• Question: how do you store your nano materials

    Asked by Tom chambers to Hugh on 8 Nov 2018. This question was also asked by Abdullah.
    • Photo: Hugh Manning

      Hugh Manning answered on 8 Nov 2018: last edited 8 Nov 2018 9:21 pm

      The nanomaterials are usually stored in solution, which means that we put them into water or alcohol until we need to use them.
      We do this because very fine powders are dangerous to our lungs and easily spread. The water or alcohol also protects then from reacting with the air or becoming contaminated before we use them. When we’re ready to use the nanomaterials we spray, or print or drop some of the liquid onto the surface, like glass or plastic or a silicon wafer and wait for all the water or alcohol to evaporate, leaving just the nanomaterials on the surface.
      If you go to my profile you can see a picture of some nanowires in solution and a video of me spraying these nanowires onto plastic!

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