Economical method of chip coating with nanoparticles

2002/12/16 Orobengoa, Olatz - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Elektronika
• Nanoteknologia

For its characteristics pure gold is a very appropriate metal for use in points of connection of chips. However, the gold of such purity is not easy to obtain and is very expensive. The gold found in nature is usually associated with salts and its purity is very low.

Now, researchers at Purdue University have invented a method to use this gold associated with salts in chips. The researchers have found that the dissolution of salt with water in a liquid solution is sufficient for the silica chips to get wet in the solution so that the pure gold nanoparticles detached from the fat stick to it. The longer the chip takes in the solution, the more gold sticks.

In this way you can also take advantage of the gold obtained from the waste to make chips, with which the expenses are drastically reduced. In addition, the metal is glued very especially to the surface of the chip. It does not create a smooth surface but rough, since the metal is distributed on the surface in a very irregular way. This considerably increases the chip surface and generates more space to retain molecules.

The researchers have taken another step in the research. It seems that chips with this surface are suitable for the binding of organic molecules. Adherence to the chip of molecules that react with toxic substances allows the realization of biosensors.

It is known that when the molecules react an electrical exchange occurs. If the molecules are on a chip, the chip metals can perceive and transmit this change. In this way, the molecule can react to a toxic gas or an organic pollutant and the chip can send the signal, stoke the danger.

Although the invention is still in experimental phase, it seems that it can have more than one use.