Researchers Control The Assembly Of Nanobristles Into Helical Clusters
Thursday, January 8, 2009 - 15:49
in Physics & Chemistry
From the structure of DNA to nautical rope to distant spiral galaxies, helical forms are as abundant as they are useful in nature and manufacturing alike. Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have discovered a way to synthesize and control the formation of nanobristles, akin to tiny hairs, into helical clusters and have further demonstrated the fabrication of such highly ordered clusters, built from similar coiled building blocks, over multiple scales and areas. The finding has potential use in energy and information storage, photonics, adhesion, capture and release systems, and chemical mixing.