The Nano Institute
The Nano Institute of Utah provides an organization
wherein scientists, engineers and clinicians from
across the University, the State and elsewhere work
together to attain global recognition by conquering
interdisciplinary challenges in nanoscience and
nanotechnology. The Institute enables Utah researchers from disciplines such as chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, medicine, and pharmacy
to create synergistic alliances to drive higher levels
of collaborative research, education and commercialization.
The Future of
Nanoscience
Nanotechnology is already a reality in the world
around us. A few nanotechonolgical developments
that are in common use today include water-resistant
sunscreen, wrinkle-free or
stain-repellent clothing,
and ski wax. Nanocomposites are being used to
simultaneously increase
the strength and decrease
the weight of materials
used in manufacturing
car parts and golf clubs. Quantum-dot nanocrystals emit light, like LEDs, but at various colors, and
nanocrystals can also form to make antibacterial
coatings and increase the longevity of metals. But
most significant impacts of nanotechnology are yet
to come, and are closer to being realized than you
might think.
To learn more about Nanoscience
on campus, visit:
www.physics.utah.edu/laser
http://nanoinstitute.utah.edu
Used with permission, Nano Institute of Utah
www.nano.utah.edu
Electron Microscope
Images
Titanium Orthopedic Implant
Black Bread Mold
Ductile Iron
Needle Array
Nanoscience
Working Small
Thinking Big
Human Hair
Herpes Simplex Virus
201 James Fletcher Bldg.
115 South 1400 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0830
(801) 581-6901
Dept of Physics & Astronomy
University of Utah
www.physics.utah.edu
www.physics.utah.edu
www.astro.utah.edu
www.astro.utah.edu
Nanoscience
Nanoscience and nanotechnology are among the highest national priorities for research and development.
Nanoscience takes advantage of phenomena that arise
at the smallest level to enhance functionality of complex materials.
The prefix “nano-” means “dwarf” in the original Greek.
As a term used in science and technology, “nano” refers
to studies and implementations dealing with matter
(atoms and molecules) on an extremely tiny scale. A
nanometer (nm) is equal to one billionth of a meter.
(To put it in perspective, the period at the end of this
sentence is about 500,000 nm in diameter.) The focus
of nanotechnology is the design and creation of useful
devices with dimensions between 1 and 100 nm.
Although we currently have technological devices in
operation all around us on a microscale (in computers,
etc.), this is nothing particularly novel because their design and function mimics that of macroscale structures.
But on an atomic/molecular level, matter exhibits a
very different set of characteristics, and harnessing the
properties thereof for human benefit opens an entirely
new realm of possibility.
The Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Utah is involved in uncovering basic principles of
nanoscale optoelectronic phenomena from insulators
to super conductors, organic polymers, & biological
molecules.
Departmental nanoscience is interdisciplinary with
strong ties to graduate programs in Biology, Chemistry,
& Engineering at the University of Utah, as well as the
State USTAR initiative.
Single Molecule
Spectroscopy
Unravel light-harvesting and energy focusing processes in single multi-chromophoric polymers; develop
novel sensing and analytical techniques at the ultimate
chemical limit.
Nano Optics & Molecular
Biophysics
Development of nanometer-resolution optical microscopy to establish relation between the nanoscale architecture and function
of molecular networks in biological membranes.
Organic Semiconductors
Identify the relation between the molecular structure and physical properties of plastic electronic materials; devise fundamental
pathways to improve these properties, including the control and
exploitation of the spin degree of freedom.
Physics & Astronomy Nano Czar, Matt DeLong next to the Scanning Electron Microscope.
Energy & Charge
Spatially & temporally resolved measurements
of energy & charge transfer between individual
quantum dots and carbon nanotubes with possible applications to photovoltaic devices.
Temperature Transport
Properties
This University of Utah logo is smaller than the width of an
average human hair at less than 3/1000ths of an inch.
Non-linear Optical Microscopy
Develop new spectroscopic techniques for complex disordered
media such as biological compounds, including the use of metal
nanoparticles to enhance and control the light-matter interaction.
Properties of Quantum Dots
Relate the optical properties of individual quantum dots to internal parameters such as shape and external parameters such as
pressure and the local dielectric environment.
At low temperature, some specially designed
low-dimensional nanostructures behave as a
single quantum system. We use very sensitive
electron transport and noise measurements
to study these effects in superconducting and
magnetic nanowires, magnetic nanoparticles
and molecules.
Conductivity in
Nanoscale Systems
Study the novel aspects of low-temperature
electrical conductivity in low dimensional
nanostructures, such as quantum wires, including superconductivity.
www.physics.utah.edu
www.astro.utah.edu