UC Berkely researchers have developed a "NanoPen" that they say overcomes one of the top challenges in nanotechnology manufacturing - producing nano-scale components quickly, cheaply and efficiently. While several techniques for producing patterns of nanoparticles have emerged - they all currently require bulky instrumentation, high temperatures and can take hours to complete - limiting the widespread application.

Ming Wu and colleagues report in this week's Nano Letters (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl901239a) they have developed a "NanoPen" which solves these problems.

In lab studies the researchers used the pen to deposit various nanoparticles into specific patterns in the presence of relatively low light and temperature intensities. Furthermore, the process takes only seconds to complete.

"NanoPen could provide a quick, convenient way of laying down patterns of nanoparticles — from wires to circuits — for making tiny electronic devices, medical diagnostic tests, and other nanotech applications."

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090902112746.htm