Posted: Nov 02, 2016 | |
Diamond nanothread: Versatile new material could prove priceless for manufacturing(Nanowerk News) Would you dress in diamond nanothreads? It's not as far-fetched as you might think. And you'll have a Brisbane-based carbon chemist and engineer to thank for it. |
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QUT's Dr Haifei Zhan is leading a global effort to work out how many ways humanity can use a newly-invented material with enormous potential - diamond nanothread (DNT). | |
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This is QUT's Dr Haifei Zhan with model of diamond nanothread. | |
First created by Pennsylvania State University last year, one-dimensional DNT is similar to carbon nanotubes, hollow cylindrical tubes 10,000 times smaller than human hair, stronger than steel - but brittle. | |
"DNT, by comparison, is even thinner, incorporating kinks of hydrogen in the carbon's hollow structure, called Stone-Wale (SW) transformation defects, which I've discovered reduces brittleness and adds flexibility," said Dr Zhan, from QUT's School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering. | |
"That structure makes DNT a great candidate for a range of uses. It's possible DNT may become as ubiquitous a plastic in the future, used in everything from clothing to cars. | |
"I feel very lucky to have this chance to study a new material in depth - blue-sky applied research opportunities like this are rare." | |
DNT does not look like a rock diamond. Rather, its name refers to the way the carbon atoms are packed together, similar to diamond, giving it its phenomenal strength. | |
Dr Zhan has been modelling the properties of DNT since it was invented, using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations and high-performance computing. | |
He was the first to realise the SW defects were the key to DNT's versatility. | |
"While both carbon nanotubes and DNT have great potential, the more I model DNT properties, the more it looks to be a superior material," Dr Zhan said. | |
"The SW defects give DNT a flexibility that rigid carbon nanotubes can't replicate - think of it as the difference between sewing with uncooked spaghetti and cooked spaghetti. | |
"My simulations have shown that the SW defects act like hinges, connecting straight sections of DNT. And by changing the spacing of those defects, we can a change - or tune - the flexibility of the DNT." | |
That research is published in the peer-reviewed publication Nanoscale ("The morphology and temperature dependent tensile properties of diamond nanothreads"). | |
Dr Zhan has also published a number of other results from his DNT-modelling research: | |
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"Further modelling is needed to fully investigate all the properties of DNT. However, I am excited about the potential range of applications it could be used for, given we've proven we can control its flexibility, conductivity and strength," Dr Zhang said. | |
"Carbon is the most abundant element on the planet. It's a renewable resource, so the cost of the raw material is extremely low. | |
"Once the manufacturing costs are viable, DNT would likely be used primarily in mechanical applications, combined with other materials to make ultra-strong, light-weight composites and components - such as plane fuselages. | |
"I plan to test how DNT performs as a two-dimensional networked structure - a sheet or layer - for potential use in flexible electronics and screens. | |
"I also want to test is viability as a fibre for textiles or rope, from bullet-proof vests and hard-wearing work gear to a replacement for steel cables in bridge construction. | |
"There's already talk in the global carbon community of DNT being the best candidate yet for building a space elevator. It would be a real honour if my research contributed to the development of DNTs for that purpose." |
Source: Queensland University of Technology | |
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