New Technologies

Paint-on laser

Lasers that can produce coherent infrared light in the 1–2 μm wavelength range are essential in telecommunications, biomedical diagnosis and optical sensing. Such small lasers could provide new smaller sensitive detectors for chromatography.

This may now be possible as Ted Sargent (University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada) has created a new laser using colloidal quantum dots — nanometre-sized particles of semiconductor that are suspended in a solvent similar to particles in paint.

This laser could help keep feeding the information-hungry Internet generation. The laser's most remarkable feature is its simplicity. Dipping a miniature glass tube into the paint and then drying it with a hairdryer can make a laser. Once the right nanoparticles are made, the procedure takes about five minutes.

Image credit: TrevorJohnston.com University of Toronto

The microchip industry is looking for components that exist on the scale of transistors and are made of semiconductors, which would produce light when exposed to electrical current. With this development, it could be possible to use the electronics already found on microchips to power a laser that communicates within the chip itself.

Don't run out of charge

You are away from your lab talking about some important results on your mobile when the battery runs out. Now try and find a payphone. Today maybe the only one you can find is the Police telephone box in the popular TV series, Dr Who.

But a new device, Charge 2 Go, has come to the rescue. The device uses one AA battery to provide up to two hours of talk time on most mobile telephones.

Charge 2 Go offers connectors for phones by Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Siemens and Sony-Ericsson.

Insert an AA battery and connect the device to your mobile. A red light-emitting diode flashes, indicating that it is charging. A chip inside the Charge 2 Go converts a 1.5 V alkaline battery into a 3.7 V, 380 mA current for your mobile.

Charge 2 Go relies on AA batteries, which are available worldwide or small enough to carry as a spare, so this battery problem should be solved.

So the next time you travel you can even leave the bulky charger at home as this device easily fits into your pocket.

Now let's tackle the other problem of the batteries in my portable PC running out. Well I understand the company is looking into this and expects to be able to offer a device for iPods, and other hand-held devices soon.