Functional nanomaterials

Novel functional nanomaterials are the basis of newly emerging nanotechnologies for various device applications significantly impact diverse fields, such as nanophotonics, spintronics, catalysis, cosmetics or biomedical applications and can be tailored to achieve desired functions. Functional nanomaterials included gold, silver nanoparticles and single wall carbon nanotubes and others.
Heterojunction nanowires
High-definition metal-oxide-metal (MOM) heterojunction nanowires are made by sandwiching axially a nanoscale segment of a functional oxide between two noble-metal nanowires. These MOM nanowires have distinct advantages over all-oxide nanowires (where the entire nanowire is an oxide), in terms of the true nanoscale nature of the oxide (both radially and axially), integral high-quality electrical contacts, ease of assembly, and low losses. These MOM nanowires have been integrated into circuits with macroscopic contacts. This nanowire architecture provides a unique opportunity to study fundamental nanoscale size-effects in functional oxides, without the dominating effect of the substrate, in the context of dielectric, chemical-sensing, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and magneto electronic properties. These nanowires could also be used as 1-D building blocks in the "bottom up" approach to multifunctional nanoelectronics.
Graphene
Graphene is a close relative of other novel arrangements of carbon atoms-nanotubes in which the sheet is rolled into a tube shape and buckminsterfullerene, the 60-atom spheres also called buckyballs. Graphene holds potential for profoundly transforming materials science, everything from computer chips and flexible displays to solar cells and lighter aircraft. One of graphene's top properties is its ability to conduct electricity. It is not a superconductor, but it loses relatively little energy to resistance compared with most materials. It could be used, for example, to make plastic conductive. It is very strong but very light in weight.
Graphene (2-D carbon sheets) possess some highly unusual electronic and quantum properties which can lead to devices such as high-frequency field-effect transistors, single-electron transistors, chemical sensors, magneto electronics, etc.