Graphene modified to become non-conducting - tipped to be "the new silicon"

Materials Science Pick of the Day from my RSS feed.

Graphene and a new dimension

A growing number of scientists recognises how graphene, an allotrope of carbon, is the next silicon. But they also know graphene is too conductive to be used in computer chips. Now a research team from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom may have found a way to address this problem. Presented in the journal Science, the study demonstrates how a transistor could indeed be the missing link for graphene to become the next silicon. Their discovery opens a third dimension in graphene research.

Ref:
1. Non conducting Graphene modification

Note

Graphene is a wonder material with many superlatives to its name. It is the thinnest known material in the universe and the strongest ever measured. Its charge carriers exhibit giant intrinsic mobility, have zero effective mass, and can travel for micrometers without scattering at room temperature. Graphene can sustain current densities six orders of magnitude higher than that of copper, shows record thermal conductivity and stiffness, is impermeable to gases, and reconciles such conflicting qualities as brittleness and ductility. Electron transport in graphene is described by a Dirac-like equation, which allows the investigation of relativistic quantum phenomena in a benchtop experiment. This review analyzes recent trends in graphene research and applications, and attempts to identify future directions in which the field is likely to develop. 


Graphene: Status and Prospects by A. K. Geim in Science.

HORIZON 2020, Framework programme for research and innovation.

Pick of the day from my RSS feed.

THE EU COMMISSION prodces your views, your future, your Europe! - A new video every day!

To Date there are:

One Hundred and Four Testimonials Video Link

Sixteen Research Roadmaps for Materials from the Directorate-General for Research Unit G3 Added- value Materials

It is widely recognized that, Materials Science and Technology are advancing fast.  Materials create added value in most products as so are of particular relevance for industry and society.

At the same time, costs must be minimised, sustainability improved, and products rendered more attractive, portable, or usable by making them smaller and lighter, improving functionality etc.

Due to their importance the EU Commission’s  Directorate-General for Research- G3 for Added- value Materials has published a guide-Research Roadmaps for Materials, in order  to focus attention of all interested parties on: the efforts engaged, to encourage further engagement and on the potential rewards for success.   

 -16 Research Road Maps 

 -10 Key Thematic Programmes (Framework programme7. FP7)

-RRM PURPOSE

-Three Key Overview Themes

-Strategies outline (Open and closed)

-Layered approach (4 layer example)

-WHY INVEST?

-11 Supporting chapters

   16 Research Road Maps, each with its specially dedicated web site has been drawn up as follows:

   1     CMA- Complex metallic alloys

   2     DISC-REGENERATION-Novel biofunctional highly porous polymer scaffolds and techniques

controlling angiogenesis for the regeneration and repair of the degenerated intervertebral disc

 3     POLYSACCHARIDES -The European polysaccharide network

 4     EXCELL-Thin Fims Network of Excellence: to overcome the fragmentation of European

research in multifunctional thin films

 5     EXPERTISSUES-Novel therapeutic strategies for tissue engineering of bone

and cartilage using second generation biomimetic scaffolds LINK2 expertissues

 6     FAME & EMMI -Functionalised advanced materials and engineering of hybrids

and ceramics

 7     IDECAT-ERIC ERIC- the European Research Institute of Catalysis 

Integrated design of catalytic nanomaterials for a sustainable production ( IDECAT logo has been corrupted!) Use ERIC Link here

 8     KMM-NoE_ Knowledge-based multicomponent materials for durable

and safe performance

 9       MAGISTER and EIMM-Magnetic scaffolds for in vivo engineering and biomimetic materials

 10     MAGMANet -Molecular approach to nanomagnets and multifunctional materials

 11     METAMORPHOSE-Metamaterials organized for radio, millimeter wave, and photonic

superlattice engineering

 12     MIND-Multi-functional and integrated piezoelectric devices

 13     NANOFUN-POLY _Nanostructured and functional polymer-based materials and

nanocomposites

 14    NANOMEMPRO-Expanding membrane macroscale applications by exploring

nanoscale material properties LINK 2

 15     ONE-P_Organic nanomaterials for electronics and photonics: design,

synthesis, characterization, processing, fabrication and applications

 16     SOFTCOMP-Soft matter composites – an approach to nanoscale functional

material

Key Thematic Programmes (FP7):

•  Theme 1      Health

•   Theme 2       Food, agriculture and fisheries, and  biotechnology

•   Theme 3       Information and communications  technologies (ICT)

•   Theme 4       Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production  technologies (NMP)

•   Theme 5       Energy

•   Theme 6       Environment (including climate change)

•   Theme 7      Transport (including aeronautics)

•   Theme 8       Socio-economic sciences and the humanities

•   Theme 9       Space

•   Theme 10    Security

NMP underpins progress in virtually all other above mentioned Themes. The materials research

done tries to find answers to questions such as:

•   How can products and processes be improved?

•   Are there better alternative materials and process?

•   How can new materials reduce the number of components and production steps?

•   What is the impact of materials on cost, quality, safety, consumer experience and regulatory

compliance?

•   How can maximum added value be derived from materials? Can we use fewer or local materials and suppliers?

•   Which is the most sustainable material in terms of energy and primary resource consumption?

New materials can make crucial differences in many products. Multi-application materials form

a generic, horizontal, cross-cutting field with actors in many different industrial sectors.

The Nano Materials Production (NMP) theme develops both multi-application materials, and materials for targeted applications in all FP7 Thematic Areas, notably Energy, Environment, Health, ICT and Transport.

RRM PURPOSE

Risking repletion, Research Road Maps (RRM) arise from the dialogue between scientists and industrialists.

Research Road Maps (RRM) have the potential to offer great added value in guiding the activities undertaken by all stakeholders: scientists, industries, venture capitalists, research managers, etc.

In addition, if based on economic and societal needs, they can be of great value in priority-setting interactions with public administrations at national and European level.

Research road mapping involves identifying scientific and technological challenges related to the socio-economic and industrial trends expected for the coming decade(s). An analysis of existing RRMs shows that they are generally organised around three ’parameters’:

Three Key Overview Themes

•   Thematic areas/economic and societal challenges, from which common drivers for materials innovation can be derived and which have cross-sector relevance such as the FP7 Themes: Energy, Environment,…

•   Horizontal and vertical classes: horizontal classes are cross-cutting technologies e.g. modelling, metrology and standards, process technologies, manufacturing. Examples of vertical classes are structural, functional, multi-functional and bio-materials.

•   Market industry sectors e.g. aerospace, transport, healthcare, packaging, textiles, construction.

Strategies outline.

The strategies followed by roadmap producers vary from closed to open.

In closed strategies, the desired end-result is chosen and means are defined to reach this goal.

Such RRMs can easily be up-dated at regular intervals. Closed roadmaps tend to be highly

predictive constructions that are adapted to the needs of markets and activities.

Open Strategies start from a good knowledge of the state-of-the-art in a specific field of activity,

then extrapolate the developments of this activity over time. Open roadmaps may be fragile

constructions, low on prediction and usually involving accompanying blue-sky research.

A RRM could consist of 4 layers and 11 supporting chapters

First layer 

FP Theme (Health, Energy, Environment, ICT,…) supported by the NMP Programme

Second layer

Applications/systems supporting the Theme and enabled by new materials

Third layer

Materials and/or processes enabling the applications/systems

Fourth layer 

Research necessary to create the materials.

WHY INVEST?

Supporting chapters justify why scientists, industry or funding agencies should invest in these research areas.

11 Supporting chapters are listed as follows:

•   Potential application domains/lead market sector for new material scientific and technological results.

•   Context, including current bottlenecks.

•   Motivation.

•   Key performance figures (targets).

•   Activity in- and dynamics of- the field, including the patent landscape.

•   References.

•   Time-line (for Research & Development and applications).

•   Dependencies/conditions to be addressed (regulations, standardisation).

•   Prioritisation for different (regional, national, European) funding schemes.

•   Technology transfer possibilities and necessary education.

•  Conclusions and recommendations.

REFERENCES

Research Roadmaps for Materials, Ed. Anne de Baas

Directorate-General for Research

Directorate G — Industrial Technologies

Unit G.3 — Value-added Materials

Ed. Anne de Baas

European Commission

EUR 24210 — Research Road Mapping in Materials 

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union

2010 — 24 pp. — 17.6 x 25 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-14485-1

doi: 10.2777/87000

Renewable Energy _ The Scottish Model_ Will Scotland again become a main powerhouse for UK and EU?

As the debate over nuclear energy rages in France, there are encouraging signs from Northern Europe, Scotland in this case, what I recognised early as "The Scottish Model".

Learning, as blogger, that the much desired transition  by all parties from a "Non-Renewable Energy terminal illness" to a "Renewable Energy Long-life" - As long as the sun shines"- was  going to be an incredible struggle cf. The excellent and free ebook "Without hot Air" by Prof. D. MacKey, Univ of Cambridge. I placed my hopes in what I called The Scottish Model, which at a rapid glance appeared to have a fair amount of renewable sources, Wind, wave, hydro, and to a lessor extent Solar: PV, heating, highly qualified people through a strong University system and a tradition of engineering.  Well if recent government sources are to be trusted my hunch, my intuition appears to be well founded.

Demonstration:

To quote Napoleon Boneparte (roughly)  a graph, a picture, a drawing is worth a long discours:

Source: DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change)

Note 1 - The Scottish Government has announced a more challenging 2020 target for this indicator - the target is now 100% of gross electricity consumed in Scotland to come from renewable sources by 2020, WOW!

RELATED POSTS:

=> Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources Ranked_Review of solutions to global warming, air pollution, energy security_Information Overload Mastered

=> Solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security reviewed _Parametres used to classify and rank_Follows previous post

=> Life-Cycle Analysis of Nuclear Fuel Route_Cradle-to-Grave, GHG-CO2equivalent emissions_Nuclear Inspections

REFERENCE
Scottish Government_ performance indicators_electricity

FREE INSTITUTE of MATERIALS, MINERALS & MINING_IOM3 AWARD WINNING PEER REVIEW PAPERS

FREE AWARD WINNING PAPERS_NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED

The winners of the IOM3 awards for published work have now been announced. To celebrate we are making each winning article free to download for the next 6 weeks! Follow the links below: Alan Glanvill AwardEvaluation of replication properties on moulded surface by ultrasonic injection moulding system , Plastics, Rubber and Composites, Vol 39, No 7, September 2010, A Sato, H Sakaguchi, H Ito and K Koyama Composite AwardUnidirectional composite in mechanical fatigue: Modelling debond growth from fibre breaks , Plastics, Rubber and Composites, Vol 39, No 3-5, June 2010, A Pupurs and J Varna
Guy Bengough AwardLocalised corrosion of heat treated alloys  Part 1  and Part 2 , Corrosion Engineering Science and Technology, Vol 45, No 2, April 2010, G Tormoen, N Sridharand A Anderko
Billiton Gold MedalNickel, copper and cobalt distributions and equilibria in Anglo Platinum furnace slags , Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy (Trans IMM C), Vol 119, No 2, 2010, L Andrews andP C Pistorius  Mann Redmayne Award Identifying gold losses through application of SIMS technology , Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy (Trans IMM C), Vol 119, No 4, 2010, N Chapman, K Prince, P Evans, F Radke, P Hayward and N Lester
Douglas Hay AwardMonitoring open stope caving at Goldex Mine , Mining Technology (Trans IMM A), Vol 119, No 3, pp 142-150, 2010,  M R Hudyma, P Frenette and I Leslie
Nominations for the 2012 awards are open until 12th December 2011. For more information on how to nominate and a description of each award, please visit the IOM3 website .
If your institution does not yet subscribe to these journals, why not suggest a free trial? Institutions can trial the Materials Science & Engineering Collection for up to 6 months, completely free of charge!  Visit the Librarians Free trial page  now! CONTACT ALSO Trustworthy Publisher Maney Press for more information on Materials Science and Engineering Publication Jennifer Walshaw (j.walshaw) Maney.Co.UK

Flat-panel electronic displays: a triumph of physics, chemistry and engineering

Flat-panel electronic displays: a triumph of physics, chemistry and engineering has been added to my video wall and copied to this post. The full paper doi: 10.1098/rsta.2009.0247, 13 March 2010 vol. 368 no. 1914 1027-1082 is one of 12 published on open access in the famous Royal Society publication, Phil Trans A, for mathematical, physical and engineering sciences.

Flat-panel electronic displays: a triumph of physics, chemistry and engineering_Data Supplement - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Conversations-on-Innovations: USA's National Center for Manufacturing Sciences practises what many already believe "that collaboration is innovation's incubator"

Conversations-on-Innovations: USA's National Center for Manufacturing Sciences practises what many already believe "that collaboration is innovation's incubator"