An Osaka University research team has demonstrated an “atomic pen” that can inscribe nano-sized text on metal by manipulating individual atoms on the surface.
The completed text measures 2 x 2 nanometers, which is roughly 40,000 times smaller than the width of the average human hair.
“It’s not possible to write any smaller than this,” said Masayuki Abe, a researcher involved in the project.
The ability to incorporate individual atoms into a surface could lead to a variety of advances in atomic scale technology, the researchers suggest. If used in chip manufacturing, for example, this technology could help build powerful computers the size of a wristwatch.
Source: http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/10/atomic-pen-writes-with-individual-atoms/
