Technology to allow for synthesis of nano-size metal; chosen as notable study by Nature journal

World-renowned chemistry journal 'Angewandte Chemie' carries study on front cover

(Photo)Doughnut-shaped nanostructure assembly.

Korean scientists have developed a new polymer nanostructure in the shape of a doughnut that is consistent in size, and is different from nano-metal particles of different shapes, including globular, cylindrical, disk and spiral shapes.

Pohang University of Science and Technology (President Baek Sung-gi) said on June 11 that its research team led by Profs. Chang Tai-yun and Huang Hai-ying at the Brain Korea 21 molecular science initiative had developed a technology that allows for the production of nano-metal particles by employing as nanotemplate doughnut-shaped molecular assemblies that are consistent in size through the use of spontaneous self-assembly of diblock copolymers.

Chang's team succeeded in creating a pure, consistently sized, doughnut-shaped nanostructure assembly (ring-closure products of rod-shaped micelles) based on a nanostructure assembly that was poor in utility due to the uncontrollability of its structure and size? by applying diblock copolymers with a low glass transition temperature, and a selectively reacting solvent mixture.

The new structure assembly is drawing keen attention because it not only maintains the structure in the solvent mixture for several months, but also allows the nano-metal particles, which were created through careful manipulation of their size and shape, to be inserted into a specific location of the nanostructure assembly.

If researchers synthesize nano-metal particles, which can be created to be consistent in size and shape, they can generate a new nano-compound of sophisticated shapes much more easily than via conventional methods.Moreover, since it allows researchers to easily generate a nanostructure assembly that is consistent in size, the technology is expected to make major contributions to applied research in related fields, including the development of next-generation nano-scale memory devices.

The study was selected as the "VIP" and cover thesis in the latest issue of Angewandte Chemie, the world's preeminent chemistry journal published by the German Society of Chemistry (the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker). The study was also introduced as a 'notable study' in the polymer chemistry field in the 459th issue of the journal, Nature, reflecting the keen attention the technology has attracted from international academia.

(Photo)From left: Prof. Chang Tai-hyun, Prof. Huang Hai-ying (lead author), Ph.D. candidate Jung Ju-eun, Dr. Park Hae-woong.

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Lim Eun-hee
redant645 at hellodd.com

[June 18, 2009]

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Source - HelloDD.com