Graphene

[seekermeister]

I was watching a Nova episode a bit earlier, where among other things, they were touting graphene (one atom thick) as the replacement for silicon chips in computers. Apparently, it is able to conduct current without any resistance, and would therefore be far faster than current technology. I have no idea of when or if this will come onto the market, but it shouldn't cost more than what we have, because it is easy to produce in large quantities.

They also spoke of another material (forgot the name) that instead of being thin and flat, like silicon, forms in rod shapes, which would end the need for ever thinner silicon chips, which are nearing their thinness limit.

Anyone heard of these before?

http://www.hulu.com/watch/245484/nova-smaller?c=Green#x-0,vepisode,1,0

 

[niemiro]

lol.

Wikipedia explains graphene's resistance:

Unlike normal metals, the longitudinal resistance of graphene shows maxima rather than minima for integral values of the Landau filling factor in measurements of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, which show a phase shift of π, known as Berry’s phase.[68][71] The Berry’s phase arises due to the zero effective carrier mass near the Dirac points.[95] Study of the temperature dependence of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in graphene reveals that the carriers have a non-zero cyclotron mass, despite their zero effective mass from the E-k relation.[71]

P.S. I am very certain that it does have resistance. Just not very much. And only one in four electrons on the carbon atom are de-localised in graphene.

 

[seekermeister]

lol.

Wikipedia explains graphene's resistance:

Unlike normal metals, the longitudinal resistance of graphene shows maxima rather than minima for integral values of the Landau filling factor in measurements of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, which show a phase shift of π, known as Berry’s phase.[68][71] The Berry’s phase arises due to the zero effective carrier mass near the Dirac points.[95] Study of the temperature dependence of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in graphene reveals that the carriers have a non-zero cyclotron mass, despite their zero effective mass from the E-k relation.[71]

P.S. I am very certain that it does have resistance. Just not very much. And only one in four electrons on the carbon atom are de-localised in graphene.

Whether it has any resistance or not, I understood Nova, far better than that quote.

 

[johnwillyums]

I had Shubnikov-de-Haas oscillations as a kid. Really unpleasant and I got bullied at school cos of it.