Nanowires are tiny crystalline fibers, typically less than one hundred nanometer across, and thousands of nanometers long. Nanowires are grown starting with a tiny bead of liquid gold or other metal that is placed in a vapor of the nanowire material. The material is attracted to the beads and grows into a long thin spike. Nanowires display an array of physical properties that depend not only on the material but also on their diameter, for example they conduct electricity differently than a large piece of the material they are made with. Peidong Yang a possible candidate for the Nobel prize in physics, has examined many different types of nanowires and their properties, including the ability to conduct a laser beam down its extremely narrow diameter. They can be used in quantum computers, as when two nanowires cross it creates a quantum dot; in flexible solar cells; and in tiny self-contained sensors.

Experts available:• Oded Rabin studies nanowires and their thermoelectric properties. Rabin worked with Yang and collaborated with him on two papers and a patent.o Title: Associate professor, Materials Science & Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park.o Email: [email protected]o Phone: 301-405-3382o Webpage: http://www.mse.umd.edu/faculty/rabino Note: not available 10-11 am EST October 6

• YuHuang Wang, a materials and physical chemist, and an expert in nanoscience.o Title: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park.o Email: [email protected]o Phone: 301-405-3368o Webpage: http://www.chem.umd.edu/yuhuang-wang/

• Gary Rubloff studies nanowires and their application in batteries.o Title: Minta Martin professor, Materials Science & Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park. Director, Maryland NanoCenter and NEES EFRCo Email: [email protected]o Phone: 301-405-3011o Webpage: http://www.rubloffgroup.umd.edu/