Cambridge University Engineering Department: News item

Dr Andrea Ferrari

A Prototype Ultrafast laser based on
nanotube mode-lockers

A Prototype Ultrafast laser based on
nanotube mode-lockers
Click on the image to see a larger version.

Optical Fibre End with Nanotube
Polymer Composite Mode-locker

Dr Andrea Ferrari and his team at the Department of Engineering have received the Brian Mercer Award for Innovation in Nanotechnology from The Royal Society. The team's work in nanotube based polymer optoelectronics will seek to combine polymers and carbon nanotubes. This will have the benefit of reduced cost and greater flexibility of use over conventional inorganic semiconductors. The work is expected to have practical applications in optical communications, bio-medical instruments, chemical analysis, time resolved spectroscopy, electro-optical sampling, microscopy and surgery.

The £250,000 Prize was presented at the annual Royal Society ‘From labs to riches’ event. The awards are given to encourage innovation in science and technology and promote its commercial application.

Dr Ferrari said "Nanotechnology is one of the most exciting areas in modern science. The potential of substances such as carbon nanotubes is massive. The UK has to ensure that it invests in the technology now so that we are not left behind. The ability to manipulate the structure and composition at the nano-scale opens huge opportunities to create materials with superior performance for new products and devices. The introduction of a wide range of new low cost materials, encompassing polymers and nanostructures, including nanotubes and nanowires, is set to have a disruptive impact on current products which use conventional inorganic semiconductors, not only because of cost/performance advantages, but also because they can be manufactured in more flexible ways, suitable for a growing range of applications."

Sir Peter Williams, Vice-President of the Royal Society said; “Science may well hold the key to solving many of the challenges the world is facing but that will not happen if we do not invest in people and ideas. With the Brian Mercer Awards we are backing up our words with actions.”

For further information please contact Dr Ferrari: acf26@cam.ac.uk or visit the group's web page: http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/nms/

Dr Andrea Ferrari receives the Brian Mercer Award for Innovation in Nanotechnology from The Royal Society