They have atomic-like behavior that results in unusual electronic properties on a nanoscale.

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When the transistor switches, the change in voltage alters the electronic properties of the material and determines whether or not electrons can flow through it.

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Pulickel Ajayan and his colleagues chemically optimised the recipe for each of their five layers, using blends of chemicals common in lithium-ion batteries as well as novel materials including carbon nanotubes - tiny "straws" of carbon with incredible electronic properties.

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Such manufacturability implies that repeated fabrication of artefacts is possible to produce electronic, optical, magnetic or other properties with a high and highly reproducible yield within a tight tolerance of a pre-specified performance.

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Electronic and optical applications are restricted by the properties of the material used, but there should be jobs to do in micromechanics.

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In HIS secret keys are extracted from the properties of chips like an 'electronic fingerprint' and used to offer a total protection of sensitive private and corporate data on mobile devices, embedded systems and in the cloud.

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That means the electronic applications seem likely to go to boron nitride and other non-carbon tubes with similar properties.

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This combination has resulted in the rapid rise of social gaming properties like Zynga (now in registration for an IPO), Playfish (acquired by Electronic Arts), Playdom (acquired by Disney) and Crowdstar.

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