PISCATAWAY,
N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2006--If carbon nanotubes
are to fulfill their commercial promise in displays,
integrated circuits, sensors and other nanoelectronic
components, industry must agree on uniform ways to
evaluate and report their electrical properties.
In a major step toward this goal, the IEEE has approved
IEEE 1650, the first standard to establish a common
metrics foundation for such properties.
IEEE 1650, "Standard Test Methods for Measurement
of Electrical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes," recommends
the equipment and procedures needed to measure the
low-level signals involved in working with nanotubes.
It addresses a variety of basic parameters, including
electrical conductivity, Hall effect and other critical
electrical properties of nanotubes and basic nanotube
devices.
"There's an impressive amount of work underway seeking
to use nanotubes to fabricate next-generation devices," says
Daniel Gamota, IEEE 1650 Working Group chair. "These
efforts have surfaced a strong need for uniform ways
to evaluate nanotube electrical performance, so what
is observed by one group can be confirmed by others.
IEEE 1650 meets this need. The tests it defines help
bridge the gap between the laboratory and the production
line so researchers can communicate effectively with
those creating commercial nanotube applications."
The new standard will provide credibility for carbon
nanotubes entering the market, according to Paul
Brazis, IEEE 1650 Working Group vice chairman. "Many
groups report electronic data for carbon nanotubes,
but there is no good way to understand the accuracy,
repeatability and consistency of these data," he
says. "IEEE 1650 assures these data are reported
consistently so end users can depend on information
from vendors and so gain confidence in the nanotubes
they buy. The standard also will give manufacturers
who comply with IEEE 1650 a way to legitimize what
they offer."
The IEEE has taken the lead in forming nanoelectronic
standards for materials, devices and systems. In
addition to IEEE 1650, it is also developing IEEE
1690(TM), "Standard Methods for the Characterization
of Carbon Nanotubes Used as Additives in Bulk Materials," which
will define test methods for carbon nanotube quality
control involving such factors as material purity
and composition."
The IEEE 1650 standard, "Standard Test Methods for
Measurement of Electrical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes," was
sponsored by the IEEE Nanotechnology Council. For
more information see: http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1650 .
About the IEEE Standards Association
The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized
standards-setting body, develops consensus standards
through an open process that brings diverse parts
of an industry together. These standards set specifications
and procedures based on current scientific consensus.
The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of more than 870 completed
standards and more than 400 standards in development.
Over 15,000 IEEE members worldwide belong to IEEE-SA
and voluntarily participate in standards activities.
For information on IEEE-SA see: http://www.standards.ieee.org/ .
About the IEEE
The IEEE has more than 375,000 members in approximately
150 countries. Through its members, the organization
is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace,
computers and telecommunications to biomedicine,
electric power and consumer electronics. The IEEE
produces nearly 30 percent of the world's literature
in the electrical and electronics engineering, computing
and control technology fields. This nonprofit organization
also sponsors or cosponsors more than 300 technical
conferences each year. Additional information about
the IEEE can be found at http://www.ieee.org .
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