Graphene Can Speed Tech

Two Russian-born scientists will share the 2010 Nobel Prize in physics for “groundbreaking experiments” with the thinnest and strongest material known to mankind. Graphene is vital for the development of faster computers and new transparent touch screens.

Two professors from the University of Manchester, Andre Geim (left) and Konstantin Novoselov (right), used Scotch tape to isolate graphene, a form of carbon only one atom thick but more than 100 times stronger than steel. The material demonstrates exceptional physical properties, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Experiments with graphene may lead to the development of new super-strong material, which may be used to make satellites, airplanes, cars, as well as innovative consumer electronics, everything from super-small computers to high-capacity batteries.

Geim compares this new material -- densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice -- to the same magnitude as plastic when it was first discovered and could revolutionize the world.

“Graphene is stronger and stiffer than diamond, yet can be stretched by a quarter of its length, like rubber. Its surface area is the largest known for its weight. It has all the potential to change your life the same way plastics did,” Geim says. “It is really exciting.”

“It’s about the smallest you can get,” Novoselov told Wired Science. “From the point of view of physics, graphene is a goldmine. You can study it for ages.”

Further, the Nobel academy said computers will become more efficient since “graphene transistors are projected to be substantially faster than today’s silicon transistors.

“Since graphene is practically transparent and a good conductor, graphene is suitable for producing transparent touch screens, light panels, and maybe even solar cells,” according to the academy.

Geim, 51, is a Dutch national; Novoselov, 36, holds British and Russian citizenships. Both scientists started their careers in physics in their native Russia.

They first worked together in the Netherlands before moving to Britain. They began isolating graphene in 2004, and many experiments have been in process around the world ever since.

Novoselov is the youngest Nobel
winner since 1973. The prize, worth $1.5 million, typically goes to scientists with decades of experience.

Alfred Nobel, (1833-1896), was a Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, armaments manufacturer and the inventor of dynamite. He created the awards, first presented in 1901.

“It is a shock, “ Novoselov says of his selection. “I started my day chatting over Skype over new developments – it was quite unexpected.”

The two scientists used simple Scotch tape as a crucial tool in their experiment. They peeled off thin flakes of graphene from a piece of graphite, a material found in pencil leads.

Paolo Radaelli, a physics professor at the University of Oxford, says he marvels at the simple methods used by Geim and Novoselov. “In this age of complexity, with machines like the super collider, they managed to get the Nobel Prize,” Radaelli says.

“This was a well-deserved award,” says Phillip F. Schewe, spokesman for the American Institute of Physics in College Park, Md.

Graphene – the thinnest material in the world and one of the strongest materials – is an excellent conductor. Electrons move through the material very quickly and it acts like a superconductor.

Graphene is a good material for making integrated circuits. ICs are small chips with millions of transistors which serve as the backbone of our modern-day telecommunications.

WMB also believes this material may be used in automotive and construction applications. But it will likely be years before the material is used by our manufacturers.

This post is by TechMan, WMB co-author who blogs about trends, ideas and issues affecting business, industry, technology and consumers. If you like this post, please share with family, friends and colleagues.