August 2010

Nanogap is a collaborator in the just-approved CLIP project funded under the EU FP7 framework

The project aims to develop a set of low cost conductive inks that will enable small and medium sized EU based businesses to address the growing potential of printed electronics. Nanogap will collaborate with the University of Santiago de Compostela to develop and supply new conductive inks to consortium partners. The inks will be based on multi modal sized silver nanoparticles with the aim of improving particle packing and lowering sintering temperature.

March 2010

Nanogap Silver Atomic Quantum Clusters shown to electrocatalyse alcohols

In a recent publication in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) Arturo Lopez Quintela and co-workers have demonstrated that Silver atomic quantum clusters (AgAQCs), with two or three silver atoms, supplied by Nanogap, show electrocatalytic activities that are not found in nanoparticles or in bulk silver. AgAQCs supported on glassy carbon electrodes oxidize ethanol and other alcohols in macroscopic electrochemical cells in acidic and basic media. This electrocatalysis occurs at very low potentials (from ≈ +200 mV vs RHE), at physiological pH, and at ethanol concentrations that are found in alcoholic patients. When mammalian cells are co-exposed to ethanol and AgAQCs, alcohol-induced alterations such as rounded cell morphology, disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, and activation of caspase-3 are all prevented. Overall, the findings not only show that AgAQCs are efficient electrocatalysts at physiological pH and prevent ethanol toxicity in cultured mammalian cells, but also suggest that AgAQCs could be used to modify redox reactions and in this way promote or inhibit biological reactions. The full publication can be accessed through:

December 2009

Silver Nanofibers New Product Launch

Nanogap has developed a new class of product, Silver Nanofibers (NF), developed for conductive applications. This new class of product will compliment the existing product lines of Atomic Quantum Clusters (AQC) and Nanoparticles (NP). Silver Nanofibers are high aspect ratio fibres approximately 20 to 100 microns long and 100 nm diameter. The product is provided as a dispersion, up to 10% in weight in a range of different carriers. The high aspect ratio morphology provides efficient percolation improving conductive and anti-static properties at low concentrations. Applications that could benefit from this technology include composites and coatings which dissipate electrostatic charge, such as antistatic floor paints, or high performance conductive adhesives and plastics used in electronic components, for example in the automotive industry. One key advantage to alternative carbon based conductive products is that the use of Silver Nanofibres allows the finished product to be coloured through the addition of pigments. If you are interested in obtaining more information on Silver Nanofibers, then please use the enquiry page on our new website.

October 2009

New Website

Nanogap has completely redesigned its website. The new website was launched in October 2009, and provides clear information on Nanogap´s current products, their properties and potential applications. It also includes pages on services Nanogap can provide such as contract R&D and a list of events that Nanogap will be attending. For those requiring further information than that provided on the site there is the opportunity to request further information through the enquiry page.

July 2009

Allen Reid joins the Nanogap team

Nanogap is delighted to announce that Dr Allen Reid has taken on the role of Executive Director tasked with strategy development and leading commercial and business development activities. Allen brings a depth of nanotechnology knowledge and experience to Nanogap. Previously he spent eleven years with specialty chemical producer Elementis, leading the technical development and commercialisation of nano zinc oxide at one of the UK´s largest nanoparticle production facilities. Following this he spent three years at the Centre for Process Innovation as Business Development Director of NanoCentral, an industrial alliance of organisations active in nanomaterial commercialisation. During his time at NanoCentral, Allen joined Nanogap´s Advisory Board in late 2008, and it was during this period that he became familiar with Nanogap and what differentiates them from other nanomaterial producers. Commenting on the new role, Allen said; " Nanogap has a strong well protected technology base, a very experienced and knowledgeable technical team, unique products with exceptional properties, and a number of exciting commercial opportunities. This helped make it an easy decision to take on this new role." If you have an enquiry that you would like to discuss with Allen, then please feel free to contact him through the following number and email address: +44 (0) 7980 866 656, a.reid@nanogap.es