Atom-Thick Balloon Inflated 120
Anonymous Cow writes "Researchers have inflated gas-filled balloons of graphene, the atom-thick carbon material being used to make super-small transistors. Apart from giving them a valid claim to be in the Guinness Book of Records, it could apparently be handy for weighing microscopic objects. 'The sheets were used to seal microscopic wells made in a layer of silica glass, forming a kind of drum head. The membranes were held in place only by the van der Waals forces that make things sticky at microscopic scales. The wells varied from 1 to 100 square micrometers in area and 250 nanometers to 3 micrometers deep.'"
Prick? (Score:1, Interesting)
Do we have an atom thick needle to prick it?
Re:consumer uses (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm not a physicist or whatever engineer that deals with sharp edges of materials, but doesn't the material have to be hard (or have some other property) in order to pose a risk for cutting. For example when a piece of latex, the edges of broken part would be "sharp" (very thin) but since the material is flimsy it would bend before causing damage to other materials. I guess my point is there is a different between thin and sharp.
Re:consumer uses (Score:3, Interesting)
You are right. There is difference between thin and sharp, at least in the context you are putting it in. In Geology it would not matter how thin the edge is of a rock. If it was lower on the Moh's scale than the other material, it would not cut it.
As for the poster that mentioned paper, well the edge of piece of paper is probably harder than human skin.
Re:consumer uses (Score:3, Interesting)
Soft silicon is often used for sex toys, and when very clean and dry they are also very sticky. As soon as you add a few drops of lubricant, that stickiness vanishes. I'd imagine that it would be the same with a graphene condom. Van der Waals forces don't have much range, so a few microns layering of Glycerin should make that a none issue.
Is there any reason why van der Waals forces would be any strong for a one atom thick material than for a million atom thick material? IANAP
ULTIMATE Solar Sail material? (Score:4, Interesting)
Am I the only one to instantly think upon seeing this article that this may be the perfect Solar Sail material? IF they can make this on a LARGE scale (meters or kilometers square), it has got to have close to the lowest weight to surface area ratio of any possible material. Even if it is not reflective ("carbon black"?), it would still work by adsorbing photons (it would still gain momentum). Heating may be a problem but it should also radiate heat equally well.
Micrometeorites and high energy particles would surely put many nano-micro sized holes in it but that should only decrease the efficiency slightly. The overall structure should stay intact even with many many holes because of the immense tensile strength; the article said it could handle several atmosphere's of pressure.
So could this be the ultimate solar sail material (perhaps with a spray on coating of aluminum atoms if the reflectivity is worth the added weight)? With a rigging of carbon nano-tubes it makes theoretical solar sail designs so efficient that perhaps interstellar journeys are practical!