News:

Dr. Alison Funston has demonstrated that a single dye molecule can completely quench the luminescence from a CdSe semiconductor nanocrystal. This highly efficient energy transfer only occurs if the dye molecule is adsorbed to the particle surface. The cross section for dye excitation is increased by at least two orders of magnitude. Dr Funston says this suggests that quantum dots could be used to enhance the spectral sensitivity of dyes in solar energy conversion systems.

Jacek Jasieniak shows that it is possible to create tunable quantum dot lasers from ZnS coated CdSe nanocrystals. By dispersing the nanocrystals into a zirconia waveguide, Jacek has demonstrated amplified stimulated emission when pumping with 400nm laser light. The zirconia waveguides offer incredible photostability. MORE

Edin Nuhiji detects unlabelled oligonucleotides at sub femtomole levels using whispering gallery modes on dye labelled silica microspheres. See how it's done in Small, HERE.

Joel van Embden reports on how to coat semiconductor nanocrystals. Getting a cohesive homogeneous shell is not easy. The review and front cover are HERE.

Dr Jessica Pacifico describes a method for patterning nanoparticles into micron-sized 2D and 3D arrays for optical device elements. MORE

Daniel Gomez and Joel van Embden show that the environment around a quantum dot has no effect on spectral diffusion. The result strongly refutes the idea of Auger ionization as the origin of blinking and spectral diffusion. MORE

Gold Nanorods change colour when electrically charged! MORE

Carolina Novo, an international PhD student from Brazil has been measuring the spectra of small gold rods using dark field microscopy. In a recent paper she has explored how the aspect ratio and particle width affect the surface plasmon resonance. It is found that to optimise the resonance for maximum cross section both surface scattering and radiation damping must be included in the dissipation. This work is part of a collaboration with the University of Notre Dame and is published in a special Nanoscience edition of PCCP, edited by Professors Paul Mulvaney, Phil Bartlett and Tim Jones.

Awards:

Carolina Novo received an Honorable Mention by NanoVic at the Nanotechnology Victoria Art Prizes in Melbourne (April, 2007). She also received a Bio21 Travel Award, by the Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne and a Student Bursary from the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society, to attend the ACMM-20 & IUMAS-IV Conference in Perth (December, 2007).

Ann Gooding wins poster prize at the ICONN Nanotechnology Meeting in Brisbane for her work on quantum dot electrochemistry.

Conference Updates:

ACIS 2009 - THE FOURTH BIENNIAL AUSTRALIAN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SYMPOSIUM. STAMFORD GRAND, GLENELG, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 1st - 5th FEBRUARY 2009

This international four-day conference, held at one of Australia's most magnificent beach resorts, will provide an opportunity for international and local colloid, surface and interface scientists to meet and discuss recent developments in their areas of research.