High aspect ratio silicon dioxide-coated single-walled carbon nanotube scanning probe nanoelectrodes

We have fabricated high aspect ratio, hydrophilic nanoelectrodes from individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) mounted on conductive atomic force microscope (AFM) tips for use as electrochemical probes. Individual SWNTs with an average diameter of 5 nm and up to 1.5 μm in length were passivated with nanometer-thick SiO_2 films, deposited conformally in an inductively coupled plasma reactor. The electrically insulating SiO_2 films improved the nanotube rigidity and stabilized the nanotube−AFM tip contact to enable use in aqueous environments. The nanotube tip was successfully exposed by subjecting the probe to nanosecond electrical pulse etching but only after electron beam irradiation in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Probe functionality was verified by electrodepositing gold nanoparticles from aqueous solution only at the exposed tip

Nanopencil as a wear-tolerant probe for ultrahigh density data storage

A dielectric-sheathed carbon nanotube probe, resembling a “nanopencil,” has been fabricated by conformal deposition of silicon-oxide on a carbon nanotube and subsequent “sharpening” to expose its tip. The high aspect-ratio nanopencil probe takes advantage of the small nanotube electrode size, while avoiding bending and buckling issues encountered with naked or polymer-coated carbon nanotube probes. Since the effective electrode diameter of the probe would not change even after significant wear, it is capable of long-lasting read/write operations in contact mode with a bit size of several nanometers

Branding through trade shows in the automotive industry

The automotive industry is a major global industry with a great history of exhibitions. As trade shows are getting more attention within studies, the same is not the case for automotive trade shows. Noteworthy, automotive trade shows emphasize non-selling roles such as image-building. This paper seeks to investigate image-building purposes of exhibiting automotive companies using integrated marketing communications (IMC). Data has been gathered from four participating companies in the Geneva Motor Show. The empirical findings show several reasons to implement IMC in trade show activities to enhance the brand image. By carefully blending the promotional tools the brand image may be enhanced. The findings imply the need for better knowledge within IMC for some companies. The findings also suggest that this relative new marketing concept yields plural benefits. The paper clarifies the image-building purposes of exhibiting automotive companies and leads to proposals for further research in an unexplored area

Fully inverted single-digit nanometer domains in ferroelectric films

Achieving stable single-digit nanometer inverted domains in ferroelectric thin films is a fundamental issue that has remained a bottleneck for the development of ultrahigh density (>1 Tbit/in.^2) probe-based memory devices using ferroelectric media. Here, we demonstrate that such domains remain stable only if they are fully inverted through the entire ferroelectric film thickness, which is dependent on a critical ratio of electrode size to the film thickness. This understanding enables the formation of stable domains as small as 4 nm in diameter, corresponding to 10 unit cells in size. Such domain size corresponds to 40 Tbit/in.^2 data storage densitie

Development of Controlled Temperature-Cycle Irradiation Technique in JMTR

The effects of cyclic temperature changes during neutron irradiation upon radiation induced microstructure evolution and resulting property changes of materials is very important from both fundamental and engineering viewpoints. Therefore, a technique that allows us to do the controlled temperature-cycle irradiation was developed in the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR). The technique meets the following requirements : (1) the temperature-cycle irradiation is to be performed under three different conditions by changing lower and upper temperatures; 200 --- 400℃, 300 --- 400℃ and 300 --- 450℃. (2) the number and period of the temperature-cycles are to be six for 24-day full irradiation and approximately 44 h/44 h at the lower/upper temperatures. (3) the temperatures of each specimen assembly are to be maintained at the lower temperatures before start-up of the reactor and at the upper temperatures during shut-down until the complete absence of reactor power. In this paper, the details of the irradiation rig, successful results and several problems to be overcome for future improvement are presented