In nanotechnology, nanorods are one morphology of nanoscale objects. Each of their dimensions range from 1–100nm. They may be synthesized from metals or semiconducting materials. Standard aspect ratios (length divided by width) are 3-5. Nanorods are produced by direct chemical synthesis. A combination of ligands act as shape control agents and bond to different facets of the nanorod with different strengths. This allows different faces of the nanorod to grow at different rates, producing an elongated object.

The applications of nanorods are diverse, ranging from display technologies (the reflectivity of the rods can be changed by changing their orientation with an applied electric field) to micromechanical switches.

See also

• MEMS
• nanopillar

External links

• Nanorods show negative refraction in near-IR (EE Times, December 5, 2005)

Nanotechnology