Science Questions

Are graphene-based transistors sensitive to lightning strikes?

Would a lightning strike affect the small components [Graphene Transistors] that you were talking about earlier? Mark, Bletchley

[Mark is referring to graphene transistors - transistors only one atom thick!]

Richard: Yes, I’m fairly sure it would because with all these components you’ve got electrons running through them. That gives you electricity, that’s the negative charge there. I think the lightning strike would disrupt them just as it would disrupt other electric components.

Chris: It might turn it into a sort of miniature barbecue because carbon burns beautifully in air so if you get enough current through it, it will get hot and presumably ignite?

Richard: Perhaps so.

April 2008