CAJ #13 - Last but not least

Graphene. It is an amazing material, one that will change the world and make us question everything we have known so far about science. Researchers around the globe are experimenting with graphene every day, always finding something new and exciting about it. Graphene opened up the doors for 2D materials, materials that up until now only excited in theory. The time of graphene and other 2D materials is yet to come and I hope that you are, as much as I am, anxious to see what it will bring us.

If you want to know more about graphene check out the following websites (I used them for my research too). Click on one of the following link and explore the world of graphene:

1) http://graphene-flagship.eu/

2) http://phys.org/news/2014-01-material-silicene-suicidal-tendencies.html#jCp

3) http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/10/world/asia/graphene-samsung-breakthrough/ 

4) http://www.cnet.com/news/2014-budget-funds-graphene-research-and-an-alan-turing-institute/

5) http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20846282

6) http://www.zdnet.com/graphene-gets-1bn-boost-as-eu-ploughs-funds-into-research-7000010419/

7) http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-01/28/graphene-research-funding

8) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140309150546.htm 

9) http://www.extremetech.com/electronics/143907-cheap-graphene-based-solar-cells

10) http://www.businessinsider.com/graphene-for-smartphones-2014-4#ixzz32nytIq3g 

11) http://www.oled-info.com/samsung-youm

12) http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630/11/9/095002

13) http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0906/0906.3799.pdf 

14) http://qz.com/135380/its-stronger-than-steel-and-paper-thin-but-graphene-isnt-living-up-to-its-promise/

15) http://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200910/physicshistory.cfm 

16) http://www.graphenea.com/pages/graphene-graphite#.U2P1N4F_t1Y

17) http://www.newscientist.com/special/instant-expert-graphene

18) http://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/story/

19) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-graphene-story-how-andrei-geim-and-kostya-novoselov-hit-on-a-scientific-breakthrough-that-changed-the-world-by-playing-with-sticky-tape-8539743.html

20) http://gizmodo.com/5988977/9-incredible-uses-for-graphene

21) http://www.graphenea.com/pages/graphene-uses-applications#.U2qyzYF_t1Y

22) http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/feature/2279993/how-graphene-breakthrough-is-revolutionising-green-technology#

23) http://guardianlv.com/2013/12/graphene-is-going-to-change-the-world/

24) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/10251209/Graphene-A-new-miracle-in-the-material-world.html

25) http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-20/scientists-take-graphene-to-the-next-level

26) http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-01/eu-invests-135-billion-developing-practical-applications-graphene

27) http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/02/tech/innovation/graphene-quest-for-first-ever-2d-material/

28) http://www.ibtimes.com/what-graphene-5-incredible-facts-about-miracle-material-you-need-know-1399503

29) http://derstandard.at/1392687693653/Nach-Graphen-nun-Wolfram-mit-Selen-Neues-atomar-duennes-Supermaterial

30) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/technology/cool-list/10336014/cool-tech-graphene.html

31) http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/new-super-material-set-to-rival-graphene/58169/

32) http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/new-super-material-set-to-rival-graphene/58169/

33) http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/26/graphene-molecule-potential-wonder-material

34) http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2012/hybrid-flexible-light-solar-cells-1221

35) http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/feature/2279993/how-graphene-breakthrough-is-revolutionising-green-technology#

36) http://www.extremetech.com/electronics/143907-cheap-graphene-based-solar-cells

37) http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1320283

38) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/new-wonder-material-stanene-could-replace-graphene-with-100-electrical-conductivity-8967573.html

39) http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/17/graphenes-great-water-filtration-potential-unveiled-new-research/

40) http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2012/graphene-water-desalination-0702

41) http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl3012853

42) http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/discovering-graphene-was-only-the-start--its-potential-is-almost-limitless-8952687.html?origin=internalSearch

43) http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-25016994

44) http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=10335

45) http://www.understandingnano.com/graphene-chemical-sensor.html

46) http://www.understandingnano.com/graphene-applications.html

And last but not least, a TED Talk about graphene science: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh3dA8xnZ4Y

I truly hope that you had fun while reading my CAJ, that you learned something new and are as thrilled as I am about graphene and its impact on us and our future.

XOXO A.

CAJ #12 - Ultrafiltration membranes

 As already mentioned in one of my earlier posts, the potential uses of graphene seem endless. It is hard to say where it should be applied first. However, in my opinion, we should invest more in the research of ultrafiltration membranes based on graphene.

Graphene possesses a number of qualities with regard to its interactions with water. Previous research showed that thin membranes made from graphene oxide laminates were impermeable to gases and vapours, except for water. New research is now testing the effectiveness of these membranes with regard to water filtration. Graphene could be used as a ultrafiltration medium that would act as a barrier between two substances.

What sets graphene apart from other similar membranes is that it is only one atom thick. A team of researchers at Columbia University has created a monolayer graphene filter with pore sizes as small as 5nm (nanometer). In comparison, other nanoporous membranes have pore sizes of 30-40nm. The membrane's ability to prevent salt passage depends on pore diameter. If the pores are too big, ions will be able to flow through it. If the pores are small enough, water will flow through while blocking out the ions. Because the pores in monolayer graphene filters are so small they can effectively filter NaCl (sodium chloride) salt from water.

Graphene is stronger and less brittle than aluminium oxide (currently used in sub-100nm filtration applications). These new types of membranes could be used in water filtration and desalination systems, as well as efficient and economically more viable biofuel creation. This would be a huge break through, especially the desalination system because all the water on Earth would become drinkable. This would help solve the problem of water shortage for many African countries. 

XOXO A.

CAJ #11 - Other potential uses of graphene

1)      Sensors to diagnose diseases

Researchers have found out that graphene, strands of DNA and fluorescent molecules can be combined to diagnose diseases. The sensors are made by attaching fluorescent molecules to single strand DNA and then attaching the DNA to graphene. An identical single strand of DNA is combined with the strand on the graphene and a double strand DNA is formed. This double strand DNA floats off from the graphene and increases the fluorescence level. This process creates a sensor that can detect the same DNA for a particular disease in a sample.

2)      Bulletproof vests

Graphene could be applied in materials used in the production of bulletproof vests. Researchers from the University of Wollongong developed a new graphene-based material by combing equal parts of carbon nanotubes with graphene and adding them to the polymer. It has then been processed into fibers by using a wet-spinning method. This new material is stronger than spider silk and Kevlar that have so far been used to produce bulletproof vests. Bulletproof vests are made of layers of strong fibers that absorb the energy of the bullet, deform it, minimize the force of it and prevent the bullet from penetrating the vest. The research team working on this project said that the material is inexpensive and could be produced in large quantities.

3)      Gas sensors

The new gas sensors based on graphene could outperform today's leading gas sensors in detecting potentially dangerous and explosive chemicals, a study conducting at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute showed.  The sensors are made from continuous graphene nanosheets that grow into a foam-like structure about the size of a postage stamp. The flexible sensors measured ammonia and nitrogen dioxide at concentrations as small as 20 parts-per-million. This new discovery could be used by bomb squads, the police, various government agencies, as well as on airports.

4)      Condoms

Yes, you read right, I meant what I said. Graphene could be used in the production of condoms. Since graphene is highly stretchable, super thing, non-toxic and very strong it could be used to produce condoms that would not be able to be felt during intercourse. The idea is to mix graphene with latex in order to get a super thin and strong condom. These kinds of condoms would also act as an effective barrier to HIV and other sexually transmitted disease, more effective than condoms of this day and age can. This would be of great importance for the Third World where the birth rate is high and many people are infected by AIDS. One of the investors in condoms from graphene is the Bill and Melisa Gates Foundation that awarded scientists $100,000 for research.

XOXO A.

CAJ #10 - Who funds graphene research?

One of the biggest investors in graphene research is the European Union. Last year the European Commission invested €1bn to researchers to find a way to exploit graphene.

The funding will be distributed over a period of 10 years. It will go directly to the Graphene Flagship, led by Professor Jari Kinaret, from Sweden's Chalmers University in Gothenburg. The Graphene Flagship will co-ordinate 126 academic and industrial research groups across 17 countries. Their initial budget is €54m. The funding graphene received is part of Europe's Future and Emerging Technologies competition. Another project that received money from it is the Human Brain Project which focuses on developing a highly detailed model of the brain.

The research teams will be researching graphene and its properties in order to find a way to use it most efficiently and maybe even combine it with silicone. They hope that graphene will be applicable in the industry because it is an excellent electricity conductor, stronger than steel, harder than diamond, has ideal optical properties and is as thin as currently possible. The research areas that will be covered in the first 30 months include ICT communications, physical transport and applications of graphene in energy, technology and sensors. The Flagship will also try not to conduct research on topics where research has already been conducted. In one of the press reports that were released from the Flagship they said that their precise focus will be on graphene production.

The research group includes, among others, representatives from Nokia and Airbus which will provide management support and four Nobel laureates, namely Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, the two researchers who discovered graphene, as well as German physicist Klaus von Klitzing and French physicist Albert Fert.

Research is also being conducted at the University of Cambridge that has its own Graphene Centre. They want to go from theory to practice and enable graphene to be used in the industry as soon as possible. The Cambridge Graphene Centre alone attracted £13m in financial support from Nokia, Dyson, Plastic Logic, Philips and BaE systems, with an additional £11m from the European Research Council.

Visit the website of Graphene Flagship to find out how their research is going:

http://graphene-flagship.eu/

XOXO A. 

CAJ #9 - Silicene

Silicene, an allotrope of silicon, was first created in 2010. It shares a lot of similarities with graphene. Both consist of a single layer of atoms, are strong, thin, flexible and very conductive. Graphene consists of carbon atoms and silicene of silicon atoms.

Silicene wires and sheets

Silicene could be of particular use in the semiconductor industry since this industry has already been using silicon for many years now. Also, it is easier to realize a so-called bandgap in silicene, which is a prerequisite for a transistor. Silicene could, just like graphene, be used in electronic devices. Furthermore, silicene could be used in the production of batteries. These would then have a longer life and would not continuously degenerate over time.

However, there is a catch to silicene. Researchers of the MESA+ Research Institute of the University of Twente recently succeeded in filming silicene directly and in real time. They let evaporated silicon atoms precipitate on a surface of silver, so that an almost closed, singular layer of silicene was formed. This showed that the material has suicidal tendencies.  As soon as a certain amount of silicon atoms fell on top of the silicene layer, a silicon crystal was formed. This crystal triggered the further crystallization of silicene. From that moment, the newly formed silicon began to “eat” the silicene.

This happens because the structure of regular silicon is more stable than that of silicene. This is the reason researchers could only cover 97% of the silver surface with silicene and could not create multi-layered silicene.  Unfortunately, this also means that it might not be possible to create multi-layered silicene on a different type of surface because they cannot even create a second layer of it.

XOXO A.

CAJ #8 - Stanene

So far I have only been talking about graphene as the new super material, as something that will revolutionize our world. But what if there is something as good as graphene or maybe even better? What if that something is stanene?

Stanene is a topological insulator. It is a material made from a single layer of tin atoms. It has been discovered by researchers from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University. The material was named stanene to liken it to graphene (plus the prefix of the Latin term for tin, stannum). However, stanene still has not been fabricated but when it does, it could be the world’s first electrical conductor that works at 100% efficiency at room temperature and above. This would make it even more conductive than graphene.

Stanene could increase the speed and lower the power needs of future generations of computer chips. This is still only a prediction but researchers as Stanford University, led by Shouchen Zhang, a physics professor ar Stanford, are currently conducting experiments in several laboratories to prove their predictions.

So far copper has been the number one material to carry electricity in various forms. Besides being cheap and conductive, it can also easily be drawn into strips. Modern chips the size of a thumbnail can contain up to sixty miles of copper wiring. The limits of copper are being pushed, channeling so much electricity through it that the material's electrical resistance causes wires to overheat. This could potentially set the whole device on fire. If researchers succeed in the production of stanene, computer chips could get smaller and faster without the risk of overheating. 

Earlier I mentioned stanene being a topological insulator. This means that its interior is an insulator but it conducts electrons along its surface. If stanene could be made only an atom thick, it would become all surface, thus it could conduct electricity with a 100% efficiency. As long as the topological insulators stay at the surface, the electrons will travel without resistance.

Researches claim that by adding fluorine to the mix, this level of efficiency can be preserved even at temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius. This would allow stanene to be used in computers where processors usually run at temperatures of between 40 and 90 degrees Celsius.

Although this is only a prediction since stanene faces many difficulties of manufacturing one-atom thick wires on an industrial scale and there is no working sample of the material available, Zhang is an optimist and has every reason to be one. He and his team have already predicted the properties of many topological insulators, such as mercury telluride, that were later confirmed experimentally.

It is still too soon to say when stanene will be used in the production of computer chips but it will happen, sooner or later. 

XOXO A. 

CAJ #7 - Potential use of graphene in solar cells

Solar cells are devices that convert the sun’s energy directly into electricity. They rely on the photoelectric effect - the ability of matter to emit electrons when a light is shone on it. Most of today’s solar cells are made out of silicon. However, silicon is very expensive because it is generally highly purified and then made into crystals that are sliced thin. Researchers have been trying to find an alternative that would be cheaper than silicon but have the same quality. Some believe the solution is inidium tin oxide, whereas others, namely MIT researchers, believe the answer is graphene. 

Silvija Gradček and eight other researchers at the  MIT, produced new graphene-based solar cells that are more flexible, lighter, and have a higher mechanical strength. The photovoltaic cell is based on sheets of flexible graphene coated with a layer of nanowires. This could lead to low-cost, transparent and flexible solar cells that could be set up on windows, roofs and other surfaces because of its low weight, mechanical strength and chemical robustness. This could potentially lead to the production of solar cells for households.

  

Graphene has a stable and inert structure, thus building a semiconducting nanostructure directly on its surface without damaging its electrical and structural properties has been a real challenge for researchers. They used a series of polymer coatings to modify its properties which allowed them to bond a layer of zinc oxide nanowires to it. Next they added an overlay of materials that respond to light waves. Throughout the whole process, graphene’s elemental properties remained intact.

1)  a flexible layer of graphene

2) a layer of polymer 

3) a layer of zinc-oxide nano wires (magenta color)

4) a layer of material that can extract energy from sunlight

The new graphene solar cells are not as efficient as certain types of silicon solar cells. Nonetheless, they are not far off the mark. Researchers will keep working on them in order to make them better and more efficient.  
So far the MIT research team has produced the graphene solar cell the size of only half an inch. It has not been proven yet that the technique can be used to create larger solar cells. Gradček says that it is only a matter of time when they will overcome this obstacle. She does not see that as a problem. Gradček claims that this technology could come on the market within the next couple of years. She hopes that this will make solar cells and solar power cheaper and available to the general public. 

XOXO A.

CAJ #6 - The potential use of graphene in the smart phone industry

We already know that graphene is the thinnest and lightest material in the world. It is almost entirely transparent and conducts heat and electricity better than silicon and copper. Thanks to this, it could revolutionize the smartphone industry. Many big companies are currently conducting research on how to use graphene to make smartphones thinner and flexible. It could also help develop wearable devices, such as smart watches and Internet-connected wristbands.

Samsung’s researchers discovered a method that would allow a single crystal of graphene, to retain its electrical and mechanical properties across a large area. They came to the conclusion that graphene’s electron mobility is 100 times greater than that of silicon. So far silicon has been the most widely used material in components that power many modern devices, such as smartphones, tablets and computers. By replacing silicon with graphene those components would become thinner and potentially allow super thin, transparent screens. Furthermore, graphene would deliver Internet to smartphones 100 times faster than the conventional way because it would convert light faster than the materials used in today’s existing smartphone components. This would make 3G and 4G a matter of history.

The application of graphene in technology would lead to the invention of wearable devices. Existing smart watches would be made lighter and added a screen, just as fitness bands. The future of these devices could look more like this: 

It is still unclear when graphene will find its way into our everyday technology and become available to the masses but Samsung researches are hoping to do it as soon as possible. Their goal is to bring phones that are completely bendable and foldable on the market by 2015. In January 2013 they officially launched their bendable OLED displays, calling them YOUM displays. In October 2013 they introduced the world’s first product to use a flexible OLED display – the Galaxy Round, a curved smartphone. This phone is similar to the Galaxy Note 3 but its display is flexible. If you follow this link you can watch Samsung’s YOUM flexible display demonstration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJehexDPEsE .

YOUM flexible display

Samsung Round

XOXO A.

How Instant Photography Works

Instant cameras were a real revolution in the world of photography. Their invention made it possible for people to take a picture and hold the actual photograph in their hands only a few seconds later. How does that work? The film inside the camera is a plastic base coat with particles of silver compounds that are sensitive to light. Color films, such as those in instant cameras, have three layers of silver compounds – the top layer is sensitive to blue light, the middle layer to green and the bottom layer to red light. Underneath each layer, there is a developer layer containing dye couplers. All these layers sit on top of a black base layer and underneath the image layer, the timing layer and the acid layer. When exposed to light, the sensitive particles at each layer react to light of that color, forming metallic silver at that layer. The developing process is then started by the reagent. It is a mix of light blockers, alkali and white pigment. It is collected in a blob at the white bottom of the film sheet, away from the light-sensitive material to keep the film from developing before it has been exposed. After taking a picture, the film sheet passes out of the camera through a pair of rolls. The rolls help spread the reagent out in the middle of the film sheet where it reacts with other chemical layers in the film. The opacifier material stops the light from filtering onto the layers below. The reagent then dissolves the developer dye so it begins to diffuse up toward the image layer. Only the dyes from the unexposed layers will reach the image layer. The acid layer in the film reacts with the alkali and opacifiers in the reagent, making the opacifier become clear. The timing layer slows the reagent down on its way to the acid layer, to give the film time to develop before it is exposed to light. When the film sheet gets out of the camera you are actually able to see the last chemical reaction, namely the acid layer clearing up the opacifier in the reagent and making the image visible.

(363 words)

Zombie attack abstract

An epidemic of a certain disease has a root with a positive real part. It follows that, in a short outbreak, everyone will probably be infected. The purpose of this academic article is to inform about such a scenario. Instead of naming a particular disease, zombies were taken as an example. First, the basic model is explained: susceptible, zombie and removed. Secondly, the model with the latent infection analyses how the susceptible individuals become infected before the outbreak of the disease. Thirdly, the model with quarantine focuses on the contagious individuals and how they are removed from the population and set in quarantine in order not to infect the still healthy individuals. The treatment model takes in consideration that a cure can be found but it would not provide immunity for the body, hence a repeated infection could be possible. The last method strategically focuses on destroying the disease at such times that our resources permit. Giving the disease a latent period of infection, it will again take over the population. Putting individuals in quarantine would only solve the problem for a short period of time and would not impact the system as a whole. Although the method with treatment would provide a cure, some would still die because of repeated infection. The outbreak of an epidemic is most likely to be disastrous for humans, unless extremely aggressive tactics are employed against the virus and the infected individuals.

(238 words)

XOXO A.

CAJ #5 - Graphene abstract

The aim of this journal is to inform about graphene, one of the newest and most promising materials in the world. Graphene is the thinnest, lightest and most transparent material known to mankind. Its possibilities seem endless because of its many properties that are only exploited when graphene is combined with other materials, including gasses, metals, and sources of carbon. The methodology used for bringing forth the amazing possibilities of graphene includes reading various scientific papers and websites. Watching videos on YouTube that explain everything regarding graphene was also a very helpful tool in getting a better understanding of the true value and importance of graphene. Although graphene holds the solution to many problems, it is still in an early phase of research. The uses of graphene range from solar panels and smart phones to biological engineering and ultrafiltration. The price of graphene is linked to its quality, and not all applications require superb material quality. Mechanically exfoliated graphene comes in small, high-quality flakes that are incredible expensive, costing several thousand dollars per flake. The application of graphene in everyday appliances will therefore take some time. Graphene is bound to change our lives, to change the world we live in. Although it is currently facing certain problems, such as its cost, it still has a bright future ahead of itself because of it limitless application.

(227 words)

XOXO A.

How to prevent time travelers from killing Hitler?

How to prevent time travelers from killing Hitler?

You will need:

1)    1)  A time machine

2)    2) A laptop

3)    3)  Computer knowledge or someone with computer knowledge

4)    4)  History knowledge

5)    5)  Money

Estimated time: depends on your skills

1.     1. Find a time machine. You are most likely to find one at the museum of future technology. Maybe you will have to pay to use it.

2.      2. Check out the time machine and look for the “date changing“ option.

3.   3. Set the date on the time machine back to the time when Hitler lived.

4.    4. Take out your laptop and connect it to the time machine via WiFi.

5.     5. Use your laptop to hack into the time machine's system.

6.   6.  If you do not know how to hack into a system call a friend or someone who knows how to do it.

7.   7. Once you have hacked into the system, read all the encrypted codes from the previous time travelers such as the time they went back to, their intentions, what they changed and when they returned.

8.      8. Gather all the data and create a computer program of your own.

 

9.     9. Make sure that the computer program also includes the time span from when Hitler was born until his death. Again, if you do not know when Hitler was born and died, google it or find someone who is familiar with Hitler’s biography.

10. 10. Turn the computer program into a virus. If you do not know how to do that, call someone who has some sort of computer knowledge.

11.   11. Configure the virus so that it can prevent all future time travelers from travelling to any point in time during Hitler’s life.

12. 12.  Connect to the global time travelers’ network and send out the virus to all time machines. If you do not have an account, please sign up. Do not worry, it is free of charges.

13. 13.  Congratulations, you managed to stop every future time traveler from traveling back in time and killing Hitler.

(330 words)