1. Hello From Alvin
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the latest edition of Nanotube News!
May has been a month of exciting developments in the world of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs are continuing to provide solutions for space exploration, from developments in the use of the world’s darkest material (produced using CNTs) for space observation to new phototransistor designs (using CNTs to improve shortwave infrared detection) to lightweight CNT wires improving the fuel efficiency of spacecraft. CNTs are continuing to aid our understanding of the universe. Bringing CNTs back down to earth, we have seen how wearable technologies can be enhanced by the use of CNTs, including the production of smart clothing for firefighters that can sense harmful gases.
We’ve also been looking back through the history of CNTs, including the first use of carbon in wiring over 150 years ago – who would’ve thought that Thomas Edison incorporated carbon wires into his design for the first lightbulb!
As always, thank you for being part of this community. I can’t wait to see what the next month brings.
Warmly,
Alvin
Dr. Alvin Orbaek White, Founder and CEO of TrimTabs
2. Company Updates
This month at TrimTabs, we have some exciting news to share with you all!
- Our Japanese trademark has been approved, meaning that we are now trademarked in the UK, EU, US, and Japan!
- We are continuing to undergo a team expansion, with the recent hire of:
Kayla Fry, who has joined Trimtabs to support the company operations in admin, finance, and analysis, where her mathematics background, accounts systems qualification, and analytical skills will be tested to the full. She has previously worked in pharmacy operations and tutored mathematics, as well as coaching gym activities. She has a Master of Mathematics (M.Math) degree from the University of Swansea and followed a successful international career in trampolining, securing a British Trampoline Bronze medal and Junior Commonwealth Silver & Gold Medals.
John Luckett, who has joined Trimtabs as Development Engineer, and will play a key role in translating Trimtabs' scientific and engineering concepts into operational capability through the operation of our initial production unit, analysis, and input to the engineering modelling. John has previously spent two years in technology development at Armadillo Metal Coatings, a Swansea University spin-out company, and prior to this, he worked in steel production with Tata in Port Talbot. He has an M.Eng in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Birmingham and enjoys mountaineering and cycling.
3. Research and Market News
This month, we’ve been excited to see CNTs enabling cutting-edge advancements across a wide range of fields. From forming the core of Vantablack – the darkest material ever made, revolutionising space optics by minimising stray light – to powering flexible thermoelectric generators for battery-free wearables, CNTs are redefining performance limits. For the full stories, click the links to visit the news section of our website. This month, we learned that:
Surrey NanoSystems is the creator of Vantablack, the world’s darkest man-made substance. Formed by utilising the incredible optical properties of CNTs, it traps photons between its tube structures, ensuring near-total light absorption and also providing high durability. Vantablack outperforms other coatings in reflectance, even at cryogenic temperatures, making it ideal for space instruments. In recent tests with ABB and the Canadian Space Agency, it significantly reduced photon leakage and reduced design complexity. Its adoption could revolutionise space observation by minimising stray light interference and enhancing measurement precision.
CNT foam can turn heat into electricity, paving the way for battery-less wearable technology
Thermoelectric generators convert heat into electricity using temperature differences, useful in applications like space probes, waste heat recovery, and wearable tech. Traditional metal-based thermoelectric materials are efficient but rigid, costly, and complex to produce. Organic alternatives offer flexibility but lack durability and conductivity. Researchers in Korea developed a breakthrough material by combining CNTs with bismuth-antimony-telluride (BST), creating a flexible, conductive foam. This composite shows 5.7 times greater performance than CNTs alone and remains effective after extensive bending. This innovation paves the way for next-generation thermoelectric generators suitable for flexible, battery-free wearables and efficient industrial heat recovery systems.
CNTs can help astrophysicists see dark galaxies extremely far away
A novel phototransistor design using CNTs has the potential to improve shortwave infrared detection. CNTs offer high carrier mobility, enhancing signal amplification for weak light detection. This design simplifies fabrication, removing the need for precise alignment and overcoming previous production challenges to improve scalability and cost-effectiveness. This design further achieves high responsivity, detectivity, and fast response time. Applications include night vision, space exploration, and biological imaging, where high sensitivity in low-light conditions is crucial. This advancement represents a significant step forward in infrared phototransistor technology.
Researchers at KERI’s Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center have developed a novel method for producing CNT functional wires aimed at improving wearable devices. Traditional copper wires, while conductive, are too heavy for optimal use in wearables. CNT wires offer similar conductivity, superior strength, and reduced weight, but face dispersion challenges. The team overcame this by modifying CNTs with acid and additives, enhancing their compatibility with solvents, then spinning them into wires using synthetic fibre production techniques. These CNT wires not only improve device durability but also show potential as sensors, expanding applications to smart clothing.
4. May Food for Thought: The History of CNT Wires
Copper wires have long dominated electrical systems due to their excellent conductivity, heat dissipation, strength, and flexibility. Used since the 19th century in telegraphs, copper remains vital today. However, modern demands for lightweight, efficient materials have sparked interest in CNT wires – potentially the future of electrical transmission.
This month, we have explored the surprisingly deep history of carbon-based wires.
Carbon Wiring Dates Back 150 Years!
Carbon wires date back to the 1860s, used by Swan and Edison in early lightbulbs for their high resistance and heat tolerance. Made from cellulose or bamboo via pyrolysis, they dominated early lighting until tungsten replaced them for improved efficiency and durability.
How CNT Fibres Revived the Dream of Carbon Wires
Interest in carbon wires revived with the 1950s creation of carbon fibres, but excitement surged after CNTs were discovered in 1991. Their exceptional properties made them strong copper alternatives. Wet spinning aligned CNTs into fibres, preserving conductivity and strength – enabling CNT wires and unlocking potential for diverse high-performance electrical applications.
The Rise of CNT Wires in Next-Gen Tech
CNT wires match copper's conductivity but are lighter and stronger. They're ideal for aerospace, satellites, electric vehicles, and wearables, where weight reduction boosts efficiency. Though not yet mainstream, improved manufacturing continues to expand their potential to replace copper in many applications, enhancing performance and energy efficiency.
To learn more, check out the full article here:
5. TrimTabs Recommends: Our Guide to Events, Books, Films, and Podcasts
This month, we’re recommending a new comic book: ‘Secrets of the Nano-world’. Created by the Czech scientist Julie Nekola Nováková with the help of Vojtěch Šeda, and Prokop Hapala, the comic book takes us through the history of nanotechnology.
Starting with the protagonists going back in time to Richard Feynman’s 1959 lecture, which is considered the foundational moment for nanotechnology, the comic proceeds to introduce readers to nanotechnology history. The comic answers many fun questions, such as why nothing stands still at the nanoscale, and introduces readers to essential discoveries in the history of nanotechnology, such as the atomic force microscope.
With beautiful illustrations and a fun yet informative concept, this is a great way to explore the history of nanotechnology.
Find the full comic book here:
6. This Month in Science: May Nanotechnology Milestones
Each month, we recognise a significant historical milestone, special event, or breakthrough discovery in the world of nanotechnology. This month, we’re looking at a breakthrough from 2021 where a team led by David Muller broke the world record for resolution achieved using an electron microscope.
The team used an electron microscope pixel array detector, which incorporated ptychography techniques driven by AI to produce images with a resolution of less than 20 picometers. At this resolution, the only blurring on the image is due to the wobbling of the atoms themselves due to thermal fluctuations! Ptychography techniques generate images by processing interference patterns that have been scattered by the sample. The 3D reconstruction algorithms generated by Muller’s team reconstruct the data to form an ultraprecise image with twice the resolution of their previous record from 2018.
This imaging method gave us a fascinating view into the nanoscale world and will continue to aid the production of atomic-resolution details in nanoscale structures, improving our understanding even further.
Check out the paper here:
Electron ptychography achieves atomic-resolution limits set by lattice vibrations
7. CNT Comedy: Science Humour for the Month
I read a book on anti-gravity.
I couldn’t put it down.
8. Stories From Our Community
We love hearing from our community! Whether you're working on groundbreaking CNT research, developing new applications, or have exciting updates from the field, we want to know! Send your stories, updates, or news to hello@trimtabs.co, and we'll feature them in an upcoming newsletter. Let’s build the CNT community together!
That’s all for this month. Is there anything we missed? Anything you would like to see included or share with our community? We value your input and look forward to hearing your thoughts. Simply reply to this email to get in touch.
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