ST. LOUIS, Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Sigma-Aldrich (Nasdaq: SIAL) today announced a
distribution agreement with Nanosys, Inc., an advanced materials
architect. Under the agreement, Sigma-Aldrich, through its Aldrich
Materials Science business, is now distributing Nanosys-created
silicon nanowires to the global scientific research community for
the development of new applications in technologies such as
solid-state lighting, electronics and energy storage.
"As Aldrich Materials Science continues to expand its
nanomaterials offer, we are pleased to introduce an innovative line
of silicon nanowires that includes undoped silicon nanowires as
well as the higher conductivity, boron-doped nanowires," said Dr.
Kaushik Patel, Product Manager,
Aldrich Materials Science. "The applications of these nanowires
are, we believe, truly innovative and revolutionary. The
fabrication of nanowires is challenging; therefore, a consistent
and high-quality supply of these materials from Aldrich Materials
Science is expected to enable scientists to accelerate their
research to further develop a variety of new high-technology
applications that can continue to open up exciting end product
markets. In all aspects of the Aldrich Materials Science business,
from manufacturing and custom R&D to distribution of materials
from leading-edge technology companies such as Nanosys, we strive
to fulfill our mission of focusing on materials so that our
research customers can focus on results."
"Architected and synthesized at the atomic level, our materials
deliver exponential improvements in efficiency and performance,"
added Jason Hartlove, CEO of
Nanosys. "This new distribution agreement with Sigma-Aldrich puts
our technology directly into the hands of researchers who are doing
exciting work in labs around the world, driving the use of
architected material solutions in a new generation of markets and
applications."
Nanosys silicon nanowires, which demonstrate semiconductor
properties, are comprised of single crystal silicon grown using the
vapor liquid solid (VLS) process to a diameter of 150 nm and a
length of 20 micrometer. The materials are available undoped or as
activated boron-doped p-type silicon nanowires with 1x10(19) /cm(3)
doping at ends and a 3 micrometer intrinsic region in the center of
the wire. Polydispersed silicon nanowires of various lengths that
are designed for use in energy research are also expected to be
available beginning January 2011.
Across an increasingly diverse range of applications, silicon
nanowires can deliver tangible benefits and significant advances.
Examples include:
- Electronics applications - sensors can be constructed from
nanowire arrays that act as a highly sensitive 'e-skin' which could
be used to restore the sense of touch to patients with prosthetic
limbs or to enable robotic systems to 'sense' pressure.
- Solar cells - Research conducted earlier in 2010 found that
fabricating thin films from ordered arrays of vertical silicon
nanowires significantly increased the light-trapping properties in
solar cells, compared to conventional silicon thin film
photovoltaics.
- Batteries – Nanowire technology is enabling the production of
batteries that are more economical, longer lasting, smaller and
more environmentally friendly. Nanowires are used to increase
the surface area for electrolyte reaction, thereby enabling greater
power in a smaller overall footprint.
To learn more about Aldrich Materials Science, silicon nanowires
and other new nanomaterials, please visit
http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/newnano.
Cautionary statement: The foregoing release contains
forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology
such as "is expected to enable," "can continue to open," "are also
expected to be available," "can deliver" or similar expressions, or
by expressed or implied discussions regarding potential future
revenues from products derived therefrom. You should not place
undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements
reflect the current views of management regarding future events,
and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause actual results to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that silicon
nanowires will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the
future. In particular, management's expectations regarding silicon
nanowires could be affected by, among other things, unexpected
regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally;
the Company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other
proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in
general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures;
the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values
attributed to the Company's assets and liabilities as recorded in
its consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors
referred to in Sigma-Aldrich's current Form 10-K on file with the
US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these
risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially
from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Sigma-Aldrich is providing the
information in this press release as of this date and does not
undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High
Technology company committed to Enabling Science to Improve the
Quality of Life. Its chemical and biochemical products and kits are
used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic
research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development and as key
components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology
manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies,
university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry.
Over one million scientists and technologists use its products.
Sigma-Aldrich operates in 40
countries and has 7,700 employees providing excellent service
worldwide. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit
its award-winning Web site at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.
About Nanosys, Inc.: Nanosys, Inc. is an advanced
material architect, harnessing the fundamental properties of
inorganic materials into process ready systems that can integrate
into existing manufacturing to produce vastly superior products in
lighting, electronic displays and energy storage. In 2010, Nanosys
commercialized its quantum dot technology with the QuantumRail(TM),
a process-ready component that improves LED backlit display color
gamut and efficiency, signing partnerships with LG Innotek and
Samsung. Nanosys is currently working with major battery
manufacturers to improve lithium-ion battery capacity using its
SiNANOde(TM) silicon composite additive that, when added to the
anode side, improves capacity by 40 percent. SiNANOde(TM) –enhanced
batteries are expected to be available in 2011.
For more information, visit www.nanosysinc.com.
Aldrich and Sigma-Aldrich are
trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology LP and Sigma-Aldrich Co.
QuantumRail and SiNANOde are trademarks of Nanosys, Inc.
SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich