Science and Technology Facilities Council
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Study of volcanoes in the outer solar system produces unexpected nanotechnology bonus
Scientists looking at volcanoes in the outer solar system have discovered mysterious expanding ice crystals that could be useful in future technological developments such as speeding up data processing. The results are published in Science (10 February 2011).
The methanol crystals which have unusual expansion properties will be of interest to developers of 'nano-switches' (valves used in 'micro-electronics' at the nano scale) which it is thought could be used in future information systems.
The unexpected discovery was made by scientists using neutron scattering at STFC's ISIS facility and Institut Laue Langevin (ILL). STFC manages the UK subscription to ILL which gives UK scientists access to the facility.
For more details on this please see the ILL website (link opens in a new window).
Contacts
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Lucy Stone
STFC Press Officer
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Tel: +44 (0)1235 445 627
Mob: +44 (0)7920 870 125
