Nanotechnology and Design

Nanotubes This week we learned about self-assembly which is a process where a disordered system spontaneously forms an organized structure. It is dependent on local interactions among components, without direct intervention.   I researched more into carbon nanotubes because they are exceptionally strong and lightweight yet they are created through self assembly. In addition, they have extraordinary thermal conductivity, mechanical, and electrical properties allowing them to find applications in various structural materials.   I delved more into the nanotubes’ electrical property and was able to find an article detailing findings on a carbon nanotube yarn that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Scientists tangled carbon nanotubes into yarn which was then submerged into an electrolyte gel that was able to generate a small current of electricity when tensile or torsional motion was applied to it. They called these Twistron yarn.  A s...

Graphene Since we talked about different forms of carbon during class, I decided to research more into a specific allotrope—graphene. Graphene was observed in electron microscopes in 1962 but was later rediscovered, isolated, and characterized in 2004 by Andre Geim.   For years scientists were trying for a very long time to isolate the theorized material but the methods that are used to normally isolate materials of that size did not work for graphene because it would destroy the source. However a chance look at a piece of tape that was used to remove flakes of graphite led to the discovery of isolated graphene. It is a super material that is about 200 times stronger than steel, able to efficiently conduct heat and electricity, and is nearly transparent. Graphene is one atom thick and is two-dimensional made up of densely packed carbon atoms in a hexagonal pattern.   I became interested in graphene’s conductive properties and found an article detailin...