nanowire
Tiny electronic thread
A nanowire is an extremely thin wire with a diameter measured in nanometers—typically less than 100 billionths of a meter.
At this scale, materials exhibit quantum mechanical properties useful in electronics, optics, and sensors.
Nanowires serve as building blocks for next-generation transistors, solar cells, and medical devices: Researchers grew silicon nanowires to create more efficient batteries.
Metalloid in electronics
- goldElement seventy-nine
- silverLustrous white precious metal
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- germaniumAtomic number thirty-two
platinum · nickel · cobalt · metallic · oxide · crystalline · amorphous · core-shell
Nanoscale carbon cylinder
- nanofiberUltrathin synthetic strand
- nanoparticleSubmicroscopic material fragment
- nanosphereSpherical particle, nanoscale
- nanocompositeHybrid with nanometer-scale phase
Ability to carry current
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- currentDirected flow of charge
- electrodeConductive interface point
circuit · transistor · superconductor · ohm · voltage · capacitance · junction · contact
Biological chemical detection device
- LEDSemiconductor that glows
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- transistorSemiconductor signal switch
- thermoelectricHeat-to-electricity converting
photovoltaic · nanoelectronics · nanomedicine · drug-delivery · photonics · catalysis
Combining parts into whole
- self-assemblySpontaneous structural organization
- nanofabricationCreating nanometer-scale structures
- electrodepositionCoating surfaces using electricity
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
patterning · growth · annealing · doping · characterization
Too small for eyes
- ultrathinExtremely minimal thickness
- one-dimensionalWithout depth or complexity
- ultrafineExceptionally small in size
silicon
Metalloid in electronics
germanium · platinum · nickel · cobalt · metallic · oxide · crystalline · amorphous · core-shell
nanotube
Nanoscale carbon cylinder
- nanofiberUltrathin synthetic strand
- nanoparticleSubmicroscopic material fragment
- nanosphereSpherical particle, nanoscale
conductivity
Ability to carry current
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- currentDirected flow of charge
electrode · circuit · transistor · superconductor · ohm · voltage · capacitance · junction · contact · interconnect
biosensor
Biological chemical detection device
- LEDSemiconductor that glows
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- transistorSemiconductor signal switch
thermoelectric · photovoltaic · nanoelectronics · nanomedicine · drug-delivery · photonics · catalysis
synthesis
Combining parts into whole
- self-assemblySpontaneous structural organization
- nanofabricationCreating nanometer-scale structures
- electrodepositionCoating surfaces using electricity
etching · patterning · growth · annealing · doping · characterization
microscopic
Too small for eyes
- ultrathinExtremely minimal thickness
- one-dimensionalWithout depth or complexity
- ultrafineExceptionally small in size
nanowirecable
Heavy-duty woven line
power cable · transmission line · copper wire · high-voltage line · coaxial cable