Glossary



Adsorbate

A substance which sticks or adsorbs on surfaces. An adsorbate can be a molecule which is used to build up a defined layer by a CVD process for example.

Atom

The smallest unit of a chemical element, about a third of a nanometer in diameter. Atoms make up molecules and solid objects.

Atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a technique for analyzing the surface topography with a resolution down to the level of the atom. The AFM detects forces acting on a probe which is in mechanical contact with the surface using a small spring or cantilever. The probe is scanned line by line over the area of interest, whereby the topography is derived from the bending or deflection of the cantilever. The AFM is closely related to another scanning probe technique (SPM), called scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The difference is that AFM does not require a conductive sample, whereas STM does. AFM is being used to understand materials problems in many areas, including data storage, telecommunications, biomedicine, chemistry, and aerospace.

Auger electron

Electron emitted from an core-ionised atom via a two step process. Generally an ionised atom will emit light, when an electron fills the empty place, but under certain conditions the energy will be transferred onto another electron which is emitted with a characteristic energy. This is a competing process to x-ray emissions and can be observed for lighter atoms predominantly. Auger electrons are named after the three atomic shells involved (e.g. KLM).

Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES)

Surface analytical method revealing the chemical composition. Surface atoms or molecules are core-ionised by an electron beam for instance. The energy of the emitted Auger electrons is recorded providing surface sensitive chemical information.

Highlights

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Register for the latest annual nanomedicine conference (Amsterdam Feb 24-25, 2010) and attend business, training and observatoryNANO events for free. Click here for further information or contact Carrie Smith. 

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The FP7 observatoryNANO project provides ST and economic analysis on 10 different technology and industrial sectors, as well as EHS, ELSA, standards and regulatory aspects.  Click here for further information.

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As an extension to its service, registered Nanoforum users can now submit news and events online.  For further information please contact Mark Morrison.

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Nanoforum has produced a Nanotechnology Education Tree which is designed to give an introduction to nanotechnology applications in health, the environment, energy, electronics and modern life. It also provides information on some of the societal implications of nanotechnology, some of the myths and a timeline of some of the key nanotechnology developments.

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