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Nanobelts For Cheap Flat-Panel Displays And More

Posted by timothy on from the more-and-smaller-is-better dept.

zero_offset writes: "This article describes a new nanoscale creation they're calling nanobelts. Some of the described potential uses are pretty cool (more than just flat-panel displays mentioned in the title), and they sound a bit more realistic for the relatively near future than many other nano-tech promises and projections I've read."

8 comments

  1. Nano-belts by SpanishInquisition · · Score: 1

    for Nano-pants?


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  2. Sensitive to gas and liquid by silicon_synapse · · Score: 1

    Zinc oxide and tin oxide nanobelts could be the basis for ultra-small sensors because the conductivity of these materials changes dramatically when gas or liquid molecules attach to their surfaces.

    I wonder if these could provide the basis for artificial skin? Layers could be applied to prosthetics to make them more life-like. Or even on the outside of a space suit. Imagine astronauts being able to feel with their hands as the explore. Maybe I'm assuming too much and getting ahead of myself, but that'd be really cool.


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    1. Re:Sensitive to gas and liquid by vinnythenose · · Score: 1

      Oh no that woudl be bad!! If you could feel with your hands in space, just think of how cold your hands would feel!!!!

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    2. Re:Sensitive to gas and liquid by silicon_synapse · · Score: 1

      lol Good point! I guess you could adjust sensitivity or something.


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  3. Re:Cheap flexible displays? by Martin+Blank · · Score: 1

    I'm more curious about the possibilities of this working for things like structures of nanobots. If these can be grown into sensors and processors, and then perhaps into a casing for them using small organic motors for thrust, would this be the answer for how to house these? Before this, what I had read indicated few problems figuring out how to do sensors, but the body and any manipulative portions were a huge question mark.

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  4. Cheap flexible displays? by silicon_synapse · · Score: 1

    Despite their origin in normally brittle oxide compounds, the nanobelts are flexible and can be bent 180 degrees without breaking
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    Wang says production of the nanobelts is simple and should scale up easily for high-volume production at industrial quantities.

    I wonder if we could add a little reinforcment and build flexible displays cheaply. Roll up and carry a 21" display with your laptop!


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    1. Re:Cheap flexible displays? by silicon_synapse · · Score: 1

      But with the strands being so flexible, would they be rigid enough to be used as a casing? Or is that not an issue on this scale?


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  5. Hmm... (OT) by pope+nihil · · Score: 1

    Slashdot still appears to be broken. This story was apparently posted well over an hour ago, yet hasn't appeared on the front page yet. Ah, well.