Key Technology > Next-Generation Technologies > Inorganic Nanostructural Materials
Creating New Devices with Nanostructural Materials
Inorganic Nanostructural Material
Canon is conducting research into inorganic nanostructural materials to create more highly controlled structures by merging the self-assembling properties inherent in the materials themselves with conventional process technologies. This research is expected to yield such devices as ultrahigh density memory media and photonic elements.
Nanostructural Material Filled with Magnetic Substance
One example of inorganic nanostructural materials is anodized aluminum. Countless aluminum nanoholes are formed when aluminum film is anodized in an acid solution. Canon has succeeded in aligning nanoholes of various dimensions into regular arrangements and in transforming the bottoms of the nanoholes into electrodes.
By filling the regularly arranged nanoholes with magnetic substances, Canon is exploring potential applications for an ultra-high-density magnetic recording medium called "patterned media."
Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanowhiskers
Canon is also conducting research into nano-oxide crystallization, including the fabrication of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowhiskers by means of a plating process. Taking advantage of ZnO's properties as a transparent semiconductor, Canon is studying applications of this technology to dye-sensitized solar cells.
