Holograms organize nanowires

November 7, 2005

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During the past few years scientists have gotten good at using holograms to move and manipulate microscopic objects. The methods, however, are usually limited to spherical objects, which include cells and microbes.

Researchers from Harvard University and New York University have found a way to use holographic optical traps to move and manipulate long, thin semiconductor nanowires. Holographic optical traps are computer-controlled holograms focused through a microscope onto objects floating in liquid.

The method can be used to move, rotate, cut and fuse semiconductor nanowires. The researchers demonstrated the technique by constructing a rhombus from cadmium sulfide nanowires.

The work is a step toward a key ability: being able to assemble many complex, three-dimensional nanowire structures at once. This would enable the manufacturing of new forms of optical and electronic devices like fast, high-capacity computer memory chips.

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