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With flat TVs technology in fierce competition between LCD and
PDP, researchers and CE manufacturers are also looking to horizon
technologies, trying to perfect the commercialization of a new
type of flat-panel display that will rely on diamonds or carbon
nanotubes (two forms of pure carbon) to produce images. Theoretically,
these "field effect displays," or FEDs, will consume
less energy than plasma or LCD-TVs, deliver a better picture,
and even cost less.
"The concept of a nanotube TV will give you image quality
similar to CRTs (cathode ray tubes), and the best image quality
is still found on CRT-TVs," said Tom Pitstick, vice president
of marketing at Carbon Nanotechnologies. "All the major display
manufacturers are looking at nanotube TVs." Electronics giant
Samsung has already produced a prototype of a TV-size display
made with CNI's nanotubes. Televisions based on the new screens
will nudge onto shelves in late 2006, he added.
So far, some of the biggest proponents of this approach could
be Canon and Toshiba. The two manufacturers have formed a joint
venture to make surface-conduction electron-emission display (SED)
panels, and Toshiba will produce large-screen SED televisions
in 2006. Although Canon and Toshiba's description of SEDs is very
similar to that of FEDs, the two companies are using a different
particle than carbon, industry analysts said (for more details
on SED technology, see Projection Monthly 02-2005 issue, p., 104.)
Small-diameter carbon nanotubes are an example of a nanotechnology
that is now reaching the commercial arena. These nanostructures
comprise large molecules of carbon, cylindrical in form, about
1-3 nanometers in diameter, and hundreds to thousands of nanometers
long. As individual molecules, single-wall carbon nanotubes have
a tensile strength that is 100 times that of high-strength steel
at about one-sixth the density of steel. They conduct electricity
and heat extremely well, and many believe that they represent
the next revolution in polymer technology.
One unique property of single-wall and double-wall carbon nanotubes
is their ability to self-assemble into ropes. Similar to other
polymeric materials, these ropes can have crystalline, semi-crystalline
and amorphous regions. The ability to control these rope structures
is an attribute that customers are recognizing as important for
their applications. The ability to tailor diameters and create
mixed morphologies substantially broadens the property envelope
of small-diameter carbon nanotubes, which can be viewed as nested
single-wall nanotubes.
But that goal is still a pipe dream for many. Candescent, for
example, once touted as America's re-entry into the display industry,
burned through $600M in funding before abandoning plans to produce
FEDs made with materials other than carbon in 2001. It sold its
assets to Canon in August 2004, two months after filing for voluntary
reorganization under Chapter 11.
Despite the challenging situation, there remains some enthusiasm
for CNT-based displays. As a result Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc.
(CNI) (Houston, TX) (www.cnanotech.com), began supplying single-wall
carbon nanotubes on a developmental basis in 2000 when the company
was formed and has expanded that capability in subsequent years.
The company produces a wide array of small-diameter carbon nanotube
products and recently announced it can now provide double-wall
carbon nanotubes in gram to multiple kilogram quantities.
The technology to produce double-wall carbon nanotubes is part
of the intellectual property developed by Dr. Richard Smalley
and licensed exclusively to CNI by Rice University in 2001. Smalley
is a Rice University professor and chairmen of CNI. "Even
though single-wall carbon nanotubes have become somewhat of a
gold standard product, the properties of double-wall carbon nanotubes
can make them very interesting for certain applications,"
Smalley said.
CNI has over 100 patents and patent applications issued or in
various stages of prosecution. About 1200 patent claims have issued
thus far, and the pending patents include an additional about
4000 claims. This patent portfolio includes about 650 composition
of matter claims, more than 40 of which have been issued or allowed
to date.
In yet another example of university and corporate collaboration,
NanoFED, a subsidiary of Advance Nanotech (London, UK; New York,
NY) (www.advancenanotech.com), has launched a $2M collaborative
project with the University of Bristol to develop a new emissive
display technology based on diamond dust. The company hopes to
have working prototypes in 18 months to two years.
The Bristol group comprises lead scientist Dr. Neil Fox, Professor
Mike Ashfold in the School of Chemistry and Professor David Cherns,
Head of the Microstructures group in the Department of Physics.
The University has also received a $300K award under the Royal
Society Wolfson Laboratory Refurbishment Grants Scheme, to enable
refurbishment of the laboratory to create a clean, modern and
well-equipped laboratory environment available to NanoFED.
"Previous Research Council and DTI support for our doped
nanodiamond work allowed us to reach a position where the technology
is now ripe for exploitation," explained Professor Ashfold.
"Given the University of Bristol's expertise in small scale
structures and in materials formulation, we are ideally positioned
to push forward the barriers in this area of nanotechnology."
Advance Nanotech, Inc. commercializes innovative nanotechnology.
Operating in three areas, electronics, biopharma and materials,
the company leverages relationships with financial and development
resources to enable product-focused fast-track commercialization
of nanotechnology. Its objective is to invest in patented innovation
to bridge early stage product development with valuable markets
and has formed relationship with many Universities worldwide.
To fund it commercialization efforts, Advance Nanotech recently
closed on $20M in financing of common stock for the further development
of its portfolio of eighteen nanotechnology subsidiaries, licensing
of additional opportunities and working capital.
CNI, Tom Pitstick, 281-492-5884, tpitstick@cnanotech.com
Advance Nanotech, Liza Mullins, 646-723-8962, liza.mullins@advancenanotech.com
Advance Nanotech, Charlotte Ramelli, 44 (0) 207-451-2466, charlotte.ramelli@advancenanotech.com
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