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.