Internet much faster thanks to graphene

A study on the graphene which publishes the latest issue of the journal Nature Communications reveals a key formula for improving the characteristics of such devices and use them as a photodetector material for future high-speed optical communications . "Scientists had already shown that placing two wire ropes within walking distance of the graphene and radiate light on the structure, generating electricity. It was a simple device that functioned as a basic photovoltaic cell, "say the authors. The major obstacles encountered when implementing this mechanism was its low efficiency. That is, graphene is the world's thinnest material absorbs little light but , about 3%, and passes through the rest of yours, so you can not take for generating electricity.

 The Russian Nobel laureate Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov of the University of Manchester (UK) have solved the problem by combining tiny graphene with metal structures placed in a special way on this material , as spread SINC. "Combined with these metal nanostructures, graphene could take up to twenty times more light without sacrificing its speed at all," says research. The most important thing about this discovery is that its practical application would involve an incredible speed communication cables internet . Thanks to the unique nature of the electrons in graphene and its high mobility, communication speed could be achieved with this material may be tens and potentially hundreds of times higher than the current fastest cable. For Andrea Ferrari , professor of engineering at the University of Cambridge and director of the collaborative team of the university, the results demonstrate the great potential of graphene in the fields of photonics and optoelectronics, as it may apply to a wide variety of devices useful, such as solar cells or photodetectors.