Transcript NanoRadio

NanoRadio
Zettl Research Group
Group 1
Creation
It was developed by Alex Zettl and a
research team at the University of
California in Berkeley.
The nanoradio is normally configured as
a receiver but will soon work as an
transmitter.
What does it consist of?
The nanoradio is a tiny radio consisting of a carbon
nanotube anchored to an electrode, with a second
electrode just beyond its free end. At the core of
the nanoradio is a single molecule that can receive
radio signals.
They first anchored a nanotube to a metal electrode
and wired it to a battery. On the opposite end is a
second metal electrode to conduct electrical energy.
How does it work?
When voltage is applied between the
electrodes, electrons flow from the battery
through the first electrode and the nanotube
and then jump from the nanotube’s tip across
the tiny gap to the second electrode.
How does it work?
It then translates the electromagnetic
fluctuations of a radio signal into the
mechanical vibrations of a nanotube.
Those vibrations are converted into a stream of
electrical pulses that reproduce the original
radio signal.
What is a Nanotube?
• A nanotube is a hollow cylindrical molecule
usually made of carbon.
• Carbon nanotubes are the strongest and
stiffest materials on earth
• A sheet of nanotubes can operate as a
loudspeaker if an alternating current is applied
Design
Simply consists of a single carbon
nanotube that works as an all-in-one
antenna, tuner, amplifier, demodulator
that produces sound through the speaker.
Nanoradio Uses
• Better cellular devices
• Improve medical diagnostic equipment
• Create inexpensive wireless environmental
sensors
• Play music, possibly replace the iPod
• A desecrate hearing aid that could be
implanted into the inner ear
It’s Miniature Sized!
• The nanotubes that are used to create the
nanoradio are about 10 nanometers in
diameter
• A nanometer is one billionth of a meter!
• The nanoradio could fit inside a living cell
• 100 billion times smaller than standard radios
Picture This..
Benefits to the Business World
• Nanoradios are inexpensive and energy
efficient which helps our economy
• Shrinking radios would also shrink the device
that uses them
• Improve nanotechnologies
• Better medical diagnostic equipment
• Creating a new wave of technology