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Graphene 'could help boost broadband internet speeds' Graphene 'could help boost broadband internet speeds'
(40 minutes later)
By Katia Moskvitch Technology reporter, BBC NewsBy Katia Moskvitch Technology reporter, BBC News
Graphene, the strongest material on Earth, could help boost broadband internet speed, say researchers. Graphene, the strongest material on Earth, could help boost broadband internet speed, say UK researchers.
A UK team has devised a way to capture and convert more light into power than was previously possible. Scientists from Manchester and Cambridge universities, have found a way to improve its sensitivity when used in optical communications systems.
Scientists from the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge upped the sensitivity by combining graphene with tiny metallic structures. Their discovery paves the way for faster electronic components, such as the receivers used in fibre optic data connections.
Their discovery paves the way for more efficient optical components and connections. Graphene was discovered in 2004 and has been hailed as a "wonder material".
The researchers describe their findings in the journal Nature Communications.
Optical communicationsOptical communications
Graphene's ability to conduct electricity is not new. The material's use in photo-electrical systems is not new.
In the past, scientists managed to produce a simple solar cell out of the material by placing microscopic metallic wires on top of graphene sheets and shining light onto them. Scientists had previously managed to produce a simple solar cell by placing microscopic metallic wires on top of graphene sheets and shining light onto them.
Its superconductive properties meant that electrons could flow at high speed with extreme mobility - opening-up the possibility of reduced lag time in electronic components, including photo receptors used in optical fibre systems. Its superconductive properties meant that electrons could flow at high speed with extreme mobility.
However, early graphene solar cells were not very efficient, as the material was only capable of absorbing about 3% of visible light, with the rest shining through it without being converted into power. However, early graphene solar cells were not very efficient, as the material was only capable of absorbing about 3% of visible light, with the rest shining through without being converted into power.
The latest research overcomes that problem by using a method, known as plasmonic enhancement, to combine graphene with tiny metallic structures called plasmonic nanostructures. The latest research, overcomes that problem by using a method, known as plasmonic enhancement, to combine graphene with tiny metallic structures called plasmonic nanostructures.
As a result, its light-harvesting performance was increased by 20 times. As a result, its light-harvesting performance is increased by a factor of 20.
"The technology of graphene production matures day-by-day, which has an immediate impact both on the type of exciting physics which we find in this material, and on the feasibility and the range of possible applications," said Prof Kostya Novoselov, one of the lead researchers."The technology of graphene production matures day-by-day, which has an immediate impact both on the type of exciting physics which we find in this material, and on the feasibility and the range of possible applications," said Prof Kostya Novoselov, one of the lead researchers.
"Many leading electronics companies consider graphene for the next generation of devices. This work certainly boosts graphene's chances even further.""Many leading electronics companies consider graphene for the next generation of devices. This work certainly boosts graphene's chances even further."
His colleague Professor Andrea Ferrari from the University of Cambridge added that the results show the material's "great potential in the fields of photonics and optoelectronics". His colleague Professor Andrea Ferrari from the University of Cambridge added that the results showed the material's "great potential in the fields of photonics and optoelectronics".
Details of the team's work have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Wonder materialWonder material
Many believe that the amazing properties of graphene - the thinnest, strongest and most conductive material in the world - could revolutionise electronics. Graphene was discovered in 2004 after scientists used sticky tape to isolate a single, atom-thick layer of graphite - the same material used in pencils.
Essentially a super-conductive form of carbon made from single-atom-thick sheets, it was first discovered with help of a simple sticky tape in 2004. It has been identified as the thinnest, strongest and most conductive material in the world; properties which many believe could revolutionise electronics.
Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, both originally from Russia, managed to extract the new material from graphite, commonly used as lead in pencils. Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, both originally from Russia, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in 2010.
In 2010 they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work.