11-01 :: December 2010 / January 2011

nanotimes News in Brief

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research will be needed before such applications can be realized. Erik Roeling, Wijnand Germs, Barry Smalbrugge, Erik Jan Geluk, Tjibbe de Vries, René Janssen en Martijn Kemerink: Organic electronic ratchets doing work, In: Nature Materi- als AOP, December 12, 2010, DOI:10.1038/NMAT2922: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NMAT2922

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xExKoELgDXo

Erik Roeling (left) of Eindhoven University of Technology demonstrates the concept of ratchets with marbles. On the right: Martijn Kemerink.© Bart van Overbeeke

At the Photonics West 2011 trade fair in San Fran- cisco, German Fraunhofer researchers are now introducing a quick and efficient production system: their VarioS microscanner construction kit. This shrinks the costs and waiting times from order to delivery to just a few weeks.

are positioned asymmetrically below the channel of the transistor. Under the influence of the alternating voltage the electrons were able to make small steps in one direction, but not in the other – the same principle as a ratchet or pawl wheel. This move- ment of electrons is comparable to shaking marbles on a washboard – these also show a net movement in one direction.

The researchers have included their finding in a logic circuit. In their test setup the ratchet was found to provide sufficient energy to power the circuit.

According to the researchers the finding is a first step on the way to a new method for wireless po- wering of microelectronic devices with a low energy consumption – for example identification tags, im- planted ICs or sensors. However substantial further

Va rioS, © IPMS

Microscanners are micro-electro-mechanical sy- stems (MEMS), special chips with a tiny tilting mirror etched into the surface. The mirror is ex- cited into motion. If light strikes the mirror, it can be deflected, permitting it to scan a surface. With