A spherical nanometer structure as strong as steel, produced entirely from very simple organic ingredients, was developed and characterized in the laboratories of Ehud Gazit from Tel Aviv University, Itai Rousseau from the Weizmann Institute of Science and David Barlam and Roni Shenk from Ben-Gurion University
A new and revolutionary Israeli development: a spherical nanostructure as strong as steel, produced entirely from very simple organic ingredients. The innovative material was developed and characterized in the laboratories of Ehud Gazit from Tel Aviv University and Iti Russo from the Weizmann Institute of Science. This is an extremely light and extremely strong material, friendly to the environment and people, which can be produced in simple processes and at low costs. Thanks to this impressive set of properties, the promising material has many possible applications - from durable composite materials to implants in the human body. The groundbreaking research was recently published in the leading journal Angewandte Chemie.
The researchers - Prof. Gazit, Dr. Lehi Adler-Abramovitz and Inbal Yanai from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Tel Aviv University, Dr. Itai Russo and Nitzen Kol from the Weizmann Institute and David Barlam and Roni Shenk from Ben-Gurion University - used a simple dipeptide, consisting of only two amino acids . This unique organic material organizes itself into spherical nanometer structures, in a process that occurs entirely under room conditions, without the need for heating or other procedures. And the result: the first nanomaterial of biological origin that compares in its mechanical properties to many metallic materials, and even surpasses them. The chemical properties of the new material are similar to those of the hard polymer Kevlar® (which is already used today to manufacture protective vests), but its components are much simpler, giving it several important advantages: manipulation and layout of surfaces at the nano level, creation of nanostructures in different geometries - spheres, tubes and more, And all this in spontaneous self-assembly. There is no doubt that these are excellent building blocks, suitable for many and varied applications:
Because the new nanostructure is as hard and strong as steel, it is best suited for strengthening composite materials used in the aerospace and automotive industries; As a biological material, friendly to the human body, yet very hard and durable, it is very suitable for building implants, instead of the metals accepted today; Also, it is an ideal raw material for the production of protective vests - strong, light and impenetrable; So far, a small selection, which demonstrates only the tip of the fork the enormous applied potential of the innovative nanomaterial.
The new nanotechnological development from the inventor's house of Tel Aviv University is based on extensive research work, which began in Prof. Gazit's laboratory in 2003. In a previous development, the team of scientists in the laboratory managed to develop tubular nanostructures, which organized themselves into "forests" with extraordinary mechanical and physical properties. This research, which was based on the doctoral thesis of Dr. Lehi Adler-Abramovitz, and was published in 2009 in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Nanotechnology, may in the future yield self-cleaning windows and solar collectors, as well as powerful facilities for energy storage, with an extremely high energy density.
On the same topic on the science site
A nano particle in the shape of the Star of David was discovered in the Hebrew university
The nanotechnology conference NanoIsrael 2010 will be held in November in Tel Aviv
One of the discoverers of Buckeye balls, gave a lecture on the subject at Bar Ilan University
19 תגובות
Is it possible that they also created a flexible material that would be able to function as a bag in space?
Will anyone know?
Is there a situation?
This will surely help a serious research project
Can someone really direct me to some kind of nanometric development that is also already applied in a practical way?
Every day a new discovery is announced, but it seems that everything remains in the laboratory...
And now what about the graph? Which one is stronger, which one is more useful? And so on
As for the real-life application of an idea, it usually starts from a secret military use of the application, then becomes an important and amazing milestone in the next war, and then very quickly becomes an everyday useful product.
Another possibility, although more rare, is use for specific needs by a large, wealthy government body with almost unlimited resources, from which a rapid spillover to daily use.
What about a space elevator?
Will the technology allow it?
In short, we need to establish a new concept in this non-applicable field, "Nananchals".
Today there are many composite materials that are approximately 10 times stronger than steel and also lighter and more flexible than steel, so why is steel the benchmark for comparison here?
It is known that any organic material according to the laws of nature decomposes, the question is whether this material will maintain its strength over time
The problem with transferring the material to commerce is that the researchers do not hand over all the information and the publication is intended in most cases to attract additional investments for further development!
But since this specific material does not have many reservations and it sounds like the material that can actually replace most of the existing materials and at cheaper prices, then this may be the exceptional case where we are witnessing the formation of a mega material that will gradually take the place of most materials in the coming years!
To Yoav and Noam: Apparently there are some problems with moving a product
From the nano to the macro from an industrial and commercial point of view.
Go find out about the technological problems and the level of investment that is ready
invest the chief scientist to test technological feasibility.
I wonder if this nanometer material and the ideas for its applications will be presented at the conference planned for November 9-8 - Tel Aviv.
Worth following.
4. Yoav: In the end.. leave the nonsense.. who needs 10 meters long tsol..
Give a strong organic structure of Tsol on 15 cm and I will market it in the world..
To Yoav
Unfortunately, it seems that any product or discovery, however innovative and effective, will not be distributed commercially, as long as the distribution does not serve entities with financial interests in front of me and especially behind the scenes.
Simply put, when you introduce an alternative product to the market that has virtues compared to similar existing but outdated products.. the new product has to face production failures behind which are huge investments of billions - money, money, money.
happy goodbye,
sparrow.
Another nanotechnological material that could be used in the future for high-density energy storage, light cars and a thousand other uses - except that in practice nothing happens in any of the aforementioned fields. Amazing!
I must say that I get a little lost in the articles about nanotechnology. My understanding is that in recent years there have been a number of carbon-based materials (Bucky spheres, carbon tubes, etc.) that differentiate at the nanometer level in a good way. All of them are incredibly strong, based on simple materials, and some can even be used as advanced conductors. The problem is always in the transition from the nanometer level to the macro level. That is, the ability to produce the material in large commercial quantities, and build from it a surface measuring one meter by one meter, or a 10-meter-long pipe.
Does the current development show any kind of breakthrough in one of the two main problems (if so, it sounds like a real revolution!), if not - what practical advantage does this nanometer material have compared to the existing materials from the last decade?
Even if the material is stronger than steel, it is, almost certainly, not resistant to high heat, so it is doubtful whether it will fit the armor of a tank.
Yes I'm almost sure
Will they replace the chariot tank armor?