|
A
group of Mexican researchers have changed the old alchemists’
desire of turning lead into gold. In this case, scientists
have used a traditional product from their country, tequila,
to cover surfaces with a layer of crystallized carbon with
a diamond structure.
Beneath the frivolous appearance of the issue, the findings
contribute to the development of a better technique of a process
of major interest in electronics. Scientists have known
for a long time that diamond, which is in its purest state
an insulating material, becomes the perfect semiconductor
if it has the proper impurities. By evaporating a carbon,
oxygen and hydrogen mixture on a surface, a semiconductor
film can be attained, that offers properties that are more
advantageous than the traditional silicon for extreme working
conditions.
Other authors had already worked in this process using mixtures
of ethanol, the alcohol found in consumption beverages. The
team of the Nuevo León University, lead by Víctor
Castaño, found that white tequila “naturally
has the right atomic composition to obtain the proper diamond
nucleation,” according to the study published in
web arxiv.org.
According to Science, this is not the strangest experiment
that has been carried out with the same end. Previous attempts
by American, Russian and Japanese teams have employed whisky,
vodka and sake, respectively. The chemist from the British
University in Bristol, Paul May, deserves the most
original idea award: “Once we produced a diamond
using as a carbon source the fat from a lamb kebab.”
All of them swore having been sober when they worked
July 8th, 2008
If
you wish, you can send us your opinion about these articles.
Remember to include in the form the name of the article
you want to comment on. You may use a pseudonym. Your
e-mail address will not be published and will not be
added to any mailing list. We will only use it to contact
you in case of any doubts.
|
|
