The world we see is controlled by a world we cannot directly perceive: the collective behavior of individual electrons, atoms and molecules adds up to the familiar properties of everyday matter. Magnetism, electrical conductivity, thresholds between what's a liquid or a gas—all are properties dictated by activities in the nanoworld.
Under special conditions, or when combined in specific ways, unique properties of materials like metals and semiconductors can be controlled. Modern electronics like cell phones and computers are based on the nanoscale properties of silicon and other semiconductors. Now, with the help of intense beams of X-rays in combination with ground-breaking imaging techniques, the nanoworld is beginning to give up its secrets.
Superconductivity, for example, is an atomic-level, quantum mechanical phenomenon where a material loses all electrical resistance, typically at very low temperatures. It's a property that occurs in a variety of materials, although most have a critical temperature too cold to be of much use. SLAC researchers are pioneering the search for superconductors that work at higher temperatures, which could one day revolutionize how electricity is delivered to homes and pave the way for electronics of the future.
Understanding how electrons and atoms behave will help researchers create new materials with special properties. For example, single-walled carbon nanotubes are very small tubes made of carbon with walls one atom thick. SLAC researchers focused on alternative energy sources study how the atoms that make up nanotubes bind with hydrogen, an element that holds exceptional potential for use as a clean fuel. Understanding the atomic behavior of carbon nanotubes may one day lead to a safe, effective means of storing hydrogen for use in electric fuel cells, making hydrogen-powered cars a reality.
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