Glossary of terms used on NANO Magazine

P

PEO

Polyethylene oxide.

Photolythography

The technique used to produce the silicon chips that make up modern-day computers. The traditional process involves shining light through a mask onto a photosensitive polymer (photoresist) on a silicon surface, then subsequently removing the exposed areas.

Photonics

Electronics using light (photons) instead of electrons to manage data.

Physical Vapour Deposition PVD

Along with CVD, a group of surface treatments applied on tools and machine elements. In the area of machining and tooling PVD coatings are widely used to increase the life and productivity of production tools and therefore reducing manufacturing costs.

Pilling formation

Pilling formation is a phenomenon that results from the abrasion process and affects fabrics by altering their surface.

Polymers

Tiny molecules strung in long repeating chains form polymers. DNA is a polymer as are the proteins and starches in foods and the tyres on bikes and cars. Polymers are generally recyclable. In nanotechnology examples include organic-based materials that emit light when an electric current is applied to them and vica versa, and use in computing and energy conversion.

Proteomics

Refers to all the proteins expressed by a genome, and thus proteomics involves the identification of proteins in the body and the determination of their role in physiological and pathophysiological functions.

PVD

Physical vapour deposition.