Nanotechnology Imaging
The term nanotechnology is
used to describe different research methods where
the characteristic dimensions are less than about
100 nanometers. The technology has far-reaching impact
with the potential to create faster nanoelectronics
and ultra-strong and extremely light structural
materials. Of particular interest are nanotubes,
formed when carbon atoms bond to one another to form
ubiquitous planar hexagonal rings, as in graphite
or the benzene molecule.
Researchers are investigating the
formation of nanotubes in order to improve production
techniques. When manufactured on a perfect molecular
level, these fullerene tubes offer revolutionary
electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties on
the nanometer scale. Researchers are also interested
in the optical properties of nanotubes as they
have potential applications as fluorescent tags
in chemical and biological systems.

3D plot of fluorescence
from single-walled nanotubes captured
using 2D-OMA InGaAs camera system. Data courtesy of
Prof. R. Bruce Weisman, Rice University

Laser-induced luminescence
(LIL) images of the C/Ni/Co plume during
synthesis of SWNTs with controlled growth times of
~0.5 s
Image courtesy of Drs. David Geohegan
and AlexanderPuretzky,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, TN)
Highly sensitive gated ICCD cameras
(PI-MAX) are used to study the formation of nanotubes.
Significant improvements in frame rates and sensitivity
offered in the new PI/Acton-MAX2 ICCD cameras
allow researchers to obtain time resolved data
faster than ever before. Also, the new 2D-OMA InGaAs
detector is helping researchers capture low-light fluorescence
from nanomaterials in the NIR region for the first
time ever.
Recommended
products
PI-MAX
-
New PI-MAX2 cameras
for fast gating (up to 500 ps) with high-repetition
rate (> 15 full frames-per-second)
-
High-resolution
1K x 1K imaging CCDs
-
Powerful, integrated programmable
timging generator (PTG™)
2D-OMA
V
-
InGaAs detector
with sensitivity from 0.8 µm to 1.7 µm
-
Cooled to -100C
for low dark current. Ideal for low-light
level NIR fluorescence applications
-
Excellent
linearity and stability for quantitative
imaging