Diamond Nanotubes Created 129
raxxy writes to tell us that researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne Nation Laboratory have taken the next step in nano development. Combining the process for 'growing' diamonds and the latest in carbon nanotubes has given birth to a diamond-nanotube composite. From the article: "Diamond has its drawbacks, however. Diamond is a brittle material and is normally not electrically conducting. Nanotubes, on the other hand, are incredibly strong and are also great electrical conductors, but harnessing these attributes into real materials has proved elusive. By integrating these two novel forms of carbon together at the nanoscale a new material is produced that combines the material properties of both diamond and nanotubes."
From TFA (Score:2, Informative)
not so [slashdot.org] elusive [worldchanging.com] it would seem.
Re:You knew it was coming... (DUPE!) (Score:2, Informative)
Re:You knew it was coming... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Neal Stephenson (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Neal Stephenson (Score:3, Informative)
It is an open question whether the new vapor deposition diamonds will continue to be identified, though for now they can.
Why this technology is essential (Score:3, Informative)
With nanotubes, near-superconducting transmission lines could be built which would enable cloudly areas to reap the benefits of solar electric power from deserts and wind power from the plains.
References:
http://smalley.rice.edu/ [rice.edu] (see associated video lecture.)