Nanowiggles: graphene nanomaterials with 'tunable functionality in electronics'

Cue lawsuit from The Wiggles in 3... 2.... Just kidding. No one sues scientists, right? Right? Courtroom drama aside, gurus from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have just uncovered what's apt to be the most germane graphene discovery in our lifetime. Or, at least 2012. The goal here is to actively work on an alternative to silicon-based technologies, enabling our gizmos to continue getting slimmer and slimmer without losing core functionality. Pure graphene isn't a semiconductor, but it can be altered to display "exceptional electrical behavior." The latest breakthrough is cutely known as graphene nanowiggles, describing the discovery that "graphitic nanoribbons can be segmented into several different surface structures." According to the release just after the break, practical applications haven't been hammered out just yet, but there's plenty of promise. 'Course, we've heard "promise" and "graphene" in the same sentences for eons, but hopefully the whole "wiggle" thing will give these guys a leg-up.

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Nanowiggles: graphene nanomaterials with 'tunable functionality in electronics' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/nanowiggles-graphene-nanomaterials-smaller-electronics/

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