3 ms·
Yale scientists make a borophene breakthrough
- Micrococonut 8y agoNot a very valuable comment, but I found the line "...we can now think about stabilizing for literally numerous applications" was hilarious.
- apo 8y agoThis quote from a different article contrasts the structure of borophene with graphene: "Borophene is structurally similar to graphene, with a hexagonal network made of boron (instead of carbon) atoms on each of the six vertices defining the hexagon," said Bozovic. "However, borophene is different in that it periodically has an extra boron atom in the center of the hexagon. The crystal structure tends to be theoretically stable when about four out of every five center positions are occupied and one is vacant." [There are some diagrams that might help here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borophene) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borophene)] Then later: Because there are several possible distributions of vacancies on the surface, various crystal structures of borophene can emerge. This study also showed how the structure of borophene can be modified by changing the substrate and, in some cases, the temperature or deposition rate. https://phys.org/news/2018-12-borophene-advances-d-materials-platform.html https://phys.org/news/2018-12-borophene-advances-d-materials... Likely short-term studies include superconductivity: Bozovic is particularly excited to test whether borophene can be made superconducting. Some theorists have speculated that its unusual electronic structure may even open a path to lossless transmission of electricity at room temperature, as opposed to the ultracold temperatures usually required for superconductivity. Graphene has been a hot topic in superconductivity recently: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18335400 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18335400
- RangerScience 8y agoIs there a difference between "lossless transmission of electricity" and "superconductivity"?
- ravar 8y agoBasically no.
- AstralStorm 8y agoYes, superconductivity also involves magnetic field so it is vastly more useful than just lossless transfer of electricity. Specifically, superconducting electromagnets. Users include particle accelerators, highest end chromatography, MRI and magnetic levitation.
- cultofmetatron 8y agoThe transmission of electricity itself generates a magnetic field. for an electron moving in a particular direction, a 90-degree magnetic force is emitted. Try winding some copper around a nail and connecting the wires to a battery. You'll be able to pick up paperclips. Superconductivity allows current levels to get high enough to generate massive magnetic fields so I don't think there's a difference. but then I'm no particle physisict
- rbanffy 8y agoI think AstralStorm was referring to flux pinning.
- adrianmonk 8y agoI think, in the context of that sentence, it is intended to be two different ways of saying the same thing. Instead of just saying superconductivity twice, they are trying to be concise by shoehorning the application of superconductivity into the same sentence.