Electronic Devices have propelled a digital world that has improved quality of life significantly. The magic written about in epics is now a part of life. These breakthroughs have been made with Silicon as the foundation. Despite Silicon not being the most perfect material to make electronics.  

Most of life is made of Carbon due to its versatility. Carbon exhibits semiconducting properties when rolled up into tiny tubes called Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes.  

These 1-Dimensional tubes exhibit a Band Gap that is dependent on Diameter. By selecting appropriate Diameters, it is possible to achieve any bandgap from 0-2eV. In comparison, Silicon has a bandgap of 1.12eV, Germanium is 0.66eV, GaAs is 1.424eV, GaN is 3.4eV, CdTe is 1.5eV, INnGaP=1.86eV, InGaAs is 1.4eV 

Due to the band gap tuning, Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes can replicate the bandgap of 99% of all known Semiconductors. The 1-D Nanotubes occupy a significantly smaller area than any known active material. For the first time, we have an incredible building block on hand. Such a versatile material will revolutionize multiple areas. 

Processors 

Processors are large integrated circuits. Nanotube circuitry will be up to 1000x faster while drawing lesser energy. The first machines with an ability to reason on par with a human and in the form factor of a handheld device will be made of Carbon Nanotubes.  
 

Humans are made mostly of Carbon; Nanotubes have been found to be compatible with biological cells unlike metals. Metals are extremely toxic and cannot be used to interface with Biological organisms. Carbon Nanotubes esp. Metallic nanotubes are perfect wires to interface Neurons to external computers. This Neural computing will herald a new age where humans can directly interface with machines allowing us to solve complex problems that will reveal the true nature of the universe.  

Solar Cells 

The small size of Nanotubes gives them the ability to utilize both the wave and particle nature of light to capture energy and convert to electricity. The most efficient solar cells are made of multiple junctions made of 3-4 different materials with bandgaps ranging from 0.66 to 1.86eV. These heterojunction cells are complex by design and require complex fabrication to handle the differing requirements of each layer. Nanotubes of different diameters allow for realization of cells with even higher junctions. This allows us to capture a larger part of the solar spectrum. Today of the 1.2kW/m2 energy being received. Hardly 0.25kW/m2 is converted to usable energy. This number can go as high as 1.1kW/m2 using multi junction SWCNT solar cells. Imagine being able to produce 4-5x the energy from a Solar Farm. These cells are game changers for both earth and inter planetary colonization. While delivering clean energy in copious quantities using the largest working Fusion reactor.  

Infrared Sensors 

An effect similar to that of the solar cells is seen across the wide infra red spectrum. The smaller bandgap Nanotubes are suitable Infrared receivers with the ability to detect emissions in the Short, Medium and Far Infrared regimes. Currently the best IR sensors are made of InGaAs with a band gap of 0.75eV. They require special cryogenic cooling to achieve an image that is clean. SWCNT have demonstrated an ability to achieve superior results at room temperature. This will revolutionize areas such as Self Driving with better IR sensors looking out for obstacles. Military sights that are superior and would have visibility almost on par to day time with minimal noise. Cameras with even better reds. And VR sensors that are able to detect the complete fluid movements of a person.  

Quantum Computing 

Quantum Computers have shown tremendous promise and are already being used in Cryptography. A major limitation for Quantum Processing has been the loss of Coherence due to interaction of particles. Nanotubes are excellent structures to confine atoms in a single file and ensure they are not disturbed by external forces. In fact, this effect has been used at NoPo to produce high performance water filters. Confining particles within Nanotubes allows us to have thousands of atoms in Coherence giving the ability to realize practical computers. Their small size allows for billions of quantum computers to operate in parallel and hence provide results with a much higher confidence level that a single device made of a few qubits. Quantum processing will accelerate complex math. Break existing cryptography and open a new knowledge base for humanity.  

We’ve been on Earth for a few million years. Every observation and learning is based on how we experience things here. Until we managed to look outside the planet; we did not know the rules of the game. Now we are trying to create a theory of the universe sitting on a rock that has its own atmosphere and its own way of life. The secrets of the universe are still leaning in through a few that are able to forget what is in front of them and look far beyond.

What if we are in that environment in space? What if we are in the belly of the cosmos, beyond the Earth, and within the influence of the sun? And later, beyond the influence of the sun. A mind that is seeing a whole new world, that is experiencing a whole new phenomenon, wouldn’t that find a pattern that is “obvious”?

Visions of a future with Carbon Nanotubes

Gadhadar Reddy

Carbon is a versatile material capable of forming Structures that are both simple and complex with ease. This ability of carbon has made it the material of choice for life on earth. The material is abundant on earth and nearby planetary bodies. Just when we thought that we knew everything; It had a few more tricks up its sleeve. While observing Starlight, Professor Kroto found that there were lines of carbon that did not seem to match any known forms of carbon. He met Richard Smalley at a conference at Rice University, and they began talking about the strange new forms of carbon. At that time, Dr.Smalley had access to the world’s most powerful laser and used it to fire various materials to see what they’re made of. Sitting on a couch, they decided to carry out a few experiments by blowing up carbon in the presence of Iron to see what happens. The experiments yielded the first conclusive evidence of a new form of carbon called fullerenes. These unique football-shaped molecules played a pivotal role in kickstarting nanotechnology.

Further developments in fullerenes led to the discovery of carbon nanotubes. Especially single-walled carbon nanotubes. These unique molecules seem to have the ability strength and properties that were unmatched by any known material. These were the fictional diamond tubes the authors had always predicted but had been incredibly difficult to manufacture. Studies on the properties of the carbon nanotubes revealed that they had strength higher than any material known to humanity. They also had unique electrical properties, the ability to withstand radiation, and the ability to self-repair any ability to form complex chain molecules like their precursor carbon. The applications of the material were enormous, but the manufacturability was incredibly tough. A familiar situation in the history of materials, just like Napoleon used aluminium vessels to feed his guests because it was the most expensive metal. Nanotubes are in a similar place. In the following few lines, we’re going to look at all the opportunities and things that would be changed by making use of carbon nanotubes in our daily lives.

I

t’s March 2041, humanity’s permanent settlement on Mars is celebrating the natural birth of a human being beyond earth. A thrilling moment for an exploration that led us to conquer Space. The baby’s cries resonate across living rooms on Earth, the entire cabinet is in attendance, laboratories on the Moon and the miners on Phobos/Deimos are all at a standstill to bear witness to a new leap in mankind’s journey. Hope fills up the atmosphere and people have come to standstill as one species.

Countless people worked tirelessly for this moment. Computers watched the baby and mother real-time in-situ. The Gynecologist in charge was a Brain Computer Interface integrated to the captain. He could see virtual doctors scurrying around the room, looking at data, interpreting results and ensuring the data was in line with experience. The robotic arms with human like muscles could perform intricate movements and hold heavy weights. A quantum link ensured real-time communication despite the vast distance. The medical bay was a structural marvel by itself. The entire structure was held in tension by ropes that swirled down smart tent material that could deflect meteorites and repair itself in case of damage. The self-repairing composite had the ability to sense pressure, temperature and external forces. The tables doubled up as chargers. There were no wires anywhere. All objects charged as soon as they were on a table. Data syncs happened instantly. The cameras were live streaming the room in 3D. Millions of people had walked in the medical bay and seen the baby within a few seconds of the announcement. The baby was kept warm by clothes that were capable of heating and cooling as per the temperature needs. It had been set to a warm 25C by the research team from Vani Vilas Hospital, Bangalore. The one city whose weather is still hard to beat anywhere in the solar system.

The emergency lights turned on as the main power system was shut down due to a fuse blowout. A common occurrence from the dust clouds. A small announcement was the only sign of the shutdown. The structures protecting the base could generate and store energy. Every fabric tile was an independent source and store of power. They had efficiencies of 80%. The Light patches on the cloth doubled up as displays and had an optical efficiency of >99%. Just like the tables; as soon as you connected a device to the wall; it came online. Windows were generated in real time through all the walls. Skylight, windows into the dust storm or the beautiful night sky were all just a wish away.

Outside the equatorial base, construction of an elevator to space was going on in full swing. The structure was built using ropes imported from earth on the Obava class vessels. The new vehicles could get into space in a single stage. Refueled in the Neeru depots powered by cells that rapidly broke down water into Hydrogen fuel and Oxygen. These were cryo-cooled by massive heat sinks facing the cold side of space. Water for the depots came from moon rocks and dust filtered with Nano filters. The fully fueled vessel hurtled towards Mars boosted by their water thrusters. The rocket unfurled a massive 10km sail that weighed just 100kilos. It generated large amounts of electricity that were channeled through hair sized wires that could withstand gun shots. The space craft was equipped with weapon systems to smartly detect and eliminate meteorites and targets using a compact Electromagnetic coil made of the same wires in the solar sail. The compact, accurate guns packed a punch. They had already revolutionized warfare and reduced human fatalities from gunshots to zero. The built in AI and powerful algorithms coupled with Realtime decision making had saved millions back on Earth.  

All these advances had one common thread. Nay! one common tube; A Carbon Nanotube. The incredible material had been discovered in starlight. An equivalent did not exist and so researchers set about finding ways to create a material that replicated star light. This led to the creation of HiPCO – a technology that produced tubes that were 200000x smaller than hair. The process was complex for 20^th century and was difficult to master. The process would have been abandoned if not for the grit of an obscure company in Bangalore; NoPo Nanotechnologies. NoPo’s founders were driven by a desire to enable humanity to be a space faring species. This vision required creation of technologies to produce copious quantities of Carbon Nanotubes. Fortuitous accidents, the right people, and a seemingly unstoppable desire conquered challenges which were thought to be impossible.

NoPo developed the first Nanotubes and doggedly pursued applications. The first property to be leveraged was water transportation through the Nanotubes. Tubes of a small diameter have the ability to filter water about 100x better than incumbent technologies of 2021. The filters solved Earth’s looming water crisis and created a dependable technology to water extraction on any celestial without fear of contamination. The membranes led to development of aligned tubular strcutures that exhibit sensing capabilities. These were used to release a line of smart products based on CENCE – A Carbon Nanotube enhanced composite. CENCE evolved into sensing structures. The backbone of all space structures.

CENCE evolved into a multi-functional material with high strength, sensing and other capabilities. High strength was achieved by cross linking Nanotubes. These evolved conductive materials became the backbone of Brain Computer interfaces. Carbon was fully compatible with human body and the high-speed channels offered gave enhanced capabilities to humans.

Electronics made with Nanotubes produce little to no heat. More complex computations were done without breaking a sweat. 3D structures helped pack even more transistors than ever thought possible.

The metallic Nanotubes along with their semiconducting nanotubes were used to create reconfigurable Carbon Nanotube antennas that could form a charger in real-time. This became the defacto standard for charging devices on the go. All one had to do was lay down the phone on a table and in seconds it spoke to the table understood how much charge was needed and received packets of energy all without a user intervention.

Water needs an energy of 1.5eV to be broken down. That’s like the energy of blue light! Theoretically all the water should be broken down if this were true; however, thanks to its ability to be transparent; we have oceans of water. This Photolysis of water can occur if we can provide a surface on which to break down water. It turns out Nanotubes offer the perfect surface. Especially when made with Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes. This enabled Hydrogen economies to suddenly make an appearance. In orbital depots, the Nanotube based structures enabled rapid generation of fuel on Orbital depots while solving storage issues by storing the same as Water.

The same structures were excellent absorbers of sunlight at various wavelengths. All it needed was different diameters of tubes. Vertically aligned rectennas embedded inside the water membranes functioned to absorb light directly as a wave. This led to Rectennas whose performance was beyond any cell designed. The Nanotube rectenna cells ultimately became the de-facto standard on Earth systems.

The coming together of all these technologies in a short span of a decade changed humanity unlike any event in history. Suddenly all the systems required to conquer space were readily available. The final straw was the announcement of the Sub-Orbital flights of the Akkamaha class of SSTO built using CENCE. The first Single Stage to Orbit vehicle flown by anyone. Fiction suddenly became a reality. Every quarter the payload doubled while costs stayed the same. Each flight reduced cost of the next payload. The unique saucer shapes provided excellent control and a large surface area during re-entry. Evolving designs, improved technologies and a team that trusted each other with their lives created an exciting, hopeful future.