nano’s Growth in Larger
entities is fairly apparent.
Intel Corp., creator of the Pentium
chip, has adopted nano for the next
generation of semiconductors now being
manufactured at its Chandler plants,
and military contractors are working
with nano for defense and
communications applications.
Industry experts predict that Arizona’s
greatest opportunity may lie in a nano-biotech partnership, because of
the state’s relative wealth in medical
research entities.
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what is going to the
marketplace?
While some nanotechnology products
are difficult to comprehend by
nonscientists, others are easier to
appreciate. Here are a few Arizona
nanotech frontrunners that are either in
the marketplace or on their way.
+ Biosensor for asthma and kidney
disease / Arizona State University
The device is on course to be a game-changer for the millions of patients
who suffer from two widespread
chronic diseases.
A team led by NJ Tao at ASU’s Center for
Bioelectronics and Biosensors, has worked
for five years to make a breath sensor
that can detect single molecules used to
diagnose and monitor the diseases.
The cellphone-sized device can be used
by a patient, who breathes into the sensor,
which sends results to the doctor.
“The technology mimics the olfactory
system, which can recognize gas
molecules with a multi-length scale
integrated system from nanometers to
centimeters. When the sensor identifies
a certain molecule it triggers an
electrical signal that we can process and
communicate,” says assistant research
professor Erica Forzani.
The sensor, which can identify
molecular markers for asthma and
kidney disease, is being courted by
investors and is expected to be fully
developed in 18 months.
+ Photonic chip / Quant Tera, Tempe
The firm is finishing up a contract
with the U.S. Air Force to develop a
nanochip that uses light to enable high-speed laser communication between
satellites. Orbiting satellites have
trouble sharing data at high speeds.
Converting data to light accelerates the
process with less interference. In non-military use, the chip is expected to
speed up fiber-optic communications.
+ Quantum dot semiconductors for
solar cells / Solterra Renewable
Resources, Tempe
Solterra’s quantum dots cost less to
make than other dots, lowering the
price of photovoltaic cells and making
them more efficient than cells using
silicon semiconductors.
+ Bullet-proof cloth / NanoGIANT,
Phoenix
Also called liquid body armor because
of its flexibility, the nano-engineered
substance was developed at The
University of Delaware and has taken
20 years to get to market. The product
was introduced in April and is being
marketed to law enforcement groups. It
also is expected to be used to armor jet
engines against shrapnel.
+ Electronic prognostics / Ridgetop
Group, Tucson
Ridgetop markets monitors that predict
failure of electronic circuits, serving the
automobile, aeronautics and medical
fields. The approach is based on
detecting molecular “signatures” that
precede failure of a system and allowing
time to take mitigating actions to assure
continued operation of the system.
Ridgetop’s Doug Goodman says many
businesses are waiting to see what
the new economy brings before they
introduce new products. He says he’ll
call it a recovery when the auto sector
comes back.
“We have a capacity to build 16 million
cars in this country, but only 9 million
are being made. Seeing that growth
center come back will help on a lot of
fronts,” he says.
