small talks: talks by students, for students <style type="text/css">  </style> </head> <body> <center>  <a href="http://dmse.mit.edu/"><img border=0 src="course3.jpg"></a> <a href="http://web.mit.edu/gso/faq/studentlifefee.html"><img border=0 src="gso.jpg"></a>  <a href="index.shtml"><b><font size=7><font color=black>small</font>TALKS</font><b></a> <a href="http://mtlweb.mit.edu/researchgroups/mems/"><img border=0 src="memsatmit.jpg"></a> <a href="http://rleweb.mit.edu/"><img border=0 src="rle.jpg"></a> <br> ♦ <i>talks by students, for students</i> ♦<br> Wednesdays, 4pm, 6-104<br> <a href="sponsors.shtml">sponsors</a><br> <a href="about.shtml">about small talks</a> </center> <p> 09.20.2006: Gretchen deVries (DMSE)<br> <i>Nano-nylon: Chains of metal nanoparticles</i><br> <h4>Abstract:</h4> Nanoparticles tend to spontaneously aggregate into ordered two- and three-dimensional assemblies, but achieving one-dimensional structures of nanoparticles is less straightforward. However, a method to manipulate and control the directional interactions between nanoparticles is an essential step toward the development of nanoparticle-based devices. This talk will first give an overview of some existing methods of nanoparticle assembly, then describe a recently developed strategy to break the symmetry of monolayer-protected metal nanoparticles in order to join them into one-dimensional chains. This approach, which is inspired by the two-phase nylon polymerization synthesis, promises a versatile method to form chains of various compositions and properties. <p><p> <center> <small>Questions? Comments? Would you like to give a small talk?<br> [small-talks at mike india tango dot edu]<br> Oh, and sign up for our <a href="http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/small-talks-announce">announce list</a>! :)</small> </center> </body> </html>