Hello, this is Keiran Venumbaka.
Over the next few weeks this blog will be devoted to new highly technical
systems that aim to aid humanity in the future. As an introduction, the
first "high technology” I wish to discuss is that of graphene, a
crystalized form of carbon. “Graphene is
transparent but it is also extremely flexible yet still rigid and a very good
conductor. It could be used to create products that are lighter, more robust,
transparent, flexible and stretchable. And to make novel electronic and
photonic devices possible. Key potential applications are, for instance, fast
electronic and optical devices, flexible electronics, functional lightweight
components and advanced batteries.” (King, n.d.) . Imagine a world with super strong materials,
batteries which charge in seconds, and large energy storage capacity. Graphene can make this all possible. “Examples of new products that could be
enabled by graphene technologies include fast, flexible and strong consumer
electronics such as electronic paper and bendable personal communication
devices, and lighter and more energy-efficient airplanes. In the longer term,
graphene is expected to give rise to new computational paradigms and
revolutionary medical applications, with one possibility being artificial
retinas. It also has potential in spintronics, an emerging technology
exploiting both the intrinsic degree of freedom of electrons, called spin, and
its associated magnetic moment.” (King, n.d.)
At the moment Graphene is still in
development and research is ongoing, but it is definitely a material to keep an
eye on in the future. Thanks for reading.
Bibliography
King, A. (n.d.). Phys. Retrieved from
Phys.org:
http://phys.org/news/2013-10-graphene-potential-carbon-atom-thick-material.html
