Scientists design simpler, more accurate nanothermometer

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This drawing shows the oxidation process of temperature measurement using gallium-filled carbon nanotubes: (a) shows the nanotube before temperature measurement in (b) the rising temperature causes the gallium to expand and rise where the top of the  ...
This drawing shows the oxidation process of temperature measurement using gallium-filled carbon nanotubes: (a) shows the nanotube before temperature measurement; in (b), the rising temperature causes the gallium to expand and rise, where the top of the gallium becomes oxidized; in (c), the falling temperature causes the gallium to contract, leaving the oxidized marker; and in (d), the original temperature is measured by reheating the nanotube up to the marker. Photo credit: Zongwen Liu, et al.

By using carbon nanotubes containing gallium for measuring temperature at the nanoscale, scientists have invented a new nanothermometer that works simply by heating and cooling the tubes.


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All News summaries for July 26, 2006