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The notion of dropping molecules one at a time blows my mind. It's the kind of thing that seemingly should be able to create materials with properties that on

The notion of dropping molecules one at a time blows my mind. It's the kind of thing that seemingly should be able to create materials with properties that only sci-fi would dare to imagine today. They aren't yet to the point of being able to completely direct these molecules, nor would they know exactly where to direct them, but someday we will be able to.

peterburkimsher 7y ago
Building a tetrahedron of molecules sounds less like manipulating "glass" than growing a crystal. I feel like the fractal properties of crystals could be used to grow a very precise mirror that would provide the constructive interference this mirror needs. Instead of a fluid, it would be a single unit, and the molecules would be trying to arrange themselves into shape. I'm no expert though, and I have no idea whether the physics allows it. The technology already exists in the semiconductor industry for making extremely pure silicon wafers. Each wafer is actually a slice of a single gigantic silicon crystal. [1] If that could be used with a transparent material, I think it could be a decent alternative to glass. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monocrystalline_silicon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monocrystalline_silicon
- noir_lord 7y ago
  Rolls Royce makes its turbine blades out of a single perfect crystal in a similar way, it’s the only way to achieve the strength and heat resistance they need with the material they use. https://www.theengineer.co.uk/rolls-royce-single-crystal-turbine-blade/ https://www.theengineer.co.uk/rolls-royce-single-crystal-tur...
lmilcin 7y ago
This is actually simple. One by one is how crystals grow. You don't cool down liquid silica and it suddenly becomes crystal. Instead it has a front where silica atoms find a good spot which creates more spots. Growing amorphous substance would happen largely the same way. The requirements for the mirror and the behaviour of glass are much more exciting to me.
TrainedMonkey 7y ago
If you think this is cool, watch this video. I've linked a relevant to the comment portion, but entire video is amazing: https://youtu.be/NGFhc8R_uO4?t=2065 https://youtu.be/NGFhc8R_uO4?t=2065 P.S. if anyone knows a more modern version of this talk, I would love to see it.

peterburkimsher 7y ago

Building a tetrahedron of molecules sounds less like manipulating "glass" than growing a crystal. I feel like the fractal properties of crystals could be used to grow a very precise mirror that would provide the constructive interference this mirror needs. Instead of a fluid, it would be a single unit, and the molecules would be trying to arrange themselves into shape. I'm no expert though, and I have no idea whether the physics allows it. The technology already exists in the semiconductor industry for making extremely pure silicon wafers. Each wafer is actually a slice of a single gigantic silicon crystal. [1] If that could be used with a transparent material, I think it could be a decent alternative to glass. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monocrystalline_silicon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monocrystalline_silicon

noir_lord 7y ago
Rolls Royce makes its turbine blades out of a single perfect crystal in a similar way, it’s the only way to achieve the strength and heat resistance they need with the material they use. https://www.theengineer.co.uk/rolls-royce-single-crystal-turbine-blade/ https://www.theengineer.co.uk/rolls-royce-single-crystal-tur...

lmilcin 7y ago

This is actually simple. One by one is how crystals grow. You don't cool down liquid silica and it suddenly becomes crystal. Instead it has a front where silica atoms find a good spot which creates more spots. Growing amorphous substance would happen largely the same way. The requirements for the mirror and the behaviour of glass are much more exciting to me.

TrainedMonkey 7y ago

If you think this is cool, watch this video. I've linked a relevant to the comment portion, but entire video is amazing: https://youtu.be/NGFhc8R_uO4?t=2065 https://youtu.be/NGFhc8R_uO4?t=2065 P.S. if anyone knows a more modern version of this talk, I would love to see it.