Carbon Magnets At Room Temperature 213
Bolie writes: "Trying to make high temperature super conductors yielded an unexpected result. The pure carbon bucky ball material was put under pressure to make sheets. That worked. Picture microscopic bubble pack. But the result was a sheet that was magnetic at room temperature. It has not escaped the attention of the discoverer, Tatiana Makarova, that this might be useful for a non-metallic computer memory. The material is also lighter than metals, flexible and transparent. Lasers anyone?"
Yay Buckyball Experiments (Score:5, Interesting)
Once again it goes to show that even though we're trying to do the right thing in the lab, sometimes bad things happen, but typically we're able to come out with something in the experiment that is actually worthwhile. Crazy how that works eh?
Nonetheless, there is some pretty cool research at the University of Virginia in bucky ball related research. If anyone is interested, check out http://www.phys.virginia.edu
Re:Yay Buckyball Experiments (Score:2, Interesting)
These molecules were named right (fullerenes) doubly: first for their resemblance to Bucky's famous dome structures, and second for their persistent versatility -- who expected non-metallic magnetism? or superconductivity?
FAQ [netaxs.com] Buckminster Fuller Institute [bfi.org]Long live Bucky's spirit!
Carbon chemistry (Score:4, Interesting)
The interesting thing about buckyballs is that their bonding is somewhat of a cross between the two: it is a polyaromatic (like graphite) but it is a molecular solid (similar to, but not exactly like, diamond).
Buckyballs (Score:3, Interesting)
At the risk of slashdotting them... (Score:5, Interesting)
- US National Labs rotating Java model [ornl.gov] (doesn't show the bonds though).
- loads of static models at Rice.edu [rice.edu].
Nice one Mr.Buckminster...Fast writes, slow reads? (Score:2, Interesting)
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Another possibility (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Here , Let me Explain (Score:2, Interesting)
I was a bit confused, when I could see it in the browser, but not in the source. Notepad solved that little problem.
Lighter Magnets == Better Power source? (Score:2, Interesting)
so that means... (Score:2, Interesting)
my guess is that I will start getting paid to use the ram.
Great to see Unexpected Results (Score:3, Interesting)
It is absolutely amazing to see something like this happening. Upon entry on a research program most science programs I knew required the applicant to fill-in a form stating:
- what the project will be
- budget requirements
- chronogram
- publishing chronogram
- what the results will be
Now I wonder how many years of tenure one needs to be allowed to have unexpected results... *grin*Flat panel displays? (Score:2, Interesting)
Could this technology be used to develop inexpensive flat panel displays? It sounds like it could possibly be ideal. Transparent, flexible, magnetic. I know that there was some talk recently about the possibility of using carbon nanotubes in a display device. Now if they could just get past the mass production barrier, things could be looking very good.
From what I understand, mass production shouldn't be too much of a problem either. First of all, I always thought that carbon nanotubes were a lot harder to produce than buckyballs. Second of all, Dr. Smalley has been claiming loudly that his company will be able to mass produce nanotubes in the very near future.
What do you think? Anyone have any info. on this?