Big Idea: The Rise Of Supermaterials
Illustration by Sam Ward Forget the third dimension: 2-D may be the way to go for our future supermaterials. Engineers are taking materials into a whole new dimension: the second dimension. By transforming 3D clumps of atoms into 2D sheets, researchers are finding amazing untapped potential in ordinary-seeming elements. The 2D revolution began more than a decade ago with the discovery of graphene, a mesh of carbon atoms linked together like the wires in a chain-link fence. It’s transparent but more than 200 times stronger than steel, nearly impermeable, and an excellent conductor. Turning graphene into practical devices has been a challenge, but teams are now closing in on a few: ultra-high-density computer flash memory, a broadband radiation detector, and a tool for precision medical imaging. Other 2D materials might prove even more impressive....