Particular, a nanotech start-up from Hannover (Germany), crushes
material down to the nano-scale using a laser ablation process. On
November 1, Particular will publish their “universal“ nanoparticle
catalogue: for the first time, a nanotechnology company offers any solid
matter in the form of dispersed nanoparticles.
The introductory catalogue contains list prices of relevant metals for
nanotechnology applications (e.g. gold, platinum). Special feature:
customers can send their own materials (simple metals, ceramics, alloys)
as foils, blocks or powders. Particular crushes these down to
nanoparticles using laser pulses as a “laser mill“. Safely dispersed in a
liquid, the product is shipped back to the customer.
Nanoparticles have been applied for a long time to make products more
viscous, antibacterial, conductible or scratch-resistant – generally: more
effective in various ways. Now, Particular's universal method makes it
much easier to take advantage of nanotechnology, especially in high-tech.
Particular started their business in July 2010. The start-up emerged as a
spin-off company from Laser Zentrum Hannover e. V. and is the first
company to employ laser ablation in liquids for the production of
nanoparticles. The liquid dispersion media ensure high quality and good
and secure processability.
According to Niko Bärsch, CEO of Particular, the company produces
highly pure particles that have an average size around 50 nm and
concentrations of up to 1 g/l that meet the high requirements of
applications in medicine, biotechnology or energy conversion. But the
generated nanoparticles can be even smaller: according to the catalogue,
platinum or palladium at about 10 nm are available for less than 15 EUR
per milliliter.