Hybrid Cars with Carbon Nanotubes

Images obtained from Velozzi web site

Velozzi US Company has unveiled its new hybrid car model SOLO. This vehicle can reverse the polarity and be used as a power generator; in its development carbon nanotubes are used to increase the mechanical properties of components, about a 40%, and reduce vehicle weight.

Nanoledge, a spin-off of the French CNRS institute, will use its Nano In^TM technology to integrate the Bayer MaterialScience’s Baytubes® multi-walled carbon nanotubes used in the SOLO.

Velozzi expects to begin mass production in late 2011 or early 2012.

Identification of DNA Bases Without Fluorescent Tags

Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies have made a strategic alliance in which Illumina will market exclusively BASE^TM technology products developed by Oxford Nanopore for the DNA sequencing. These sequencing systems use protein nanopores coupled with a processive enzyme.

The system developed by the spin-out of the University of Oxford, Oxford Nanopore, is designed for the electric identification of DNA bases at the molecular level, without the need for fluorescent labels.

Antimicrobial and Flame Retardant Agent

Images obtained from Nanoparticle BioChem web site

Nanoparticle BioChem Inc., a University of Missouri spin-off  has developed antimicrobial and flame retardant agent, called NUL/FL-Mikrobe-I. This agent can provide antimicrobial and flame retardant properties for textiles. According to the company, the staff developed an antimicrobial action has proved 100% against several important microbes both gram-positive and gram-negative.

Antimicrobial Research conducted by the company focuses on a number of microbial agents with applications for the production of antimicrobial textiles earmarked to military and health and hygiene industries.

INL closes first tender for supply of scientific equipment

The deadline for the first INL tender for the supply of scientific material and instruments was met before yesterday. Close to 40 bidders presented their proposal for 32 lots within five set of lithography tools, wetbenches and fume-hoods, deposition and etching tools, characterization tools and magnetometry laboratory tools.

This contract will be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), namely through the Programa Operacional do Norte On.2 (Portugal)

New tenders shall be announced soon at our website http://www.inl.int/cont-opportunities.php

New Technique for Manufacturing Organic Electronic Components

Image obtained from Orthogonal web site

The startup of Ithaca, Orthogonal, is developing materials that will enable organic electronic components using the same type of equipment used to manufacture silicon electronic components, allowing the construction of more complex organic compounds also.

The company has made four prototype devices using new photolithography chemical compounds compatible with organic materials.

In the company’s website we can also find a flash resource that explains the OLEDs operation that may be useful as an educational resource.

Solar Energy Backpacks to Recharge Electronic Devices

Images obtained from Mascotte Industrial Associates web site

Mascotte Industrial Associates has submitted a new backpack that incorporates thin film solar cells dye sensitized. These backpacks are lined with layers of this type of solar cells which are flexible, lightweight, and low cost and they will recharge electronic devices as we move. With these packs we could recharge the phone without needing a nearby power point.

The solar cells manufactured by G24 Innovations, are based on semiconductor nanocrystals coated with a layer of dye. The dye absorbs light and creates electrons which are transmitted to the semiconductor and then to the circuit.

These solar cells have a lower efficiency than the best thin film solar cells but they have in advantage that they are significantly cheaper and they can be printed on flexible surfaces.

In addition, dye-based cells operate in a wide range of angles; they have a long durability and they are effective indoors, because the dye is poorly absorbed by diffuse sunlight and fluorescent light.

Would the Nanoparticles help to Prevent the Healthcare-associated Infections?

Image obtained from “HAI Watch: Not on My Watch” web site

Recently it began to be some concern about the Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), as evidenced by initiatives such as the prevention campaign Kimberly-Clark Health Care, called HAI Wactch: Not on My Watch.

Perhaps similar technologies to the one used in the anti-swine flue costumes design by Haruyama Trading Company which is based on titanium dioxide nanoparticles may facilitate prevention.

If these new nanomaterials demonstrate its effectiveness we could find ourselves in a new era in the field of disease prevention. But until then it is more prudent to follow the recommendations of the HAI Campaign Watch: Not on My Watch.

Marketing of Antimicrobial Paints

Image obtained from Nanotek web site

A spin-off from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral called Nanotek has announced the release of an antimicrobial paint. This product will be sold under the brand Klima and in alliance with the paint manufacturer Vilba.

The company Nanotek specializes in the cleanup of pollution through the use of nanoparticles of iron and bactericides-fungicides with silver based product.

Silicon Nano Ink for Solar Cells

Images obtained from Innovalight web site

Californian startup Innovalight uses silicon ink printed on silicon wafers to increase the efficiency of solar cells. According to the company, the injection technique is cheaper and gets a higher degree of efficiency.

Silicon inks developed by Innovalight can be printed with the technology of QTB Solar inkjet printing.

The agreement reached between Innovalight and JA Solar could mean that the new solar cells are on the market next year

Complutense Young Award for Science and Technology

Images obtained from Imperial College web site

Esther Rodríguez Villegas, a Spanish professor at Imperial College, has been awarded the 2009 Young Science and Technology of the Universidad Complutense.

This 35 year old researcher works in electronics and nanotechnology, specifically in the microchips development. Currently performs a European project to develop non-invasive low power sensors and to implant in patients.