Everyone talks about nanotechnology - Stuttgart Nanodays explain it

(Nanowerk News) Nanotechnology plays today an important role in many areas, for example in the miniaturization of electronic components or in the production of new materials. Nanomaterials, among others, are present in dirt-repellent and "self-healing" coatings or clothing. On 29th - 30th September, during Stuttgart Nanodays 2011 in Ludwigsburg, users from the industry will meet the latest scientific findings in nanotechnology research.
Nanotechnology is currently on everyone's lips - but often remains unclear what is meant by this term, where does it come from and what future possibilities are hiding behind this technology. In physics and chemistry, but also in mechanical engineering and food technology nanotechnology describes research with single atoms or structures up to a size of 100 nanometers. Tiny structures - a nanometer is one billionth of a meter - are altered and produced synthetically from individual atoms and molecules by chemical or mechanical means.
Nano-modified materials allow the development of completely new and innovative technological products with so far unsuspected properties. In the focus of many research activities carbon nanotubes (carbon nanotubes (CNT)) are present. "CNT may soon come in to use in for example touch screens and replace the expensive, so-called strategic metals such as indium, whose prices are dictated and dependent from providers" - predicts Ivica Kolaric. The Head of Department Process Engineering of Functional Materials at the Fraunhofer IPA names yet other unbeatable advantages: "Carbon is not only cost effective and available anywhere in the world, but it is also a renewable resource that can be for example extracted from wood." To exploit the full potential of these novel materials, above all a safe processing and application of the CNT composites are required.
The Fraunhofer IPA has been researching in this area for years and occupies within the Fraunhofer Society and the entire German research landscape a key position. To realize the full industrial potential of nanotechnology, it is required the exchange of experience among experts will take place. The Stuttgart researchers have therefore decided to organize an international congress and in the future to settle this topic in Stuttgart. The conference will bring together the best nanotechnologists with end-users. The participants have opportunity to discuss their questions with a large number of experts and to expand their network with start-up companies as well as successful nanotechnology-users. The annual Stuttgart Nanodays will be in the future the exchange platform in the field of nanotechnology.
The first Stuttgart Nanodays will take place on 29th and 30th September 2011 in Ludwigsburg. The main topics are:
  • Carbon nanomaterials for energy storage
  • Ionic polymer actuators based on carbon nanotubes and ionic liquids
  • Economic considerations of carbon nanomaterials
  • Scalable fabrication of graphene-based electronics
  • Electrical hysteresis in nano-devices: Carbon nanotubes and nanowires
  • The Golden Rule of nano-carbon materials
  • Transparent conductive thin films based on nano-carbons
  • The manufacturing of conducting "Interpenetrating Polymer Networks" (IPN) - actuators for microsystems
  • The meso-scale modeling of carbon nanotubes
  • The conference language is English.
    Source: Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres