Stanene

One of the hallmarks of nanotechnology is graphene, a two-dimensional sheet of graphene with unique heat conducting, electronic, and strength properties. However, graphene is not the only 2D material in existance; others include silicene, phosphorene, and germanene.

Recently, a new member has been added to this list: stanene. An allotrope of Tin (the term Stanene is derived from the latin word for tin Stannum), Stanene is two hundred times stronger than steel and has the unique electronic property of conducting electricitiy without creating heat.

A Diagram of Stanene

To start, the structure of stanene is similar to graphene: a hexagonal grid structure that is a single atom thick. However, unlike graphene, it has ridges, meaning that if you were to look at it from the side, it would look like a zig zag. It is along these ridges that electrons are able to run through the substance (thus conducting electricity) without interfering with any of the interior electron and, thus, without losing any energy to heat. At least theoretically.

Stanene, though 'tested' theoretically be able to exist and have certain properties like the ones outlined above, the material hasn't definetively been created. Although researchers Shanghai Jiao Tong University claim to have created the ultra-thin sheet by vaporizing tin and having it deposit on a bismuth telluride surface, some critisize the finding due to poor imaging and a suspicion that the bismuth telluride surface interacted with the tin atoms to create an impure surface.

Currently, more work needs to be done to confirm the current findings or develop a new technique to create stanene properly, but there is certainly promise for graphene to have a star for a cousin.

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Graphene: The World's Thinnest Lightbulb

Graphene has long been acclaimed by popular media that covers nanotechnologies because of its ever increasing number of unique properties and applications - including  extraordinary strength and conductibility. Recently, researchers at the Seoul National University, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, and Columbia University have added to graphene's impressive resume when they developed a light bulb with a graphene filament that was an atom thick.

Previously, extremely small filaments like this were not feasible because the filament would have to be heated to exorbitant temperatures that, even if they didn't melt the filament, would melt the surrounding materials. Graphene, however, offers a solution to this, as it harbors the property of being less conductive of heat the hotter it gets. This thus allows graphene to be heated to temperatures that allow for light to be produced (~2500C), while maintaining the structural integrity of itself (due to its inherent strength) and its surroundings.

Furthermore, graphene - being and incredibly thin substance - is effectively clear, meaning that light can travel through it. The researchers found that (due to this) one is able to alter the wavelength of light emitted by the graphene light by changing the distance between the graphene filament and its silicone substrate, as see in the video here.

The advent of this type of light will advance technology because it is both flexible and small, meaning it will be able to be integrated in flexible technologies and displays, as well as on small chips.

The researchers are currently working on methods for turning the bulb on and off, but perhaps there will soon be a day when graphene will revolutionize the technology of displays! 

Astronomy Section

The transit of Venus is over, but it gave me an idea on another post. This post will be describing the application of nanotechnology for the study of the largest objects, more commonly known as astronomy.

1) Graphene
As it turns out, graphene has yet another use. It has been conceptualized to use graphene as a way to protect spaceships from meteor debris and other substances that could cause corrosion of the ship. Due to its properties of being strong, flexible, cheap, and easy to make, it does not corrode, easily, thus protecting the spaceship.
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Graphene sheet

Other than astronomy, this anti-corrosion property can protect objects on Earth from oxidation.

2) Space elevator
The space elevator applies carbon nanotubes to make  a shaft to let an elevator climb and get into space.

Nanotube Space elevator (artist's dipiction)

3) Telescopes: X-Rays

Wavelength of light chart

Above, is a chart that describes the wavelength of lights. Visible light is where there is the triangle  of colors in the middle of the chart. From the 10nm to the 10-3nm (10-11 meters) is a type of light called x-rays. X-rays are especially useful in astronomy. They help us take pictures of stars, detect properties of the stars and help us collect information on dark energy, black holes and neutron stars. Also, before the nanoscope was invented, it let us see things at the nanoscale, as particles at that size are to small to see with light. In other words, it lets us see things that a regular microscope can not see, like nanoparticles

However, due to the distance of the things we study in space, The changes are often very fine, and so very precise instruments are needed to detect these differences. Not only that, but the process to decipher the X-rays often takes a lot of time. 

Nanotechnologies can help by making tiny mirrors that allow scientist to use X-rays more practically and with greater precision. These mirrors can diffract light to the X-ray wavelength,thus making X-rays. The newly forged method of producing X-rays is called Critical-Angle Transmission or CAT.

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4) Spaceships

The true heart and soul and astronomy is essentially astronomy.
Our current a space travels are abbord huge billion dollar investments. People are trying to make this price go down by using cheaper parts or changing design plans of the shuttle.

Saturn rocket take off

Russian Rocket ship

Shuttle rocket take off

Although these rockets seem to be totally different from each other, they have one core thing in common.

All these rockets are super-expensive projects that do not have a single mission to accomplish but a list of many tasked to accomplish while in orbit. In other words, we spend millions, if not billions of dollars to get these rockets into space to do lots of things.

There are two main things nanotechnologies can do to change this:

The first is quite obvious. Using nanotechnologies, we could make instruments on board smaller and more precise. We could also create a new type a fuel that is easier to make, cheaper, and more efficient by altering the properties of the fuel at its most basic level.



The second thing nanotechnologies could do is change the current goal of space ships. Why not create tiny little probes that do specific tasks, rather than these huge rockets that do many. It would certainly be less costly.

Even better, think about all the satellites that are in our orbit and how many are sent up each year. Now imagine that we send up a hundred or so tiny probes with each one. Each probe would the separate from the rocket, and make the rocket not only profitable to the business sending it up for business, but also profitable for science.

Graphene

What do we think of when we are told '2D'? Normally we think of paper or a '2D drawing', even though we know that neither paper, nor drawings are really one atom thick.

The discovery of graphene is one of the most impressive discoveries within the realm of nanotechnologies. Graphene is one atom thick, and is surprisingly easy to make. Essentially it comes from graphite, or more commonly known as pencil lead.

How to make graphene yourself

Gaphene is a type of carbon atoms with the formation of sp squared , which is a hexagonal formation.

Hexagonal carbon formation

Graphene is a significant discovery because it opened up the ideas, to not only 2D planes, but also 1D lines like nanotubes, and even 0D points, which are essentially atoms.

Graphene is also a big contributor to the progress of technology because of its properties. It turns out that graphene is a great conductor of electricity-its 2D qualities make electricity pass through it even faster than regular graphite, which was a good conductor to begin with. This means that it can, and will be, used in electronics to make them fast. Not only that, but it is flexible, which means it can create flexible technologies. It also is incredibly strong, even with its flexibility.

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