Technical Application's Background
Task One: Prepare a 200 to 300-word history about the National Critical Technology (NCT) technical application your team has selected to solve a local or national problem.
Although studies of the super material graphene may have started as early as the 1940’s, it was not until the 1970’s that the idea became well-known in the scientific community. In the late 1940’s, scientists by the name of Reuss and Vogt were able to utilize electron microscopy to view a single layer a graphite, later named graphene.
Two scientists named Andre and Kostya were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics on 2010 for their work with graphene. After removing some flakes of graphene from a larger portion of it via tape, they realized that some flakes were thinner than others, and by repeating the process of removing flakes of graphene from a larger portion, they were able to isolate a single-atom-thick layer of graphene.
In 2014, a group of scientists published their research about how graphene could be obtained using liquid shear exfoliation. In order to synthesize graphene using this method, one must add powdered graphite to a mixture of liquids of special chemical properties and mix them at high speeds until the local shear rate increases past 10,000 Hz.
Although liquid shear exfoliation is a new and advanced method for obtaining graphene, high energies are required for the mixer to reach high speeds. High energy being required is, in fact, a common problem, and when high energies are not required, the graphene ends up containing impurities such as if it is oxidized. This serves as one reason why graphene is such a hot topic in contemporary chemistry and physics.
Task Two: Cite three detailed examples of research done in the past 3 to 5 years which focused on the NCT technical application your team selected. Include: the funding agency, the principal investigator's name, and the institution where the research is or was being conducted.
In 2017, the Technical University of Munich, led by Professor Wilhelm Auwärter, conducted research on porphyrin (the material that absorbs light in photosynthesis and conveys oxygen in hemoglobin) and how it can work together with graphene. They were able to successfully bond graphene and porphyrin, and they even developed a process to do repeatedly. The bonded graphene-porphyrin combination can be used in many ways, such as in molecular electronics and sensors.
Plataforma SINC. (2017, January 5). How porphyrin may enhance graphene. Retrieved February 14, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170105100941.htm
In 2016, a collaborative team of researchers at the University of Tokyo, in partnership with Tohoku University, conducted research on the conductive properties of calcium-intercalated graphene bilayer sheets. They discovered that, when dropped to a temperature of 4 K or lower, the sheets have almost no resistance, which points to the possibility of superconductivity. This could be used in future high speed electronics.
Tohoku University. (2016, February 16). Graphene becomes superconductive: Electrons with 'no mass' flow with 'no resistance'. Retrieved February 14, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160216090342.htm
In 2016, researchers from Ohio State University discovered that lasers can be used to increase the conductivity of graphene sheets, making them ideal for circuitry. Prior to this discovery, graphene had to be treated chemically and thermally before it could be used, which often damaged the sheets. Now, however, printing on graphene is easy and can be done anywhere with the correct setup.
Iowa State University. (2016, September 1). Printed graphene treated with lasers to enable 'paper electronics'. Retrieved February 14, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160901152112.htm
Task Three: Based on the research your team has done, explain how the NCT application chosen has advanced scientific knowledge.
Thin films have advanced scientific knowledge by manufacturing electronics and solar cells with interesting properties. By use of chemical vapor deposition, single layers of atoms are deposited on the substrate at a time. Thin films are used in solar cells to reduce the amount of active material in the cell thereby reducing the cost of solar cells.
Although studies of the super material graphene may have started as early as the 1940’s, it was not until the 1970’s that the idea became well-known in the scientific community. In the late 1940’s, scientists by the name of Reuss and Vogt were able to utilize electron microscopy to view a single layer a graphite, later named graphene.
Two scientists named Andre and Kostya were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics on 2010 for their work with graphene. After removing some flakes of graphene from a larger portion of it via tape, they realized that some flakes were thinner than others, and by repeating the process of removing flakes of graphene from a larger portion, they were able to isolate a single-atom-thick layer of graphene.
In 2014, a group of scientists published their research about how graphene could be obtained using liquid shear exfoliation. In order to synthesize graphene using this method, one must add powdered graphite to a mixture of liquids of special chemical properties and mix them at high speeds until the local shear rate increases past 10,000 Hz.
Although liquid shear exfoliation is a new and advanced method for obtaining graphene, high energies are required for the mixer to reach high speeds. High energy being required is, in fact, a common problem, and when high energies are not required, the graphene ends up containing impurities such as if it is oxidized. This serves as one reason why graphene is such a hot topic in contemporary chemistry and physics.
Task Two: Cite three detailed examples of research done in the past 3 to 5 years which focused on the NCT technical application your team selected. Include: the funding agency, the principal investigator's name, and the institution where the research is or was being conducted.
In 2017, the Technical University of Munich, led by Professor Wilhelm Auwärter, conducted research on porphyrin (the material that absorbs light in photosynthesis and conveys oxygen in hemoglobin) and how it can work together with graphene. They were able to successfully bond graphene and porphyrin, and they even developed a process to do repeatedly. The bonded graphene-porphyrin combination can be used in many ways, such as in molecular electronics and sensors.
Plataforma SINC. (2017, January 5). How porphyrin may enhance graphene. Retrieved February 14, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170105100941.htm
In 2016, a collaborative team of researchers at the University of Tokyo, in partnership with Tohoku University, conducted research on the conductive properties of calcium-intercalated graphene bilayer sheets. They discovered that, when dropped to a temperature of 4 K or lower, the sheets have almost no resistance, which points to the possibility of superconductivity. This could be used in future high speed electronics.
Tohoku University. (2016, February 16). Graphene becomes superconductive: Electrons with 'no mass' flow with 'no resistance'. Retrieved February 14, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160216090342.htm
In 2016, researchers from Ohio State University discovered that lasers can be used to increase the conductivity of graphene sheets, making them ideal for circuitry. Prior to this discovery, graphene had to be treated chemically and thermally before it could be used, which often damaged the sheets. Now, however, printing on graphene is easy and can be done anywhere with the correct setup.
Iowa State University. (2016, September 1). Printed graphene treated with lasers to enable 'paper electronics'. Retrieved February 14, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160901152112.htm
Task Three: Based on the research your team has done, explain how the NCT application chosen has advanced scientific knowledge.
Thin films have advanced scientific knowledge by manufacturing electronics and solar cells with interesting properties. By use of chemical vapor deposition, single layers of atoms are deposited on the substrate at a time. Thin films are used in solar cells to reduce the amount of active material in the cell thereby reducing the cost of solar cells.