German researchers are collaborating on tests to find out if nanowires containing platinum and gold atoms could be used to transfer data at high speeds in microprocessors.

In particular, the scientists are examining whether the wires could act as switches when laid out on a semiconductor surface, nature.com reports.

Currently the focus of the work is on its theoretical facet, with a team of spectroscopists attempting to work out the exact position of gold and platinum nanowires.

This it is hoped will enable them to work out how the metal and semiconductor can be combined to produce a wire that can be changed from insulator to conductor at will.

Once the theoreticians' work is complete, their findings will be passed on to Professor Joerg Shaefer of the University of Wurzburg who will attempt to apply their research practically in a laboratory.

Professor Schaeffer said: "If everything goes right, the real world and their elusive phantom world will come to the same result."

Source:

Smart networking, 05/12/07
http://www.nature.com/news/2007/071205/full/450777a.html

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