Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Samsung pushes graphene one step closer to silicon supremacy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/samsung-graphene-breakthrough/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/samsung-graphene-breakthrough/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/samsung-graphene-breakthrough/#comments Samsung pushes graphene one step closer to silicon-supremacy

Graphene has long-held notions of grandeur over its current silicon overlord, but a few practical issues have always kept its takeover bid grounded. Samsung, however, thinks it's cracked at least one of those -- graphene's inability to switch off current. Previous attempts to use graphene as a transistor have involved converting it to a semi-conductor, but this also reduces its electron mobility, negating much of the benefit. Samsung's Advanced Institute of Technology has created a graphene-silicon "Schottky barrier" that brings graphene this much-needed current-killing ability, without losing its electron-shuffling potential. The research also explored potential logic device applications based on the same technology. So, does this mean we'll finally get our flea-sized super computer implant? Maybe, not just yet, but the wheels have certainly been oiled.

Continue reading Samsung pushes graphene one step closer to silicon supremacy

Samsung pushes graphene one step closer to silicon supremacy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have cooked up a new graphene-based material that could provide a speed boost for all electronics. We've seen the carbon allotrope turn up in circuitry and transistors before, but the new chemical modification -- graphene monoxide -- is said to be easier to scale up, and most importantly is semiconducting, unlike the insulating or conducting forms that have preceded it. This also means graphene can now provide the triad of electrical conductivity characteristics. The scientists were honest enough to admit the discovery was as much by chance as design, with it coming to light while investigating another material containing carbon nanotubes and tin oxide. We're sure they're not the first to make a discovery this way, we just haven't had time to check the notes to be sure of it.

New material brings semiconducting to the graphene party originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuitsdiscoveryelectronicsgraphenegraphene monoxideGrapheneMonoxideresearchsciencesemiconductingSemiconductorUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUniversityOfWisconsin-milwaukeeTue, 17 Apr 2012 15:54:00 EST<![CDATA[NC State researcher finds more efficient way to cool devices, looks to cut costs too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/nc-state-cheaper-faster-device-cooling/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/nc-state-cheaper-faster-device-cooling/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/09/nc-state-cheaper-faster-device-cooling/#comments NC State researcher finds more efficient way to cool devices, looks to cut costs tooDoes your electronic device have you a bit hot under the collar these days? A researcher at NC State has developed a faster and less expensive method for cooling gadgets -- especially those that tend to crank the heat up. Dr. Jag Kasichainula, an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, authored a paper on the research that implements a "heat spreader' composed of a copper-graphene composite and an indium-graphene interface film to cool devices. Because the two materials exhibit a high thermal conductivity, they allow the device to cool more efficiently while distributing said heat -- 25 percent quicker than the pure copper in many pieces of tech. And if that wasn't enough, the research also details the process for creating the composite using electrochemical deposition. "Copper is expensive, so replacing some of the copper with graphene actually lowers the overall cost.," Kasichainula notes. If you're itching to read a full rundown of the findings, the full text can be accessed via the source link below.

NC State researcher finds more efficient way to cool devices, looks to cut costs too originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coolingcopperdevice coolingDeviceCoolingdeviceselectronic devicesElectronicDevicesGadgetsgrapheneNC StateNcStateresearchscienceMon, 09 Apr 2012 17:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia Morph patent application raises hope well beyond expectation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/nokia-morph-patent-application/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/nokia-morph-patent-application/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/nokia-morph-patent-application/#comments Image
Remember Nokia Morph? It's the Finnish manufacturer's long-standing project to build a transparent, flexible phone that you can contort to your hearts content. Now the company's submitting a second missive to the Patent and Trademark office in the hope of claiming dibs on the IP contained therein. While it's very broadly written (and doesn't commit to anything), it's interesting to note that the phone would switch between the leaf-shaped candybar (we played with it at MWC) and a wristband you can wear on the go. The patent also talks about a "remote processing unit," in a nearby device or in the cloud, so, if the company can ever turn the dream into reality, the real action will be handled elsewhere. Then again, it's equally as likely to never appear in our lifetimes, you just never can tell with patents.

Nokia Morph patent application raises hope well beyond expectation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplicationsBendableConceptFlexibleGraphenemobilepostcrossMorphMWCMWC 2012Mwc2012NokiaNokia MorphNokiaMorphPatentPatent ApplicationPatentApplicationPatentsScienceSlap BraceletSlap WristbandSlapBraceletSlapWristbandTransformableUSPTOWearableWearable TechWearableTechThu, 29 Mar 2012 10:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Cambridge researchers translate graphene into printable circuitry material, bring basic 'Skynet' factory to you]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/cambridge-researchers-translate-graphene-into-printable-circuitr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/cambridge-researchers-translate-graphene-into-printable-circuitr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/cambridge-researchers-translate-graphene-into-printable-circuitr/#comments
Yes, graphene is amazing and possesses many useful / otherworldly properties. The ability to use graphene itself to print flexible, transparent thin-film transistors via an inkjet printer is just another one of them. Over at the University of Cambridge, researchers have discovered that it's possible to print standard CMOS transistors using a graphene component. Provided the graphene is chipped off a block of graphite using a chemical solvent and the larger (potentially print-head blocking) chips are removed, it can be turned into a polymer ink which can then run through a conventional inkjet printer. The potential result of this is flexible, transparent and wearable computer circuitry coming from ordinary printers as opposed to several multi-million-dollar machines in a factory, which has long been the historical standard. Besides, who wouldn't want to print their own circuitry on a PhotoSmart MFP rather than whatever report might be due the next day?

Cambridge researchers translate graphene into printable circuitry material, bring basic 'Skynet' factory to you originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CambridgecircuitryCMOSfactoryflexiblegrapheneinkpolymerprintprintertransistortransparentUniversity of CambridgeUniversityOfCambridgewearableFri, 25 Nov 2011 20:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers increase charging capacity, speed of lithium ion batteries by a factor of ten]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/researchers-increase-charging-capacity-speed-of-lithium-ion-bat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/researchers-increase-charging-capacity-speed-of-lithium-ion-bat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/researchers-increase-charging-capacity-speed-of-lithium-ion-bat/#commentsIt's not every day that we get to write about advancements in battery technology -- much less one as potentially groundbreaking as what a group of engineers at Northwestern University claim to have pulled off. In fact, Professor Harold Kung and his team say they've successfully managed to increase both the charging capacity and speed of lithium ion batteries by a factor of ten. The key, according to Kung, is the movement of the lithium ions nestled between layers of graphene. The speed at which these ions move across a battery's graphene sheets is directly related to how fast a device can recharge. To speed up this process, Kung decided to poke millions of tiny, 10-20nm-sized holes into a mobile battery's graphene layers, thereby providing the ions with a "shortcut" to the next level. As a result, Kung's perforated batteries were able to charge ten times faster than traditional cells, going from zero to hero in 15 minutes.

Not satisfied with that achievement alone, Kung and his squad then set about increasing their battery's charging capacity, as well. Here, they increased the density of lithium ions by inserting small clusters of silicon between each graphene slice. This approach allows more ions to gather at the electrode and, by taking advantage of graphene's malleable properties, avoids some of the silicon expansion problems that have plagued previous attempts at capacity enhancement. The result? A battery that can run on a single charge for more than a week. "Now we almost have the best of both worlds," Kung said. "We have much higher energy density because of the silicon, and the sandwiching reduces the capacity loss caused by the silicon expanding and contracting. Even if the silicon clusters break up, the silicon won't be lost." There is, however, a downside, as both charging capacity and speed sharply fell off after 150 charges. But as Kung points out, the increase in charge retention would more than make up for this shortcoming. "Even after 150 charges, which would be one year or more of operation, the battery is still five times more effective than lithium-ion batteries on the market today," he told the BBC. For more technical details, hit up the links below.

Researchers increase charging capacity, speed of lithium ion batteries by a factor of ten originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybreakthroughchargecharging capacitycharging speedChargingCapacityChargingSpeedengineeringgrapheneharold kungHaroldKungholelaptoplithium ion batteryLithiumIonBatterymobilenanoclusternorthwestern universityNorthwesternUniversityperforationrechargeresearchsiliconWed, 16 Nov 2011 05:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Korean researchers create stretchy transistors made of graphene]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/korean-researchers-create-stretchy-transistors-made-of-graphene/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/korean-researchers-create-stretchy-transistors-made-of-graphene/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/korean-researchers-create-stretchy-transistors-made-of-graphene/#comments Graphene's greatness comes from its flexibility, both figurative -- you can make everything from transparent speakers to stain resistant pants with the stuff -- and literal. And now researchers in Korea have given us another pliable graphene product by creating a stretchy transistor from the carbon allotrope. The trick was accomplished by first layering sheets of graphene on copper foil and bonding it all to a rubber substrate. To complete the transistor channels were etched onto its surface, then electrodes and gate insulators made of ion gel were printed onto the device. What resulted was a transistor that could stretch up to five percent without losing any electrical efficiency, and the plan is to increase its elasticity through continued research. Keep up the good work, fellas, we can't wait for our flexible phone future.

Korean researchers create stretchy transistors made of graphene originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>graphenegraphene transistorGrapheneTransistorkoreakoreanresearchsciencestretchstretchablestretchable electronicsStretchableElectronicsstretchytransistortransistorsFri, 28 Oct 2011 06:10:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT researchers suggest graphene could be used to build a better camera sensor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/mit-researchers-suggest-graphene-could-be-used-to-build-a-better/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/mit-researchers-suggest-graphene-could-be-used-to-build-a-better/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/mit-researchers-suggest-graphene-could-be-used-to-build-a-better/#comments As you may have noticed from the pace of research over the past few years, graphene is promising to make a whole lot of things a whole lot better. Now, it seems, you can also add camera sensors to the list. A team of MIT researchers recently discovered that graphene can serve as a photodetector over a "very wide energy range," and that it works particularly well in infrared light, where other types of detectors often come up short. That, the researchers say, could open to the door to everything from better nightvision systems to more advanced detectors for astronomical telescopes -- not to mention more inexpensive camera sensors in general, since graphene is cheap to work with. What's more, the researchers also suggest that those same light-detecting abilities could make graphene a good material for collecting solar energy, although they note that there's still much more research needed to determine if it's truly an efficient means of generating energy.

MIT researchers suggest graphene could be used to build a better camera sensor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camera sensorcamera sensorsCameraSensorCameraSensorsdetectorgraphenemitphotodetectorresearchsensorsolarsolar powerSolarPowerWed, 12 Oct 2011 03:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Dipping capacitors and batteries in nanotubes could improve capacity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/dipping-capacitors-and-batteries-in-nanotubes-could-improve-capa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/dipping-capacitors-and-batteries-in-nanotubes-could-improve-capa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/dipping-capacitors-and-batteries-in-nanotubes-could-improve-capa/#commentsSuper capacitorsStanford researchers figured out that, by dipping electrodes for super capacitors in a solution of carbon nanotubes or a conductive polymer they could increase the charging capacity by up to 45-percent. The team started working with composite electrodes of graphene and manganese oxide, since manganese is cheap and plentiful, but were hamstrung by its low conductivity. The thin coating of more conductive material greatly boosted the capacitance of the electrodes, and thus their ability to hold a charge. Further tests are still required to find the actual energy density of the dipped electrodes, but lead researchers Yi Cui and Zhenan Bao are already working on a way to apply the same technique to batteries.

Dipping capacitors and batteries in nanotubes could improve capacity originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterycarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesconductive polymerConductivePolymerdippeddippinggrapheneresearchresearcherssciencestanfordstanford universityStanfordUniversitysuper capacitorSuperCapacitorultra capacitorUltraCapacitorThu, 06 Oct 2011 02:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Rice University chemists bake graphene out of Girl Scout cookies, redefine low-carb diets (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/rice-university-chemists-bake-graphene-out-of-girl-scout-cookies/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/rice-university-chemists-bake-graphene-out-of-girl-scout-cookies/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/rice-university-chemists-bake-graphene-out-of-girl-scout-cookies/#comments Would you like some cookies? Well, you're gonna have to buy them, and then get thee to a Rice University chem lab, stat! The Texas institution of higher learning recently played host to Girl Scouts Troop Beverly Hills 25080, turning their om nom carbohydrated delights into billion dollar graphene. Resident scientist James Tour gathered his gaggle of grad students for a hands-on demo, walking the future Phyllis Neflers through the transformative steps that convert carbon-based material (see: a box of Samoas), into $15 billion worth of scientific loot -- or as one astute troopster put it, "... a lot of cash." Indeed it is young lady, but something tells us your well-earned Science in Action badge won't go too well with those cookie-bought Louboutins. Skip past the break for the full video and a little "Cookie Time" nostalgia.

Continue reading Rice University chemists bake graphene out of Girl Scout cookies, redefine low-carb diets (video)

Rice University chemists bake graphene out of Girl Scout cookies, redefine low-carb diets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carboncarbon-basedchem labchemistchemistrychemistsChemLabcookiecookiesGirl ScoutsGirl Scouts cookiesGirl Scouts of the USAGirl Scouts Troop 25080GirlScoutsGirlScoutsCookiesGirlScoutsOfTheUsaGirlScoutsTroop25080grapheneJames TourJamesTourPhyllis NeflerPhyllisNeflerRiceRice UniversityRiceUniversityscienceTroop Beverly HillsTroopBeverlyHillsvideoSat, 06 Aug 2011 10:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers use graphene and tin sandwich to make better battery electrodes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/researchers-use-graphene-and-tin-sandwich-to-make-better-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/researchers-use-graphene-and-tin-sandwich-to-make-better-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/researchers-use-graphene-and-tin-sandwich-to-make-better-battery/#comments Graphene, that microscopic chicken wire made of carbon atoms, has a great many theoretical uses. Among these is to improve Lithium-ion battery technologies, and the big brains at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have created a graphene and tin composite material for use in battery electrodes. When it's baked at 572 degrees Fahrenheit (300 degrees Celsius) the tin turns into nanopillars that widen the gap between the graphene layers. The greater volume of tin provided by these tiny towers improves electrode performance (read: faster charging), and the flexibility of the graphene prevents electrode degradation. Naturally, current prototypes can only maintain capacity over 30 charge cycles -- as opposed to the hundreds required for commercial applications -- so some serious improvement has to happen before we see it strut its stuff in any phones or EVs. This leaves us, once again, extolling the virtues of graphene, but lamenting its exclusively academic application.

Continue reading Researchers use graphene and tin sandwich to make better battery electrodes

Researchers use graphene and tin sandwich to make better battery electrodes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatteryberkeley labBerkeleyLabelectrodeelectrodesgrapheneLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryLawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratoryli-ionli-ion batteryLi-ionBatterylithium ionlithium ion batterieslithium ion batterylithium-ionLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesLithiumIonBatterypowerpower sourcePowerSourcerechargeablerechargeable batteryRechargeableBatteryresearchscienceWed, 03 Aug 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers use graphene to draw energy from flowing water, self-powered micro-robots to follow?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/researchers-use-graphene-to-draw-energy-from-flowing-water-self/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/researchers-use-graphene-to-draw-energy-from-flowing-water-self/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/researchers-use-graphene-to-draw-energy-from-flowing-water-self/#commentsWhat can't graphene do? The wonder material's been at the heart of a stunning number of technological breakthroughs of late, and now it's adding oil exploration to its long list of achievements. A team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered that the flow of good old H2O over a sheet of graphene can generate enough electricity to power "tiny sensors" used in tracking down oil deposits. The gang, led by professor Nikhil Koratkar, was able to suck 85 nanowatts of power out of a slab of graphene measuring .03 by .015 millimeters. The little sensors the researchers speak of are pumped into potential oil wells via a stream of water, and are then put to work sniffing out hydrocarbons indicative of hidden pockets of oil and natural gas. Of course, that doesn't have a whole lot of practical application for your average gadget consumer, but Koraktar sees a future filled with tiny water-powered robots and micro-submarines -- we can dig it.

Researchers use graphene to draw energy from flowing water, self-powered micro-robots to follow? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electricityenergygraphenemicro robotmicro robotsmicro sensorsMicroRobotMicroRobotsMicroSensorsNikhil KoratkarNikhilKoratkarphysicspowerRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaerPolytechnicInstituterobotrobotssensorsensorstinywaterwater powerwater poweredWaterPowerWaterPoweredThu, 21 Jul 2011 10:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Transparent graphene speakers printed with inkjets, lo-fi musical windows are on their way]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/transparent-graphene-speakers-printed-with-inkjets-lo-fi-musica/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/transparent-graphene-speakers-printed-with-inkjets-lo-fi-musica/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/transparent-graphene-speakers-printed-with-inkjets-lo-fi-musica/#comments Transparent Graphene Speaker Add that magical material known as graphene to the list of things you can make with inkjet printers alongside OLEDs, solar panels, and light-bending metamaterials. Scientists at the Seoul National University used printers and a technique known as vapor deposition to leave a thin film of the graphite-based conductor on sheets of PVDF (poly vinylidene fluoride). By sandwiching the the PVDF between graphene electrodes and applying a current from a sound source researchers were able to create a flat and transparent loudspeaker that could be integrated into windows or screens. Don't expect this low-power sound source to replace your hi-fi though -- since it relies on the distortion-prone piezoelectric effect, it probably won't sound much better than the earpiece on your cellphone.

Transparent graphene speakers printed with inkjets, lo-fi musical windows are on their way originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioelectrodegraphenegraphene electrodeGrapheneElectrodekoreapoly vinylidene fluoridePolyVinylideneFluoridepvdfscienceseoulsouth koreaSouthKoreaspeakerstransparent speakerTransparentSpeakerTue, 12 Jul 2011 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Dry ice makes graphene cheaper, greener, and by the (relative) boatload]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/dry-ice-makes-graphene-cheaper-greener-and-by-the-relative-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/dry-ice-makes-graphene-cheaper-greener-and-by-the-relative-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/dry-ice-makes-graphene-cheaper-greener-and-by-the-relative-b/#comments Amartya Chakrabarti and Graphene Dry ice isn't just great for keeping steaks cold and filling your bathtub with fog, it may also play a major role in producing the miracle metal material graphene. Researchers at Northern Illinois University have discovered that burning magnesium in frozen carbon dioxide produces a thin layer of the hyped-to-the-lattices carbon nanostructure. The so-called dry-ice method has several advantages over previous techniques, not the least of which is the ability to pump out the relative of pencil lead on a much larger scale. It also happens to be faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly compared with the lengthy processes involving hazardous chemicals used in most graphene production. It's pretty great news but, honestly, all we want to know is when the stuff is going to start powering super-fast internet connections -- that complete Flying Circus collection isn't going to download itself.

Dry ice makes graphene cheaper, greener, and by the (relative) boatload originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carboncarbon dioxidecarbon nano structuresCarbonDioxideCarbonNanoStructuresdry iceDryIcegraphenemagnesiumNorthern Illinois UniversityNorthernIllinoisUniversityTue, 21 Jun 2011 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM outs integrated circuit that's made from wafer-size graphene, smaller than a grain of salt]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/ibm-outs-integrated-circuit-thats-made-from-wafer-size-graphene/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/ibm-outs-integrated-circuit-thats-made-from-wafer-size-graphene/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/ibm-outs-integrated-circuit-thats-made-from-wafer-size-graphene/#comments
Lest you don't care what your circuits are made of, listen up: graphene's the thinnest electrical material, comprising just a single atomic layer. In addition to its electrical, thermal, mechanical, and optical properties, researchers dig it because it has the potential to be less expensive, more energy-efficient, and more compact than your garden-variety silicon. So imagine IBM's delight when a team of company researchers built the first circuit that fits all the components, including inductors and a graphene transistor, on a single wafer -- a setup that consumes less space than a grain of salt. The advantage, scientists say, is better performance than what you'd get from a circuit combining a graphene transistor with external components. In fact, the researchers got the circuit's broadband frequency mixer to operate at 10GHz , a feat that could have implications for wireless gadgets running the gamut from Bluetooth headsets to RFID tags. That's all just a layman's explanation, of course -- check out the latest issue of Science for the full paper in all of its technical glory.

IBM outs integrated circuit that's made from wafer-size graphene, smaller than a grain of salt originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuitcircuitselectricalelectrical engineeringElectricalEngineeringgraphenegraphene circuitgraphene transistorGrapheneCircuitGrapheneTransistorIBMintegratedintegrated circuitintegrated circuitsIntegratedCircuitIntegratedCircuitsresearchresearcherresearchersscientistscientistsThu, 09 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Graphene-powered web could download 3-D movies in seconds, give MPAA nightmares]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/graphene-powered-web-could-download-3-d-movies-in-seconds-give/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/graphene-powered-web-could-download-3-d-movies-in-seconds-give/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/graphene-powered-web-could-download-3-d-movies-in-seconds-give/#comments Graphene modulator Graphene, is there anything it can't do? Researchers are already trying to put it in processors, fuel cells, and batteries -- now your internet connection might get ten-times faster thanks to the silicon successor. Researchers at UC Berkeley have created tiny, one-atom-thick modulators that could switch the data-carrying light on and off in a fiber-optic connection much faster than current technology. In addition to running at a higher frequency (the team believes it will scale up to 500GHz -- modern modulators run at about 1GHz) the smaller, 25-micron size means thinner cables could be used, reducing capacitance and further boosting speeds. Labs have already crossed the 100 terabit threshold and graphene could push that even higher, yet we're still stuck staring at a buffering screen every time we try to Netflix Degrassi.

Continue reading Graphene-powered web could download 3-D movies in seconds, give MPAA nightmares

Graphene-powered web could download 3-D movies in seconds, give MPAA nightmares originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 05:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiber opticfiber opticsFiberOpticFiberOpticsgraphenegraphene modulatorGrapheneModulatorinternetmodulatormodulatorsnano technano technologyNanoTechNanoTechnologyUC BerkeleyUcBerkeleywebTue, 10 May 2011 05:18:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM shows off 155GHz graphene transistor in the name of DARPA research]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/ibm-shows-off-155ghz-graphene-transistor-in-the-name-of-darpa-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/ibm-shows-off-155ghz-graphene-transistor-in-the-name-of-darpa-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/08/ibm-shows-off-155ghz-graphene-transistor-in-the-name-of-darpa-re/#commentsIBM might be cautious about touting graphene as a a silicon killer, but that hasn't stopped it from pushing the production of ever faster graphene transistors. With the recent demonstration of a 155GHz graphene transistor, the firm successfully outdid its previous record-setting efforts, which produced a cut-off frequency of 100GHz. What's more, the thing is also IBM's smallest to date, with a gate length of 40 nanometers; that's 200 nanometers less than the 100GHz iteration. This smaller, faster transistor was produced as part of a DARPA research project that aims to develop high-performance RF (radio frequency) transistors. So, no, we probably won't be seeing the things in our PCs anytime soon, but it looks like they could be right at home in war machines of the future.

IBM shows off 155GHz graphene transistor in the name of DARPA research originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>155GHz graphene transistor155ghzGrapheneTransistorDARPAfastest graphene transistorFastestGrapheneTransistorgraphenegraphene transistorGrapheneTransistornanonanotechnanotechnologytransistorwarwar machineWarMachineworlds fastestworlds smallesworlds smallestWorldsFastestWorldsSmallesWorldsSmallestFri, 08 Apr 2011 20:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers find graphene transistors cool themselves, silicon counterparts seethe with envy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/researchers-find-graphene-transistors-cool-themselves-silicon-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/researchers-find-graphene-transistors-cool-themselves-silicon-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/researchers-find-graphene-transistors-cool-themselves-silicon-c/#comments We've seen graphene promise some pretty slick tricks already: budget-minded bendable batteries, superior stain resistance, and upping ultracapacitors' energy density. We can now add self-cooling transistors to the list of awesome, yet unfulfilled possibilities for these microscopic sheets of carbon. Using an atomic force microscope, a team of researchers at the University of Illinois led by Professor William King discovered that graphene transistors have a thermoelectric cooling effect where they make their metal connections. This self-cooling is greater than the resistive heating that normally follows the flow of electrons -- meaning graphene-based electronics from the future could make their silicon competition look decidedly uncool in comparison.

Researchers find graphene transistors cool themselves, silicon counterparts seethe with envy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coolinggrapheneresearchthermoelectricuniversity of illinoisUniversityOfIllinoiswilliam kingWilliamKingMon, 04 Apr 2011 17:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Silicine might be the new graphene, now that it's been physically constructed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/silicine-might-be-the-new-graphene-now-that-its-been-physicall/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/silicine-might-be-the-new-graphene-now-that-its-been-physicall/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/silicine-might-be-the-new-graphene-now-that-its-been-physicall/#comments Surely you've heard of graphene, the one-atom-thick layer of pencil lead that has the potential to change the world of computers, batteries and screens? You might want to familiarize yourself with the term "silicine," too. It's basically a version of graphene constructed out of silicon, which doesn't naturally align itself into the same eminently useful honeycomb shape -- but, given a little prod here and a layer of silver or ceramic compound there, can do much the same thing, and with better computing compatibility. First proposed around 2007, it's reportedly been produced twice now by two different teams, which gives physicists hope that it could actually be useful some day. For now, researchers need to figure out a way to easily produce it so detailed experiments can be performed -- from what we understand, the good ol' scotch tape method just won't do the job.

Silicine might be the new graphene, now that it's been physically constructed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>graphenenanonanotechnanotechnologysciencesilicinesilicontechnologyMon, 28 Mar 2011 06:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Flexible batteries get the graphene treatment, could be cheaper than other bendy batts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/flexible-batteries-get-the-graphene-treatment-could-be-cheaper/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/flexible-batteries-get-the-graphene-treatment-could-be-cheaper/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/flexible-batteries-get-the-graphene-treatment-could-be-cheaper/#commentsWe've been talking about flexible batteries for years now, but a team of Korean researchers have presented a new solution to bendable energy sources that is not only more powerful than standard lithium-ion batteries, but also potentially cheaper to produce than its malleable predecessors -- and unsurprisingly, everyone's favorite wonder material, graphene, is at the heart of the innovation. The rechargeable battery contains a vanadium-oxide cathode, grown on a sheet of graphene paper, an unidentified separator, and an anode made of lithium-coated graphene. According to the folks behind the new power source, it sports higher energy and power density, as well as a better cycle life than the literally stiff competition. Similar advances have also out-performed rigid lithium-ion batteries, but have enlisted carbon nanotubes, a material more expensive to produce than graphene. Of course, like all technological advances, we won't be seeing these things for years, if not decades, so you might as well get used to ye olde standard bearer.

Flexible batteries get the graphene treatment, could be cheaper than other bendy batts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 01:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterybendablebendable batteryBendableBatteryflexibleflexible batteryFlexibleBatterygrapheneGraphene sheetGrapheneSheetionKorea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyKoreaAdvancedInstituteOfScienceAndTechnologylithiumlithium ionlithium-ionlithium-ion batteryLithium-ionBatteryLithiumIonpowerpower sourcePowerSourcerechargeablerechargeable batteryRechargeableBatterysheetWed, 02 Mar 2011 01:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Fuel cells get stronger, potentially cheaper with graphene, ITO]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/fuel-cells-get-stronger-potentially-cheaper-with-graphene-ito/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/fuel-cells-get-stronger-potentially-cheaper-with-graphene-ito/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/fuel-cells-get-stronger-potentially-cheaper-with-graphene-ito/#comments As the sustainable Juggernaut of fuel cell vehicles (FCV) powers ever forward, a group of scientists are cooking up ways to make the alternative energy source more durable and even cheaper. By combining graphene -- think pencil lead -- and indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles, the team produced a catalytic material that is both stronger and more chemically active than the usual catalytic combo. Fuel cells typically use a chemical catalyst like platinum, sitting atop a base of black carbon or metal oxides, to break down oxygen and hydrogen gases, creating water in the process -- thing is, carbon is easily eroded by the resulting water, and metal oxides, while more stable, are less conductive. Using graphene -- which because of its porousness erodes less quickly -- in combination with the stable ITO and platinum nanoparticles, researchers have created what could be referred to as a super fuel cell -- a stronger, longer lasting, and potentially cheaper version of the alternative energy source. Unfortunately, without enough hydrogen filling stations, these super fuel cells won't come to anyone's rescue anytime soon.

Fuel cells get stronger, potentially cheaper with graphene, ITO originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catalystDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergydoeenergyfcvFuel Cellfuel cell vehiclesFuelCellFuelCellVehiclesgraphenehydrogen fuel cellHydrogenFuelCellindium tin oxideIndiumTinOxideITOnanotechnanotechnologyPacific Northwest National LaboratoryPacificNorthwestNationalLaboratoryprincetonrenewable energyRenewableEnergyWashington UniversityWashingtonUniversityWed, 16 Feb 2011 01:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Graphene coatings used to repel, attract water, could make Rain-X decidedly obsolete]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/graphene-coatings-used-to-repel-attract-water-could-make-rain/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/graphene-coatings-used-to-repel-attract-water-could-make-rain/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/graphene-coatings-used-to-repel-attract-water-could-make-rain/#commentsGraphene coatings used to repel, attract water, could make Rain-X decidedly obsolete Graphene looks poised to replace our silicon and our touchscreens, even fix our batteries. Now it's due for something perhaps a little less revolutionary: keep our pants clean. Physicist James Dickerson and a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University have created two ways to apply thin graphene sheets that either make them super-hydrophobic or super-hydrophilic. These alternate arrangements, termed "rug" and "brick," make the water bead up and run off or spread out and form incredibly thin sheets. Potential applications are windshields that don't need wipers, pants that cause red wine drops to just bounce off, and goggles that never, ever fog -- no buffing required.

Graphene coatings used to repel, attract water, could make Rain-X decidedly obsolete originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brickgraphenehydrophilichydrophobicrugvanderbiltvanderbilt universityVanderbiltUniversitywater repellantwaterproofWaterRepellantWed, 02 Feb 2011 20:41:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM says graphene won't fully replace silicon in CPUs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/ibm-says-graphene-wont-fully-replace-silicon-in-cpus/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/ibm-says-graphene-wont-fully-replace-silicon-in-cpus/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/25/ibm-says-graphene-wont-fully-replace-silicon-in-cpus/#commentsAs you may have been able to tell from the flurry of research that's occurred over the past few years (which has even resulted in a Nobel Prize), there's plenty of folks betting on graphene as the next big thing for computing. One of the big players in that respect has been IBM, which first opened up the so-called graphene bandgap and has created some of the fastest graphene transistors around, but is now sounding a slightly more cautious tone when it comes to the would-be demise of silicon-based CPUs. Speaking with Custom PC, IBM researcher Yu-Ming Lin said that "graphene as it is will not replace the role of silicon in the digital computing regime," and further explained that "there is an important distinction between the graphene transistors that we demonstrated, and the transistors used in a CPU." To that end, he notes that unlike silicon, "graphene does not have an energy gap," and that it therefore cannot be completely "switched off," which puts it at quite a disadvantage compared to silicon. Intel's director of components research, Mike Mayberry, also chimed in on the matter, and noted that "the industry has so much experience with it that there are no plans to move away from silicon as the substrate for chips." That doesn't mean that there still isn't a bright future for graphene, though -- Lin gives the example of hybrid circuit, for instance, which could use graphene as a complement to silicon in order to "enrich the functionality of computer chips."

IBM says graphene won't fully replace silicon in CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuitcpucpusgraphenehybrid circuitHybridCircuitibmibm researchIbmResearchMike MayberryMikeMayberrysilicontransistortransistorsYu-Ming LinYu-mingLinTue, 25 Jan 2011 01:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Graphene electrodes promise 5x energy storage boost for ultracapacitors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/graphene-electrodes-promise-5x-energy-storage-boost-for-ultracap/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/graphene-electrodes-promise-5x-energy-storage-boost-for-ultracap/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/graphene-electrodes-promise-5x-energy-storage-boost-for-ultracap/#commentsGraphene. We hear of your achievements so often, but feel your benefits in our everyday lives so infrequently. We'd be remiss if we didn't point out how unhealthy of a relationship this is, but hopefully Bor Jang and co. have a mind to mend it all. Bor, along with a number of colleagues at Nanotek Instruments, have just uncovered a graphene advancement that could put conventional Li-ion cells in a world of hurt. Of course, we've been hearing about so-called "battery breakthroughs" for the better part of our lives, but few have involved progress with ultracapacitors. For those unaware, ultracapacitors are energy storage devices that can "absorb and release charge in minutes," and they're pegged as cheaper / safer alternatives to batteries for electric vehicles. The only problem? Mainstream versions today hold just five percent of the energy held by Li-ion batteries. Nanotek's crew has figured out that the use of graphene electrodes "could lead to ultracapacitors with more than five times the energy density of commercial devices," but as these things always go, no one's coming close to producing a hard release date. We'll just assume it's undergoing lab tests for now, and in 2022 we can all weep at what could've been. Prove us wrong, whiz kids.

Graphene electrodes promise 5x energy storage boost for ultracapacitors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbor jangBorJangcarbonchargechargerchargingelectrodesenergyenergy storageEnergyStoragegrapheneinventionli-ionMITNanotek InstrumentsNanotekInstrumentsresearchscienceultracapacitorultracapacitorsuniversityWed, 08 Dec 2010 23:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to pioneering graphene researchers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/nobel-prize-for-physics-awarded-to-pioneering-graphene-researche/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/nobel-prize-for-physics-awarded-to-pioneering-graphene-researche/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/nobel-prize-for-physics-awarded-to-pioneering-graphene-researche/#comments Last year's Nobel Prize in Physics may have been somewhat belatedly awarded to the inventors of the CCD, but this year's prize couldn't be more timely -- it's just been awarded to Russian-born researchers Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov for their "groundbreaking experiments" with graphene. Graphene, as you may well be aware by now, is the thinnest and lightest material there is, and could well pave the way for whole new generation of smaller, better, faster electronics -- among a host of other things. What's more, like so many great inventions, this one also had something of an inauspicious beginning -- the researchers kick-started their research just six years ago by peeling some flakes off a chunk of graphite with a piece of Scotch tape.

[Thanks, Eddie]

Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to pioneering graphene researchers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andre GeimAndreGeimgrapheneKonstantin NovoselovKonstantinNovoselovnobelnobel prizenobel prize for physicsnobel prize in physicsNobelPrizeNobelPrizeForPhysicsNobelPrizeInPhysicsphysicsWed, 06 Oct 2010 19:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Strained graphene leads to pseudo-magnetic fields, bends physics even further]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/strained-graphene-leads-to-pseudo-magnetic-fields-bends-physics/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/strained-graphene-leads-to-pseudo-magnetic-fields-bends-physics/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/strained-graphene-leads-to-pseudo-magnetic-fields-bends-physics/#commentsMan, if only this had been discovered before Ariadne was tasked with building impossible dreams. A team of scientists caught high-fiving over at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have a new and riveting announcement to share, and it revolves around our old and trusted friend, graphene. This go 'round, the self-proclaimed "extraordinary form of carbon" is being stressed to its max, but not without good reason. Thanks to inquisitive minds and a "stroke of serendipity," a research team was able to create magnetic fields in excess of 300 tesla by simply straining graphene in a certain way. For physicists, the discovery is a dream come true, particularly when you realize that magnetic fields in excess of 85 tesla were practically impossible to come across in a laboratory setting. The benefits here? It's honestly too early to tell, but gurus in the field are already suggesting that the "opportunities for basic science with strain engineering [are] huge." Something tells us Magneto would concur.

Strained graphene leads to pseudo-magnetic fields, bends physics even further originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbonelectromagnetismgraphenemagnetmagneticnanobubblesnanotechnanotechnologyresearchsciencestudyuniversityMon, 02 Aug 2010 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Silicon chips get speed boost with a lead start]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/silicon-chips-get-speed-boost-with-a-lead-start/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/silicon-chips-get-speed-boost-with-a-lead-start/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/silicon-chips-get-speed-boost-with-a-lead-start/#commentsIn tennis, the materials of the tennis court affect the performance of the ball. Such is the case, on a much, much smaller scale, for electron movement across circuitry. Silicon chips give resistance that lowers the speed limit, while atom-thick sheets of carbon (a.k.a. graphene) have a special property whereby free electrons are almost weightless and can travel up to 0.003 times the speed of light -- sounds great, but it's hard to produce in bulk. Cut to Han Woong Yeom and Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea. His team has added a thin layer lead on a silicon chip, lowering the electron mass (and thus proportionally raising its speed) to 1/20th compared to standard silicon. Still a ways to go for graphene speeds -- by a factor of three, according to Yeom -- but it's also more likely to mass production.

Silicon chips get speed boost with a lead start originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbonchipchipsgrapheneleadprocessorprocessorssiliconsilicon chipSiliconChipTue, 20 Jul 2010 08:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Graphene rolled out in 30-inch sheets, makes for one durable touchscreen (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/22/graphene-rolled-out-in-30-inch-sheets-makes-for-one-durable-tou/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/22/graphene-rolled-out-in-30-inch-sheets-makes-for-one-durable-tou/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/22/graphene-rolled-out-in-30-inch-sheets-makes-for-one-durable-tou/#comments Whether they're slated to power terahertz chips or transparent electrodes, graphene sheets have garnered tremendous excitement, but the scientific community has had great trouble making the single-atom-thick pencil lead lattices large enough for industrial use. Thankfully, the same South Korean scientists who brought us 10 centimeter film never abandoned their post, and now Sungkyunkwan University has composited 30-inch sheets of the stuff and prototyped a working touchscreen panel as well. Using a modified version of the popular chemical vapor disposition deposition (CVD) technique that grows the graphene on top of copper foil, they were able to produce a four-ply graphene stack with 90 percent transparency, plus resistance and durability reportedly superior to the dwindling indium supplies currently used in displays. Now let's see some 300mm wafers, eh? Watch one of the world's first graphene digitizers make its video debut after the break.

Continue reading Graphene rolled out in 30-inch sheets, makes for one durable touchscreen (video)

Graphene rolled out in 30-inch sheets, makes for one durable touchscreen (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chemical vapor dispositionChemicalVaporDispositionCVDdigitizergraphenegraphene touchscreenGrapheneTouchscreengraphitescienceSouth KoreaSouthKoreaSungkyunkwan UniversitySungkyunkwanUniversitytouchscreentransparent electrodesTransparentElectrodesTue, 22 Jun 2010 02:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Defective graphene sheets look poised to succeed silicon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/defective-graphene-sheets-look-poised-to-succeed-silicon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/defective-graphene-sheets-look-poised-to-succeed-silicon/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/defective-graphene-sheets-look-poised-to-succeed-silicon/#commentsDefective graphene sheets look poised to succeed silicon As circuitry gets smaller and approaches the effective limitation of silicon's computing power, and Moore's Law begins to look like it has an expiration date, we get closer and closer to needing an alternative. Graphene is held to be the answer; sheets of carbon a single atom thick that could be stacked and composited to create processors. Two professors at the University of South Florida, Matthias Batzill and Ivan Oleynik, have found a new way to turn those sheets into circuits by creating nanoscale defects. These strips of broken atomic rings wind up having metallic properties, thus making them act like microscopic wires. IBM is already teasing us with the possibilities of graphene and now, with a more practical way to make graphene-based electronics, we'd say Moore's Law still has at least another couple decades left.

[Photo credit: Y. Lin]

Defective graphene sheets look poised to succeed silicon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbongrapheneIvan OleynikIvanOleynikMatthias BatzillMatthiasBatzillmoores lawMooresLawuniversity of southern floridaUniversityOfSouthernFloridausfFri, 02 Apr 2010 08:46:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM demonstrates 100GHz graphene transistor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/07/ibm-demonstrates-100ghz-graphene-transistor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/07/ibm-demonstrates-100ghz-graphene-transistor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/07/ibm-demonstrates-100ghz-graphene-transistor/#commentsIt's just been a little over a week since IBM researchers announced that they managed to open up a bandgap for graphene-based field-effect transistors, but they're now already back to show off what that's made possible: a 100GHz graphene transistor. What's more, this latest record-setting transistor (which IBM hopes will one day replace silicon transistors) was made using processing technology that's compatible with that currently used in advanced silicon device fabrication, which should no doubt help speed up its eventual commercialization. Of course, any widespread adoption is still quite a ways away, but IBM says that this new transistor "demonstrates clearly that graphene can be utilized to produce high performance devices and integrated circuits." For those keeping score, this first-of-its-kind transistor already beats the frequency performance of current state-of-the-art silicon transistors of the same gate length, which now top out at a mere 40GHz.

IBM demonstrates 100GHz graphene transistor originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100 ghz100Ghzgraphenegraphene transistorGrapheneTransistoribmibm researchIbmResearchresearchtransistorSun, 07 Feb 2010 08:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Penn State busts out 100mm graphene wafers, halcyonic dream inches closer to reality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/03/penn-state-busts-out-100mm-graphene-wafers-halcyonic-dream-inch/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/03/penn-state-busts-out-100mm-graphene-wafers-halcyonic-dream-inch/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/03/penn-state-busts-out-100mm-graphene-wafers-halcyonic-dream-inch/#comments Yes, we've been marching on this road to graphene-based superconductive electronics for a long, long time. But in the space of one week, we've now seen two significant advancements pop up that rekindle our hope for an ultrafast tomorrow. Hot on the heels of IBM's recent bandgap achievement comes Penn State University with a 100mm wafer of pure graphene gorgeousness. Built using silicon sublimation -- a process of essentially evaporating the silicon away from the carbon layer -- these are the biggest graphene wafers yet, and field effect transistors are being built atop them now to start performance testing early this year. Naturally, nobody's sitting on this laurel just yet, with further plans afoot to expand beyond 200mm wafers in order to integrate fully into the semiconductor industry, whose current standard wafer size is around 300mm in diameter. On we go then.

Penn State busts out 100mm graphene wafers, halcyonic dream inches closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electro-optics centerElectro-opticsCenterfield effect transistorsfield-effect transistorField-effectTransistorFieldEffectTransistorsgraphenegraphene wafergraphene wafersGrapheneWaferGrapheneWaferspenn statepenn state universityPennStatePennStateUniversitysilicon sublimationSiliconSublimationsublimationuniversitywaferwafersWed, 03 Feb 2010 10:17:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM opens up graphene bandgap, edges closer to commercialization]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/ibm-opens-up-graphene-bandgap-edges-closer-to-commercialization/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/ibm-opens-up-graphene-bandgap-edges-closer-to-commercialization/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/ibm-opens-up-graphene-bandgap-edges-closer-to-commercialization/#commentsGraphene transistors have long been touted as the next big thing to deliver a true leap in electronics of all sorts, but there's been a few considerable limitations holding them back from fully replacing silicon. IBM now says it's managed to overcome one of the biggest hurdles, however, and has announced that it's been able to open a "bandgap" for graphene field-effect transistors (or FETs). As EETimes reports, that's important because while graphene does have a higher carrier mobility than silicon, it doesn't have a natural bandgap, which has so far kept the on-off ratio of graphene transistors far lower than their silicon counterparts. Of course, IBM insists that its still only just scratched the surface, and says that it's already hard at work on opening up an even wider bandgap, achieving even higher electric fields, further improving the on-off current ratios of graphene FETs.

IBM opens up graphene bandgap, edges closer to commercialization originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandgapfetfield-effect transistorField-effectTransistorgraphenegraphene FETgraphene transistorGrapheneFetGrapheneTransistoribmresearchtransistorThu, 28 Jan 2010 13:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Cornell gurus look to carbon nanotubes for efficient solar cells]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/17/cornell-gurus-look-to-carbon-nanotubes-for-efficient-solar-cells/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/17/cornell-gurus-look-to-carbon-nanotubes-for-efficient-solar-cells/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/17/cornell-gurus-look-to-carbon-nanotubes-for-efficient-solar-cells/#comments
You know what we love? Solar-powered gadgets, and carbon nanotubes. Oh, and Ivy League schools. Boffins from Cornell University are now looking to use the multifaceted carbon nanotube instead of silicon to develop efficient solar cells, and judging by the glacial pace at which solar cell efficiency is improving, we'd say the sector could use the boost. The researchers have already fabricated, tested and measured a simple solar cell (called a photodiode, just so you know) that was formed from an individual carbon nanotube. The tube was essentially a rolled-up sheet of graphene, and while the inner workings would take days to explain, the gist of it is this:
"The nanotube may be a nearly ideal photovoltaic cell because it allowed electrons to create more electrons by utilizing the spare energy from the light."
So, solar-powered F-350 trucks are now a possibility for next year, right?

[Via Graphene-Info]

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Cornell gurus look to carbon nanotubes for efficient solar cells originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon nanotubeCarbonNanotubecornellcornell universityCornellUniversityeco-friendlyefficiencygraphenenanotubephotodioderesearchsciencesolarsolar powerSolarPoweruniversityThu, 17 Sep 2009 22:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Carbon ring storage promises 1,000 times higher memory density]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/carbon-ring-storage-promises-1-000-times-higher-memory-density/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/carbon-ring-storage-promises-1-000-times-higher-memory-density/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/carbon-ring-storage-promises-1-000-times-higher-memory-density/#comments
Terrifying news, kids: we're growing seriously close to maxing out the density limits of present magnetic memory technology as it becomes increasingly difficult to shrink the necessary grains used in the process. Thankfully, there's a team of German scientists devoted to doing more than standing around and watching the inevitable happen. Cobalt, the element responsible for keeping your precious data intact, typically requires a 50,000 atom fleet for each grain, but boffins from Dresden have found a way to shrink that to a measly flotilla of 50. Without trampling you with technological details, attaching carbon rings to the cobalt reproduces the requisite hexagonal close packed structure, which leads to reduced space requirements. Should this technique prove viable, we can expect yet another race among hard drive makers as they strive to make each other's most capacious drives look downright diminutive. Hit the read link for all the grisly details.

[Via Graphene-Info]

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Carbon ring storage promises 1,000 times higher memory density originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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8GHz (with the help of liquid nitrogen) not quick enough? Leave it to the folks at MIT to make sure your zaniest desires are well taken care of. As research forges ahead on graphene, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs (remember those?), gurus at the university have discovered a breakthrough that could eventually lead to microchips that make existing silicon-based CPUs weep. In fact, the research could lead to practical systems in the 500 to 1,000 gigahertz range. The magic all ties back to advancements on a graphene chip known as a frequency multiplier, and while the nitty-gritty of all this is far too complicated for the layperson to grasp, all you really need to know is this: finally, you can rest assured that you'll one day own a chip capable of handling Duke Nukem Forever.

[Via InformationWeek]

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Graphene chip could hit 1,000GHz, make your Core i7 feel totally inadequate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buckyballscarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubeschipCPUfrequency multiplierFrequencyMultipliergraphenemicrochipMITuniversityThu, 26 Mar 2009 08:03:00 EST<![CDATA[South Korean scientists get one step closer to graphene-based gadgets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/south-korean-scientists-get-one-step-closer-to-graphene-based-ga/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/south-korean-scientists-get-one-step-closer-to-graphene-based-ga/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/south-korean-scientists-get-one-step-closer-to-graphene-based-ga/#commentsGraphene-based gadgets are coming, we just know it. Trouble is, we're still a long, long ways away. That said, a team of South Korean scientists are bringing us ever closer to bendable, durable gizmos by creating a graphene film with a diameter of 10 centimeters by "adopting a conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique." Furthermore, the crew's development of what's being called the "world's first circuit patterning technology for the graphene film has the potential to replace silicon-based semiconductors." If this is just way too heavy for your mind to digest on a Friday, here's the skinny: the newfangled manufacturing process has, for all intents and purposes, overcome the limitations of graphene, which could not be made large enough for commercial applications in the past.

[Image courtesy of ScienceFriday, thanks Agustin]

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South Korean scientists get one step closer to graphene-based gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flexibleGraphenekoreananomaterialnanotechnologyscienceSouth KoreaSouthKoreaFri, 16 Jan 2009 22:07:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM claims title of world's fastest graphene transistor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/19/ibm-claims-title-of-worlds-fastest-graphene-transistor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/19/ibm-claims-title-of-worlds-fastest-graphene-transistor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/19/ibm-claims-title-of-worlds-fastest-graphene-transistor/#commentsAs we've seen, plenty of researchers and companies are betting on graphene as being the big thing that will revolutionize transistors and, hence, all manner of electronics, and it looks like IBM is now claiming one of the biggest breakthroughs to date, not to mention the desirable title of "world's fastest graphene transistor." More specifically, IBM researchers have apparently been the first to demonstrate the operation of graphene field-effect transistors at gigahertz frequencies and, apparently even more importantly, they've also established the scaling behavior of the graphene transistors, which they say could eventually lead to the development of terahertz graphene transistors -- or, in other word's, keep Moore's Law around for quite a bit longer than many expected.

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IBM claims title of world's fastest graphene transistor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grapheneibmmoores lawMooresLawtransistorFri, 19 Dec 2008 20:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Graphene-polymer hybrid composites look to oust carbon nanotubes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/28/graphene-polymer-hybrid-composites-look-to-oust-carbon-nanotubes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/28/graphene-polymer-hybrid-composites-look-to-oust-carbon-nanotubes/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/28/graphene-polymer-hybrid-composites-look-to-oust-carbon-nanotubes/#commentsWe're pretty certain the world's big enough for the both of 'em, but a graphene-polymer hybrid developed by a brilliant team from Northwestern University could prove to be a suitable -- and much cheaper -- alternative to polymer-infused carbon nanotubes. Put simply, graphite can be purchased for dollars per pound, while single-walled nanotubes are hundreds of dollars per gram. A breakthrough has found that tough, lightweight materials can be created by "spreading a small amount of graphene, a single-layer flat sheet of carbon atoms, throughout polymers," and these composites could eventually be used to make lighter car and airplane parts (among other things). We won't kid you, there's a lot of technobabble in the read link below, but it's well worth the read if your inner nerd is up for it.

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Graphene-polymer hybrid composites look to oust carbon nanotubes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 May 2008 22:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubescompositesGraphenenanotechnologyNorthwesternPolymerresearchscienceuniversityWed, 28 May 2008 22:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers tout progress towards graphene-based gadgets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/researchers-tout-progress-towards-graphene-based-gadgets/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/researchers-tout-progress-towards-graphene-based-gadgets/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/researchers-tout-progress-towards-graphene-based-gadgets/#commentsWe've heard researchers tout the many benefits of graphene before, and it doesn't look like they're showing any signs of letting up, with a group from the University of Manchester now boasting that they've made even more progress with the material that was created only a few years ago. Specifically, they've apparently found a way to develop graphene-based films (an alternative to the current indium-based options) more cheaply by simply "dissolving" chunks of graphite into graphene and then "spraying the suspension onto a glass surface." What's more, the researchers say that there are only a "few small, incremental steps" remaining before the graphene film is ready for the mass production stage, after which they say we could be seeing graphene-based LCD products within "a few years." As you may recall, this all follows some similar developments from researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, although their method apparently "involved several extra steps," and they weren't making any promises about actual products turning up anytime soon.

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Researchers tout progress towards graphene-based gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 May 2008 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grapheneuniversity of manchesterUniversityOfManchesterThu, 01 May 2008 12:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Graphene could be used in creating solar cells, LCDs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/30/graphene-could-be-used-in-creating-solar-cells-lcds/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/30/graphene-could-be-used-in-creating-solar-cells-lcds/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/30/graphene-could-be-used-in-creating-solar-cells-lcds/#commentsNot to sound alarming or anything, but apparently, we've only got a decade or so before our planet runs clean out of indium. Thankfully for us, a team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Germany are purportedly onto a replacement. For those in the dark, indium is a critical resource in "creating solar cells, LCD and other devices which must have transparent electrodes to carry out their function," but the aforementioned crew has seemingly been able to take graphene ("single layer 2D sheets extracted from the common material graphite") and build an acceptable alternative. The creation is 80-percent transparent to visible light and 100-percent transparent to infrared light, which could actually lead to solar cells capable of soaking up even more energy from more of the EM spectrum. 'Course, there's no telling how close this discovery is to being commercially viable, but we suppose we could always resurrect RPTVs and rely solely on wind farms for renewable energy if necessary, right?

[Via DailyTech, image courtesy of About]

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Graphene could be used in creating solar cells, LCDs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 05:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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