Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: scientizscht on 19/09/2018 18:49:23

Title: What is the thinnest cable possible?
Post by: scientizscht on 19/09/2018 18:49:23

Can we construct cable of nanometers in diameter? How much current they can take?

Is it possible to create on a surface a nanometers thick layer ?

Title: Re: What is the thinnest cable possible?
Post by: Bored chemist on 19/09/2018 18:56:20

Does 1500nm count?
If so then we have been making nano scale wires since the 19thC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wollaston_wire

Quote from: scientizscht on 19/09/2018 18:49:23

Is it possible to create on a surface a nanometers thick layer ?

Again, that's old tech
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langmuir%E2%80%93Blodgett_trough#History

Title: Re: What is the thinnest cable possible?
Post by: evan_au on 21/09/2018 23:40:54

Carbon nanotubes have been made < 0.5nm in diameter.

But a "cable" normally implies multiple strands. In the case of carbon nanotubes, you can have tubes inside other tubes.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube#Extreme_carbon_nanotubes

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How much current they can take?

From the above article, theory suggests as high as 4x10⁹A/cm², which is 1000 times higher than copper. But in practise, it is very hard to produce repeatable metallic carbon nanotubes, or to join carbon nanotubes onto other conductors to make the measurements (without the join introducing significant resistance).

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Is it possible to create on a surface a nanometers thick layer ?

Yes - the latest generation of computer chips being prototyped now for use in 5G cellphones use a 7nm technology, which means that the smallest features on the chip are just 7nm across. However, 10nm chips are currently more practical for volume production.

Some steps add or remove material using a variety of mechanical, optical, chemical and plasma processes.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_device_fabrication#Processing