Home > Press > Atom-thick sheets hold the key to new technologies
Abstract:
Scientists have developed a new technique for splitting ‘layered materials' into atom-sized nanosheets, which could lead to advances in energy storage technologies and electronic devices, according to research published today in the journal Science.
Atom-thick sheets hold the key to new technologies
London, UK | Posted on March 28th, 2011
Layered materials are man-made and there are more than 150 types including boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide. These materials have the potential to conduct and store energy when they are split into microscopic layers called "nanosheets". For decades, scientists have been working on methods to create nanosheets, but previous attempts have been time-consuming and resulted in the nanosheets being damaged, making them fragile and unsuitable for use.
A team of researchers have demonstrated for the first time in their study that they can make ‘nanosheets' from layered materials, without damaging their electrical and energy storage properties. The researchers say these nanosheets could be used to develop the next generation of metallic and semi-metallic composite materials. They could also be used to make electronic devices including energy storage technologies and thermoelectric materials that can convert heat into electrical energy.
The researchers say their technique for creating nanosheets is simple, fast and inexpensive. They beleive that it could be scaled up to an industrial level, where billions of nanosheets could be produced at an hourly rate.
There are over 150 types of layered materials including boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide.
The technique involves the scientists mixing layered material with a solvent, which is a liquid solution that dissolves substances. The solvent is subjected to high frequency sound energy from an ultrasonic probe. The combined effect of the solvent and the sound energy vibrations cause the layered material to separate into nanosheets.
The international study includes researchers from the London Centre for Nanotechnology, Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, Trinity College Dublin, Korea University and Texas A&M University.
Professor David McComb, from the Department of Materials at Imperial College London, who contributed to the research, said: "Nanosheets could be used to advance a range of technologies: from sensors to batteries and super-strong materials. Nanosheets could also be combined with other conventional materials such as silicon to create new kinds of hybrid computing technologies."
The research carried out at Imperial was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under the Access to Nanoscience Equipment award.
####
For more information, please click here
Copyright © London Centre for Nanotechnology
If you have a comment, please
Contact us.
Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Bookmark:
Journal link: Science 4 February 2011: Vol. 331 no. 6017 pp. 568-571
News and information
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
AXEON Acquires Assets of Leading Reverse Osmosis Systems Manufacturer June 17th, 2013
Govt.-Legislation/Regulation/Funding/Policy
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics June 14th, 2013
Nanobiotix receives approval from ANSM to start new Clinical Trial with Lead Product NBTXR3: Second indication for NanoXray product in Head and Neck cancer patients June 14th, 2013
Chip Technology
SEMATECH to Address Critical Supply Chain Challenges and Present Latest Technology Advances at SEMICON West 2013 June 17th, 2013
Imec shows multiple enhancement options for next-generation FinFETs: Leading nano-electronics R&D center addresses key challenges of Germanium finFET technology at VLSI 2013 June 14th, 2013
Imec showcases innovation in RRAM R&D at VLSI Technology Symposium June 14th, 2013
Controlling magnetic clouds in graphene June 14th, 2013
Discoveries
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
Iranian Scientists Produce Dynamometer for Nanoparticles, Biocells June 15th, 2013
Materials
Discover the ‘Nanostructure Advantage’ at ECerS 2013, Booth 5: Innovnano presents nanostructured powders for high performance ceramics June 17th, 2013
Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics June 14th, 2013
Filmmaking magic with polymers June 12th, 2013
Ceramics in Paper Manufacturing including Advanced and Nano Materials: Author- Dr. Mahendra Patel, 420 pages; 32 chapters, Publ.2013 June 12th, 2013
Announcements
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
AXEON Acquires Assets of Leading Reverse Osmosis Systems Manufacturer June 17th, 2013
Energy
Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf" June 17th, 2013
Efficient and inexpensive: Researchers develop catalyst material for fuel cells: Platinum-nickel nano-octahedra save 90 percent platinum June 17th, 2013
Nanoparticles helping to recover more oil June 15th, 2013
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
Battery Technology/Capacitors/Generators/Piezoelectrics
Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries: Rice University lab combines graphene nanoribbons with tin oxide for improved anodes June 13th, 2013
Filmmaking magic with polymers June 12th, 2013
'Popcorn' particle pathways promise better lithium-ion batteries June 11th, 2013
UC Santa Barbara study provides a new framework for understanding the energetics of ionic liquids June 8th, 2013
Research partnerships
Nano-thermometer enables first atomic-scale heat transfer measurements June 13th, 2013
New quantum dot technique combines best of optical and electron microscopy June 12th, 2013
2-D electronics take a step forward: Rice, Oak Ridge labs make semiconducting films for atom-thick circuits June 10th, 2013
World's first large(wafer)-scale production of III-V semiconductor nanowire June 10th, 2013