Jump to content

Monomolecular wire: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
 
(5 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Single strand of atoms or molecules}}
'''Monomolecular wire''' is a type of wire consisting of a single strand of strongly bonded atoms or molecules, like [[carbon nanotube]]s.
'''Monomolecular wire''' is a type of wire consisting of a single strand of strongly bonded atoms or molecules, like [[carbon nanotube]]s.


Line 4: Line 5:
{{expand section|date=January 2018}}
{{expand section|date=January 2018}}
[[File:Ag atomic wire.jpg|thumb|200px|The process of forming a monatomic silver wire.]]
[[File:Ag atomic wire.jpg|thumb|200px|The process of forming a monatomic silver wire.]]
Organic molecular wires have been proposed for use in [[optoelectronics]].<ref>{{Citation|author = Laurens D. A. Siebbeles, Ferdinand C. Grozema|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dTqZJKZ-r0EC|title = Charge and Exciton Transport through Molecular Wires|date = July 18, 2011|accessdate = January 27, 2014}}</ref>
Organic molecular wires have been proposed for use in [[optoelectronics]].<ref>{{Citation|author = Laurens D. A. Siebbeles, Ferdinand C. Grozema|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dTqZJKZ-r0EC|title = Charge and Exciton Transport through Molecular Wires|date = July 18, 2011|isbn = 9783527633098|accessdate = January 27, 2014}}</ref>


==In fiction==
==In fiction==
Among the earliest descriptions of a super-strong filament are the film [[The Man in the White Suit|The Man in the White Suit (1951)]], in which a scientist develops a monofilament cloth fibre that will never wear out, and [[Theodore Sturgeon|Theodore Sturgeon's]] "The Incubi of Parallel X" (Planet Stories, Sep 1951),<ref>{{cite web |title=The Incubi of Parallel X |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?56319 |website=The Internet Speculative Fiction Database |publisher=IFSDB |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref> where a "molecularly condensed fibre" is used as a zipline.<ref name="SFE1">{{cite web |title=Themes: Monomolecular Wire |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/monomolecular_wire |website=SFE–The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction |publisher=Gollancz/SFE |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref>
Among the earliest descriptions of a super-strong filament are the film ''[[The Man in the White Suit]]'', in which a scientist develops a monofilament cloth fibre that will never wear out, and [[Theodore Sturgeon|Theodore Sturgeon's]] "The Incubi of Parallel X" (Planet Stories, Sep 1951),<ref>{{cite web |title=The Incubi of Parallel X |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?56319 |website=The Internet Speculative Fiction Database |publisher=IFSDB |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref> where a "molecularly condensed fibre" is used as a zipline.<ref name="SFE1">{{cite web |title=Themes: Monomolecular Wire |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/monomolecular_wire |website=SFE–The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction |publisher=Gollancz/SFE |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref>


An early example of a material similar to monomolecular wire deliberately used as a weapon and cutting tool is "[[borazon]]-tungsten filament" in [[Randall Garrett|G. Randall Garrett]]'s "Thin Edge." (Analog, Dec 1963)<ref>{{cite web |title=Thin Edge |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?55426 |website=Internet Science Fiction Database |publisher=IFSDB |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref> The main character uses a strand from an asteroid towing-cable to cut jail bars and to [[booby-trap]] the door of his room. Many later writers, including [[John Brunner (novelist)|John Brunner]], [[Frank Herbert]], [[William Gibson]] and [[George R. R. Martin]], have also used monomolecular or similar wire as a weapon or tool.<ref name="SFE1" />
An early example of a material similar to monomolecular wire deliberately used as a weapon and cutting tool is "[[borazon]]-tungsten filament" in [[Randall Garrett|G. Randall Garrett]]'s "Thin Edge". (Analog, Dec 1963)<ref>{{cite web |title=Thin Edge |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?55426 |website=Internet Science Fiction Database |publisher=IFSDB |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref> The main character uses a strand from an asteroid towing-cable to cut jail bars and to [[booby-trap]] the door of his room. Many later writers, including [[John Brunner (novelist)|John Brunner]], [[Frank Herbert]], [[William Gibson]] and [[George R. R. Martin]], have also used monomolecular or similar wire as a weapon or tool.<ref name="SFE1" />


Perhaps the best-known proposed use of monomolecular wire ("hyperfilament") is in the cables of a [[Space elevator|space elevator]]. Although there were a few earlier scientific papers suggesting the concept, a fully realized space elevator was first described in 1979 in [[Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur Clarke's]] ''[[The Fountains of Paradise]]'' and [[Charles Sheffield|Charles Sheffield's]] ''[[The Web Between the Worlds]]''. The concept has been used in later fiction by [[Robert A. Heinlein]], [[Iain Banks|Iain M. Banks]], [[Larry Niven]] and others.<ref name="SFE1" />
Perhaps the best-known proposed use of monomolecular wire ("hyperfilament") is in the cables of a [[space elevator]]. Although there were a few earlier scientific papers suggesting the concept, a fully realized space elevator was first described in 1979 in [[Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur Clarke's]] ''[[The Fountains of Paradise]]'' and [[Charles Sheffield|Charles Sheffield's]] ''[[The Web Between the Worlds]]''. The concept has been used in later fiction by [[Robert A. Heinlein]], [[Iain Banks|Iain M. Banks]], [[Larry Niven]] and others.<ref name="SFE1" />


==References==
==References==
Line 21: Line 22:
[[Category:Allotropes of carbon]]
[[Category:Allotropes of carbon]]
[[Category:Carbon nanotubes]]
[[Category:Carbon nanotubes]]
[[Category:Emerging technologies]]
[[Category:Transparent electrodes]]
[[Category:Transparent electrodes]]
[[Category:Refractory materials]]
[[Category:Refractory materials]]

Latest revision as of 10:28, 12 December 2023

Monomolecular wire is a type of wire consisting of a single strand of strongly bonded atoms or molecules, like carbon nanotubes.

In science

[edit]
The process of forming a monatomic silver wire.

Organic molecular wires have been proposed for use in optoelectronics.[1]

In fiction

[edit]

Among the earliest descriptions of a super-strong filament are the film The Man in the White Suit, in which a scientist develops a monofilament cloth fibre that will never wear out, and Theodore Sturgeon's "The Incubi of Parallel X" (Planet Stories, Sep 1951),[2] where a "molecularly condensed fibre" is used as a zipline.[3]

An early example of a material similar to monomolecular wire deliberately used as a weapon and cutting tool is "borazon-tungsten filament" in G. Randall Garrett's "Thin Edge". (Analog, Dec 1963)[4] The main character uses a strand from an asteroid towing-cable to cut jail bars and to booby-trap the door of his room. Many later writers, including John Brunner, Frank Herbert, William Gibson and George R. R. Martin, have also used monomolecular or similar wire as a weapon or tool.[3]

Perhaps the best-known proposed use of monomolecular wire ("hyperfilament") is in the cables of a space elevator. Although there were a few earlier scientific papers suggesting the concept, a fully realized space elevator was first described in 1979 in Arthur Clarke's The Fountains of Paradise and Charles Sheffield's The Web Between the Worlds. The concept has been used in later fiction by Robert A. Heinlein, Iain M. Banks, Larry Niven and others.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Laurens D. A. Siebbeles, Ferdinand C. Grozema (July 18, 2011), Charge and Exciton Transport through Molecular Wires, ISBN 9783527633098, retrieved January 27, 2014
  2. ^ "The Incubi of Parallel X". The Internet Speculative Fiction Database. IFSDB. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Themes: Monomolecular Wire". SFE–The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Gollancz/SFE. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Thin Edge". Internet Science Fiction Database. IFSDB. Retrieved 24 May 2020.