ARGONNE, Ill. (August 30, 2005) – Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have combined the world's hardest known material – diamond – with the world's strongest structural form – carbon nanotubes. This new process for “growing” diamond and carbon nanotubes together opens the way for its use in a number of energy-related applications.
The resulting material has potential for use in low-friction, wear-resistant coatings, catalyst supports for fuel cells, high-voltage electronics, low-power, high-bandwidth radio frequency microelectromechanical/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), thermionic energy generation, low-energy consumption flat panel displays and hydrogen storage.
The new hybrid material was created using Ultrananocrystalline™ diamond (UNCD™ ), a novel form of carbon developed at Argonne. The researchers made the two materials – ultrananocrystalline diamond and carbon nanotubes – grow simultaneously into dense thin films.
This was accomplished by exposing a surface covered with a mixture of diamond nanoparticles and iron nanoparticle “seeds” to an argon-rich, hydrogen-poor plasma normally used to make UNCD. The diamond and iron “seeds” catalyze the UNCD and carbon nanotube growth, respectively, and the plasma temperature and deposition time are regulated to control the speed at which the composite material grows, since carbon nanotubes normally grow much faster than ultrananocrystalline diamond.
I remember once seeing a diagram of a nano motor that depended on the development of this technology... this is going to get very cool... 8)
P.S. why am I reminded of Mork and Mindy?... nano, nano... ;)
OK, OK, it was a bit of a stretch I admit... ;D
Since my parents used to watch that show so I couldn't avoid absorbing some of it.
Hoi Folks,QuoteSince my parents used to watch that show so I couldn't avoid absorbing some of it.
Ouch!
Dang, I too feel old there Bonk.
I remember watching that show, from the very first episode, oh my. Well I am glad to say that it has been many years since I have been upto date with television.
Take care...to find something better to do than watching television
drb
I tried that in a lecture one time; the kids didn't get it. The old folks (returning students) simply smiled dryly.
I was crushed.
You guys know that one of the earliest syntheses of diamond like films involved the Japanese using sake as a reagent?
You want to know what the Americans used at the same time to get just about the same results?
Jack Daniels.
I tried that in a lecture one time; the kids didn't get it. The old folks (returning students) simply smiled dryly.
I was crushed.
I tried a joke one evening about how Omega Cider was well named since it tasted so bad that even for the alcoholic the first drink would be their last...
I didn't even get a dry smile...
You guys know that one of the earliest syntheses of diamond like films involved the Japanese using sake as a reagent?
You want to know what the Americans used at the same time to get just about the same results?
Jack Daniels.
Damn Them!!! Jack Daniels!!! Why? Why??? Why could they not have used cheap rot gut moonshine??? The sensless waste...
Damn Them!!! Jack Daniels!!! Why? Why??? Why could they not have used cheap rot gut moonshine??? The sensless waste...
Damn Them!!! Jack Daniels!!! Why? Why??? Why could they not have used cheap rot gut moonshine??? The sensless waste...
It was in fact a cunning and successful plan. Budget for a skid of Jack Daniels. Use part of 1 bottle for the experiments and drink the rest at the celebration booze up later so it isn't wasted.
Damn Them!!! Jack Daniels!!! Why? Why??? Why could they not have used cheap rot gut moonshine??? The sensless waste...
It was in fact a cunning and successful plan. Budget for a skid of Jack Daniels. Use part of 1 bottle for the experiments and drink the rest at the celebration booze up later so it isn't wasted.
LOL! My father has regailed me with stories of University parties back in days of yore where they stole pure distilled ethanol from the labs and mixed it with orange juice... Sounds like something that could become dangerous as the night wears on...
They should have used the crappy lab alcohol; it doesn't get taxed by state liquor authorities and the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) agents don't come looking for you.
Hoi Folks,
Dang, I too feel old there Bonk.
I remember watching that show, from the very first episode, oh my. Well I am glad to say that it has been many years since I have been upto date with television.
Take care...to find something better to do than watching television
drb