nanoREV.

Alternative Nanoelectronics Update (Nanosys)

In Vol. 3, issue 4 of the Nanotechnology Law & Business journal I reviewed four alternative approaches to future nanoelectronics devices taken by D-Wave (quantum computing), Hewlett-Packard (molecular electronics), Nantero (carbon nanotube switches), and Nanosys (nanowire macroelectronics). Of the four companies Nanosys seems to be in the best position at the moment with a very strong patent portfolio including basic patents on nanowire transistors and the use of nanowires in fuel cells as well as collaborative agreements with Sharp.

One of the things that sets Nanosys apart from the approaches taken by other companies is the focus on new applications of nanoelectronics in untapped markets. Flexible electronics and fuel cells offer small but growing markets to launch Nanosys into a true power player. In contrast Hewlett-Packard and Nantero’s technology has primary focused on non-volatile memory (NVM) as an initial application area, however the market for non-volatile memory is so large and filled with so many competitors that there is little viability of successful growth unless different applications are identified. �