testing these additives and how to

report the resulting performance
data.The standard will recommend
instruments and procedures for
validating nanotube purity, concentration, dispersion rate, agglomeration and other properties. (Visit
http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/
1690)

Nanobits
DuPont (Wilmington, Del.) and
Environmental Defense (New York)
are collaborating on a framework for
the responsible development, production, use and disposal of
nanoscale materials.The intent is to
define a systematic and disciplined
process that can be used to identify,
manage and reduce potential
health, safety and environmental
risks across all lifecycle stages.
This framework will then be pilottested on specific nanoscale materials or applications of commercial
interest to DuPont. (Visit
www2.dupont.com)
Cementitious Materials Inc.,
Rochester, N.Y., has merged with
NaturalNano Inc. and changed its
corporate name to NaturalNano
Inc.The company's efforts are
directed toward research, development, production and marketing of
proprietary technologies in the
development of commercial applications for halloysite nanotubes
that enable a range of advanced
applications in material additives.
(Visit www.naturalnano.com)
Applied Nanotech Inc. (ANI), Austin,
Texas, has entered into an agreement with Shimane Masuda
Electronics Co. Ltd. (SME), Masuda,
Japan, to establish a joint pilot line
for the development and production
of carbon nanotube electron emission-based lighting devices.
The pilot line will be located in an
SME facility. SME will supply all necessary equipment and personnel.
ANI will contribute technical support, intellectual property and knowhow. The pilot period is expected to
extend through June 30,2006. (Visit
www.nano-proprietary.com)