Nanotubes find a friend in Big Blue

Jan. 30, 2003 — Rice University nanotechnology researchers will be able to better map the effects of slight imperfections in nanomaterials with a supercomputer from IBM. Rice announced Wednesday that Rice’s Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) received a supercomputer from IBM that allows researchers to calculate the interactions of subatomic particles in carbon nanotubes. Their findings may explain how slight defects in nanotubes change their properties.

IBM provided an IBM eServer p690 system to CBEN under a Shared University Research (SUR) award. The system is valued at more than $1 million, according to Rice spokesman Jade Boyd, and is being used in tandem with an existing system.

CBEN chemist Gustavo Scuseria says his team already discovered striking differences in imperfect nanotubes using the new computing powers. One of six nanotechnology research centers designated by the National Science Foundation in 2001, CBEN develops nanotechnologies for environmental and medical applications. Researchers also are studying the effect of nanomaterials on the environment.

IBM allocates about 50 SUR awards a year to universities in fields of mutual interest. CBEN’s studies on complex materials like carbon nanotubes may be of use to IBM as it develops more sophisticated software and systems for future scientific endeavors.

POST A COMMENT

Easily post a comment below using your Linkedin, Twitter, Google or Facebook account. Comments won't automatically be posted to your social media accounts unless you select to share.