From Laser Focus World, January 2011: "Fabrication of negative-index metamaterial (NIM) lenses (which can image beyond the diffraction limit) has made progress, but the creation of such lenses for the visible spectrum has been difficult due to high losses. Two kinds of NIM exist: double-negative (in which both the permittivity and permeability are negative), and single-negative (in which either the permittivity or permeability is negative). The first (much harder to make) has potentially higher performance. While single-negative metamaterials have been made that function with yellow light, double-negative materials have only been made for wavelengths as short as 725 nm."

"Now, researchers at Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China) and the Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm, Sweden) have, at least theoretically, come up with a double-negative NIM geometry that could work down to UV wavelengths. They propose three types of silver structures-ring, disk, and nanowire-all of which have gaps that behave as magnetic dipoles that result in a negative permeability, but also decrease current strength, and thus loss. The nanowire-based device, although restricted to 2D structures, could be usable in the UV; the other two types are suitable for 3D structures, but work only in the visible."

Read full paper in Optics Express, Vol. 18, Issue 24, November 22, 2010, by Jianwei Tang and Sailing He: 

http://www.opticsinfobase.org/search2.cfm?reissue=J&journalList=&fullrecord=jianwei+Tang&basicsearch=Go

Source: Laser Focus World, January 2011, page 9. http://www.optoiq.com/index/photonics-technologies-applications/lfw-display/lfw-article-display.articles.laser-focus-world.volume-47.issue-1.newsbreaks.double-negative-index-metamaterials-are-proposed-for-the-uv.html

Image: Optics Express

From TechnologyReview.com, February 22, 2011
by Prachi Patel:  "Samsung's new four-inch display could eventually lead to flexible screens.  Researchers at Samsung Electronics have made the first full-color display that uses quantum dots. Quantum-dot displays promise to be brighter, cheaper, and more energy-efficient than those found in today's cell phones and MP3 players."

"Samsung's four-inch diagonal display is controlled using an active matrix, which means each of its color quantum-dot pixels is turned on and off with a thin-film transistor. The researchers have made the prototype on glass as well as on flexible plastic, as reported in Nature Photonics this week. 'We have converted a scientific challenge into a real technological achievement,' says Jong Min Kim, a fellow at the Sansung Advanced Institute of Technology."

"Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that glow when exposed to current or light. They emit different colors depending on their size and the material they're made from. Their bright, pure colors and low power consumption make them very appealing for displays. Most computer monitors and TVs use power-hungry liquid-crystal displays (LCDs). Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays are more brilliant and energy-efficient, but are confined to small gadgets because they are too expensive for TV screens, and their organic materials have limited lifetimes."

Source: TechnologyReview.com, published by MIT:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/32407/?p1=A1&a=f 

Image: Byoung Lyong Choi, Samsung Electronics

From PhotonicsOnline.com and University of Michigan, February 16, 2011, : "Pure organic compounds that glow in jewel tones could potentially lead to cheaper, more efficient and flexible display screens, among other applications.

University of Michigan researcher Jinsang Kim and his colleagues have developed a new class of material that shines with phosphorescence-a property that has previously been seen only in non-organic compounds or organometallics.

Kim and his colleagues made metal-free organic crystals that are white in visible light and radiate blue, green, yellow and orange when triggered by ultraviolet light. By changing the materials' chemical composition, the researchers can make them emit different colors."

"The new luminous materials, or phosphors, could improve upon current organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and solid-state lighting. Bright, low-power OLEDs are used in some small screens on cell phones or cameras. At this time, they aren't practical for use in larger displays because of material costs and manufacturing issues."

"The OLEDs of today aren't 100 percent organic, or made of carbon compounds. The organic materials used in them must be spiked with metal to get them to glow."

" 'Purely organic materials haven't been able to generate meaningful phosphorescence emissions. We believe this is the first example of an organic that can compete with an organometallic in terms of brightness and color tuning capability,' said Kim, an associate professor of materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, macromolecular science and engineering, and biomedical engineering."

Click on the link to read the entire article:

Photonicsonline.com:  http://www.photonicsonline.com/article.mvc/Jewel-Toned-Organic-Phosphorescent-Crystals-0001?user=2420601&source=nl:30080 

and University of Michigan: http://ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=8261 

From Mercomcapital.com., January 25, 2011:  "Considering 2009 was a recession year, solar was only slightly up in 2010. After a good second quarter, VC investments trended down in Q3 and Q4," commented Raj Prabhu, Managing Partner at Mercom Capital Group. 2010 VC activity came in at $1.67 billion in 65 transactions, up 18 percent over 2009 ($1.4 billion). There was increased activity in large-scale solar project funding as well as debt and other funding types, pointing to an ease in the availability of credit after a challenging 2009. A total of 148 different investors participated in VC funding rounds in 2010. Credit facilities provided to Chinese companies by Chinese banks came in at an eye popping $34 billion, dwarfing all other transactions in solar in 2010."

"Solar M&A (merger and acquisition) transactions in 2010 totaled $2 billion in 44 deals. Solar project M&A activity amounted to another $450 million in 18 deals out of which only four were disclosed."

"2010 top five investors in solar included Good Energies, New Enterprise Associates, Applied Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Polaris Venture Partners. Project funding investments for 2010 were led by Mizuho Corporate Bank, Natixis, Unicredit Group, BNP Paribas and Centrobanca."

Source: Click on link to read full article:

Mercomcaptial.com:.  http://mercomcapital.com/news.php#CE2010

Image: Mercom Capital Group, LLC

From Science Magazine, December 17, 2010
by Dennis Normile:  "When shipments of rare earth metals from China to Japan temporarily stopped in the wake of a territorial spat this autumn, high-tech companies around the world got an uncomfortable reminder that China owns a stranglehold on supplies of the coveted commodities. The episode might have attracted more attention than China hoped for. The U.S. Department of Energy and counterparts in Japan and Europe have held workshops in recent weeks bringing materials scientists and policymakers together to brainstorm on how to ensure supplies of rare earths and other strategic minerals and to stimulate research on alternatives."

Read more details at:

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/330/6011/1598.summary

Source: Science Magazine

Image: Wikipedia. Rare earth elements:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_element