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As these experiments demonstrate, discrete levels and quantum me-
chanics strongly affect the nature of quantum dots. Although quantum
dots are composed of hundreds of atoms, the dots are so small that they
exhibit quantum properties normally observed only on the atomic level.
Researchers who pack together nanocrystals into slightly larger solids
have found that the quantum effects can be maintained. The University
of Pennsylvania scientists Hugo E. Romero and Marija Drndic reported
in 2005 that lattices of nanocrystals can make tiny solids with a variety
of properties, some of which are adjustable by varying the size, shape,
and composition of the crystals. The researchers crafted quantum dots
agencies contributed an estimated $1.35 billion in support of
nanotechnology research; the bulk of the money came from
the Department of Defense, National Science Foundation,
Department of Energy, and National Institutes of Health, but
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the
National Institute of Standards and Technology also heavily in-
vested in this field of research. The diversity of these agencies
testify to the broad potential applications of nanotechnology.
Five major themes underlie the National Nanotechnology
Initiative:
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•
fundamental nanoscale research
“grand challenges,” such as nanomaterial develop-
ment, that are deemed priorities
facilities and equipment—the infrastructure of research
ethical, legal, and social implications of nanotechnology
establishment of centers of excellence
•
•
•
Some of the funding for facilities, centers, and experi-
ments has flowed to universities, while other funding has
gone to government laboratories. For example, the Center
for Functional Nanomaterials was established at Brookhaven
National Laboratory in New York. Work done in this labora-
tory by Mathew Maye and Oleg Gang has been discussed
earlier in this chapter.
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