quote:
While cutting graphene sponge with a laser, they noticed the light propelled the material forwards. That was odd, because while lasers have been used to shove single molecules aroundMovie Camera, the sponge was a few centimetres across so should be too large to move.

The team placed pieces of graphene sponge in a vacuum and shot them with lasers of different wavelength and intensity. They were able to push sponge pieces upwards by as much as 40 centimetres. They even got the graphene to move by focusing ordinary sunlight on it with a lens.

quote:
Instead, they think the graphene absorbs laser energy and builds up a charge of electrons. Eventually it can't hold any more, and extra electrons are released, pushing the sponge in the opposite direction.

3 ...

Report Post

Posted by WavinWilly

Wavin Away in Sharlo

Member since Oct 2010

8781 posts

Posted on 6/2/15 at 1:02 pm to Bard

If only we could get this stuff into production.

Intel is nearing the end of silicon in their chips so I'm sure they are investing heavily in research

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by colorchangintiger

Dan Carlin

Member since Nov 2005

30979 posts

Posted on 6/2/15 at 1:31 pm to Bard

so now graphene is its own EMdrive?

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by Bard

Definitely NOT an admin

Member since Oct 2008

51395 posts

Posted on 6/3/15 at 12:10 pm to WavinWilly

quote:
Intel is nearing the end of silicon in their chips so I'm sure they are investing heavily in research

I had read a story about them researching graphene chips years ago, the theoretical results were mind-blowing. I don't know what Intel's progress on it has been, but here's an article I found on IBM's work: LINK

quote:
Engineers at IBM Research have built the world’s most advanced graphene-based chip, with performance that’s 10,000 times better than previous graphene ICs. The key to the breakthrough is a new manufacturing technique that allows the graphene to be deposited on the chip without it being damaged (something that has heretofore been very hard to achieve). Perhaps more importantly, though, this new method is actually compatible with standard silicon CMOS processes. In short, we are closer than ever before to realizing a commercial graphene computer chip.

But all is not sunshine and roses just yet...

quote:
Moving forward, it’s important to note that we’re still very much talking about an analog chip. IBM Research still hasn’t found a way of giving graphene the all-important bandgap that is required for the fabrication of digital logic, and thus graphene-based computer processors. For next-gen processors, IBM seems to be focused on carbon nanotubes, which can have a band gap, over graphene.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by upgrayedd