Unzipping Nanotubes Makes Superfast Electronics

Al writes "Two research groups have found a way to unzip carbon nanotubes to create nanoribbons of graphene — a material that has shown great promise for use as nanoscale transistors, but which has proven difficult to manufacture previously. A team led by James Tour, a professor of chemistry and computer science at Rice University, and another led by Hongjie Dai, a professor of chemistry at Stanford University, both figured out ways to slice carbon nanotubes open to create the nanoribbons. The Stanford team was funded by Intel, and the Rice group is in talks with several companies about commercializing their approach."

What are "ribbens"?

[xerxesVII]

I rtfa and I saw mention of nanoribbons, but nothing about nanoribbens. Obviously Al doesn't know what he's talking about since he's just making up new words on the fly.

Based on those easy-to-make nanotubes...?

[tjstork]

It's really funny, but it seemed like the nanotubes themselves were pretty hard to make not too long ago. Then, as of last year, I find they are down to $150/kg and are working their way into all sorts of consumer applications.

Re:Now for the application

[plague911]

"So now we have a method to bulk-produce graphene; but do we have a way to implement it in devices? " No, no we don't. They found a RELATIVLY easy way to make carbon nanoribbons from nanotubes. Nanotubes are still incredibly hard to make. âoe90wt% are still priced well below our competition at $150 per gram or $75,000 per KG.â Carbon nanotubes. The third most expensive substance per weight that I know of. (preceded by nanoribbons and than anti matter)

Re:Now for the application

[voidphoenix]

Californium: $60M/g or $60B/kg
Wikipedia: Transuranium element [wikipedia.org]