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Noticia Científica I

Carbon nanotubes, a clear example of the nano-revolution

Carbon nanotubes (discovered in 1991), are a clear example of what the transformation of nanoscience into nanotechnology has meant. A single-wall carbon nanotube for example, presents an external diameter of only 1-2 nanometres. To form an idea of what these magnitudes mean, we would have to imagine how small a piece of paper like a post-it would look if observed from the other side of the world. And precisely these tiny dimensions, together with their chemical structure, composed solely of carbon atoms, are what make their physical properties so spectacular. For example, with those tiny dimensions, they conduct more electricity than a copper cable. This means it should be possible to make electric cables so small as to be invisible to the naked eye, and to say good-bye to electricity pylons littering the landscape. Another simple example is that it is capable of storing 1,000 times more energy than conventional sources of energy .

In the laboratory of Dr. Félix Zamora, of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid various techniques are being used to grow and characterise properties of carbon nanotubes (Mark C. Strus et al., 2009; Vicente López et al. 2009; Vicente López et al. 2009) and graphene sheets.

However, Vicente López, a member of Dr. Zamora's group, has always borne in mind that these carbon forms have been present since the origins of the earth, and it is only after the development of a technology powerful enough to observe them ( electronic transmission microscopy, atomic force microscopy AFM) that it has become clear what mankind is capable of devising with carbon nanotubes in terms of real, useful applications for today's society.

Based on this last-named principle, these researchers together with lecturers Tomás Torres and Julio Gómez decided to launch a company named Nanoinnova SL, dedicated to the sale of nanostructures based on carbon, other nanomaterials and scientific instrumentation in the field of nanoscience. Its aim is to assist other research groups with their experiments in this field, or to put it another way, to make the transfer from nanoscience to nanotechnology more effective in order to transfer the advances to society. This initiative has been supported by the UAM's Centre for Entrepreneurial Initiatives (CIADE), and the university holds shares in the company through its FGUAM Foundation. The viability in the near future of eagerly awaited scientific advances in such varied fields as medicine (treatments for cancer), new materials (composites for safer and more intelligent buildings) and textiles (new fabrics that do not require washing or laborious ironing, etc.) will depend on how effective this transfer is. And this in turn will depend on how much risk we are prepared to take and how much faith we are disposed to place in the new nanotechnology revolution, which will probably surpass the age of the Internet in its effects.

It is obvious that society is advancing and coming to terms with new technology faster and faster. These researchers are convinced that technology and industry, when working together, are the window to the future of development, and that only those who are first on the scene will benefit from their vision. In this regard, nanotechnology is only one path, one market among many others, and Nanoinnova involves the marketing of the results of experiments, the fruit of ideas, human efforts and experimental attempts that have been made over the past ten years, and that will continue to be made by the laboratories of lecturers Julio Gómez (UAM), Tomás Torres (UAM) and Félix Zamora (UAM).

    Carbon nanotubes, a clear example of the nano-revolution (Spanish)