TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Directory
  • Smart Studio
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • DSP Leaders
  • Great Telco Debate
    • |
    • Follow
    • |
    • Subscribe
  • |
  • More
  • Webcasts
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • Great Telco Debate
  • |
  • Follow TelecomTV
  • |
    • Subscribe
    • |
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Follow TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Devices

Devices

Hoorah! Wallace was right! Soon we'll all be wearing techno-trousers

Martyn Warwick
By Martyn Warwick

Apr 9, 2014

© Aardman Animations

© Aardman Animations

In Korea, a combined team of scientists from the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and Sungkyunkwan University of Seoul have published details of breakthrough research into a methodology, that, it is claimed, may lead to the easy and inexpensive commercial manufacture of "large area" graphene; big sheets of the so-called 'wonder material' that could revolutionise all aspects of electronic communications and devices.

In a paper published in the current issue of the prestigious journal "Science", the team explains how "wafer-scale growth of wrinkle-free, single-crystal monolayer graphene on silicon wafer using a hydrogen-terminated germanium buffer layer"may be achieved. Quite.

As any fule kno, graphene is "a 2-dimensional, crystalline allotrope of carbon" and "graphene can be described as a one-atom thick layer of graphite". What's more, "high-quality graphene is strong, light, almost transparent and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Its interactions with other materials and with light and its inherently two-dimensional nature produce unique properties, such as the bipolar transistor effect, ballistic transport of charges and large quantum oscillations." As Schrödinger's cat found out more than once, possibly...

or not as the case may be.

Graphene is widely touted as stronger, lighter more adaptable and more durable alternative to the silicon that still sits at the heart of global computing and communications. Indeed it is tougher more than 100 times tougher than the toughest steel, is flexible, light and conducts heat and electricity very well. It is said that it will be ideal for "wearable" technology because graphene is also almost transparent. It absorbs a mere 2.3 per cent of light striking it, regardless of what the wavelength of that light may be.

In a statement the SAIT laboratory writes, "This is one of the most significant breakthroughs in graphene research in history. We expect this discovery to accelerate the commercialisation of graphene, which could unlock the next era of consumer electronic technology."

Meanwhile, Samsung says, "In the past, researchers have found that multi-crystal synthesis – the process of synthesising small graphene particles to produce large-area graphene – deteriorated the electric and mechanical properties of the material, limiting its application range and making it difficult to commercialise, The new method repeatedly synthesises single crystal graphene on the current semiconductor wafer scale."

Samsung and Sungkyunkwan University have been collaborating in nano research for the past eight years and Samsung says the new approach to graphene production is "a testament to the strengths of the two institutions, who together were able to successfully achieve results that could become a driver of next-generation technology."

It is hardly surprising then that Samsung has already filed a series of patent applications pertaining to the use of graphene across a wide range of mobile devices. Nokia is known to have done the same, as has Apple, and many other companies will have followed suit although they are coy about admitting to having done so.

Now, where's me see-through techno-trousers, Gromit?

Related Topics
  • 6G R&I,
  • Analysis & Opinion,
  • Devices,
  • News

More Like This

Coronavirus

O2 helps NHS hit vaccinations milestone with connected solutions

Feb 19, 2021

Digital Platforms & Services

Google Glass returns to help with the lockdown

Oct 15, 2020

Digital Platforms & Services

UK adults purchased up to 21 million new digital devices during lockdown

Aug 25, 2020

Coronavirus

Lenovo is booming: Strong growth overcomes challenging global environment

Aug 13, 2020

Coronavirus

Remote working leads to record buying of notebooks by enterprises in 2Q20, reports IDC India

Aug 13, 2020

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

On-demand Workshop: How to build your cloud native 5G core platform

16:48

The case for mmWave in 5G networks

25:55

The Private Mobility Opportunity for Enterprises

12:04

VMware learnings from DISH 5G rollout

  • TelecomTV
  • Decisive Media

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media

Menu
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Directory
  • Smart Studio
 
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • Events
  • About Us
Our Brands
  • TelecomTV Tracker
  • TelecomTV Perspectives
  • DSP Leaders
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • The Great Telco Debate
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070

Request a Media Pack

Follow
  • © Decisive Media Limited 2021. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Legal Notices