Nanotech roundup: ultra-colour TV, nano-flowers and Trojan blood cells | Ros Daw

In this month's roundup we describe the use of quantum dots in LCD TVs to enhance colour, nanoscale flower arrangements and nanoparticles hidden in blood cellsTV in nanotechnicolourThe next generation of LCD televisions from Sony use quantum dots to improve the colour performance of their screens. Quantum dots are light-emitting nanoparticles. New Scientist reports that Sony's Triluminos sets, which use tubes of quantum dots stimulated by blue light-emitting diodes, are now available in stores.Meanwhile, 3M has developed quantum dot films, also stimulated by blue LEDs, that are designed to improve colour intensity with reduced power consumption. They plan to show their product to potential customers very soon.Soft, strong and very longCarbon nanotube fibres are also now available to buy commercially, at least if you live in Japan. These are soft, continuous fibres like cotton thread, but unlike cotton they are incredibly strong and they conduct electricity as well as a metal. Initial applications will likely be in electronics for aerospace, where weight reduction is paramount.The Dutch manufacturer Teijin Aramid is confident that its carbon nanotube fibres will be a winner and are touting them to the Japanese advanced materials market.Marcin J Otto of Teijin Aramid is honest about the cost to clients. "My prices will be abominable initially, but they will drop as we scale up. The potential buyers understand this," he says. We shall see.In the nano gardenScientists from Harvar...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - June 25, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Ros Daw Tags: Blogposts guardian.co.uk Nanotechnology Television Physics Chemistry Science Source Type: news