Technology venture company IP Group has teamed up with scientists from the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) and CEVP to create a company which supplies tools for producing nanomaterials.

The team is developing a NanoGrowth machine, which they claim will be the first commercial tool for low-temperature growth of carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes is a semiconductor technology now being investigated for use as very high speed interconnections in next generation chips. The low temperatures used permit the use of existing silicon semiconductor materials that are not able to withstand the high growth temperatures previously required for the formation of nanotubes.

Likely applications include low-resistance nanowires in integrated circuits, semiconductor nanotubes for fabricating high performance transistors, micro-miniature heatsinks, ultra-tough polymer composites, gas sensors and light sources for flat panel displays.

"This is our first spin-out company from the University of Surrey since setting up a commercialization partnership with the university in February," said Alan Aubrey, chief executive of IP Group.

The research project was also funded by South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), which provided assistance with the early development work with the aim of helping to realize the potential of nanotechnology in the South East by enabling mass production of nanomaterials as an affordable platform technology.

“At Surrey we have created an environment which encourages an entrepreneurial attitude towards research and its exploitation. The active support of the University, local businesses, SEEDA and DTI have been essential ingredients in realizing this breakthrough in nanotechnology manufacturing,” said Professor Michael Kearney, Surrey University's head of School for Electronics and Physical Sciences.

By: DocMemory
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