MINATEC in figures

Molecular-size electrical wires will soon be a reality. Researchers from the Institut Charles-Sadron (CNRS, Strasbourg) successfully coated polymer semiconductor P3BT, or poly(3-butylthiophene), fibers with insulating nanotubes by two-dimensional self-assembly of liquid esters using a heterogeneous germination process. Researchers at INAC used atomic-force microscopy and transition-voltage spectroscopy to characterize the electrical wire obtained. They demonstrated that the insulating sheath completely coats the conductive fiber over a length of at least five microns. The insulated electrical wires, with a gauge of just… More information

Researchers at INAC, Leti, and LTM recently developed a novel single-cell bacterial identification method that uses a SOI nanophotonic optical structure that concentrates light to produce a very intense electromagnetic field that can attract and trap a single bacterial cell. Fluctuations in the intensity of the light transmitted by the optical structure due to interactions between the bacteria and “trap” are analyzed to identify the bacteria. The system, which is still in development, has already been used successfully to identify… More information

A team of undergraduate and graduate students from Grenoble Institute of Technology’s Phelma engineering school attempted to solve a unique problem at the French Physicists’ Tournament in February. Can the height of a kernel of popcorn’s “jump” be determined from the sound of the “pop?” The tournament, run by the French Physics Society, pits nine teams of students against one another in a “Physics Fight” debate in English. The teams take turns presenting their results, challenging their competitors’ results, and… More information

Nanobiose is headquartered in Le Bourget du Lac. But since the startup signed an R&D contract with Grenoble Institute of Technology, its staff can often be found at MINATEC using the resources at CIME Nanotech and LMGP. Founded in July 2016, Nanobiose offers products and services to assess the potential toxicity of nanoparticles, nanodrugs, and biotherapeutics to the human immune system. The company’s non-destructive three-dimensional human cell culture method delivers very accurate results that closely replicate human physiology. Nanobiose has… More information