Camera Flashes Kill Nanotubes

Fnordmonger writes "New Scientist is running a story claiming that flash photography can cause nanotubes to explode. Basically , the carbon absorbs heat, which cannot be dissipated. Instead, the energy is released in an explosion. There is a cool video there of the stuff going off."

Comments

Useful property of such a reaction

[Anonymous Coward]

My company About.com listing handles some research in the field of nanotubes, and we have been working with the exploding property to design light triggered switches (i.e. when the nanotube explodes it triggers a reaction with surrounding circuitry to switch on or off a system). Our one problem has been the fact reusability.

Light triggered reactions like this are often very helpful in the field of experimental science (such as triggering a sensor when a laser switches on), as well as timing systems for methods which rely on circadian rythms. It's interesting to see the research we've been basing out product line on get front line coverage like this.

The nice thing about such a switch is the realtive availability of carbon with which to manufacture the nanotubes, makes them a very renewable resource.

Re:Useful property of such a reaction

[Anonymous Coward]

That's a very interesting point, I could see how you could use this, but not in a photo-voltaic cell. Possibly it could be used on the houses for water heating (similar to current panels but in a more efficient fashion), thereby using the heat energy, but cutting out the electrical middle man?

Here's an article which covers a similar idea, using the non-voltaic cells, an interesting read, I wonder if they have considered using nanotubes for such a process.