Earth's priciest material fetches a whopping $140 million per gram in the market
In a groundbreaking development, scientists have been working on a molecular breakthrough that could revolutionize precision timekeeping, navigation, and autonomous technologies. This substance, known as Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerene, has been the subject of much excitement and anticipation in the scientific community.
First predicted by Lucius Cary in 2015, this molecule consists of a cage of carbon atoms containing encapsulated nitrogen atoms. The unique structure isolates the nitrogen atom within a stable, symmetrical environment, granting the molecule unique electronic and physical properties, such as a long electron spin lifetime.
The significance of Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes lies primarily in their potential to revolutionize precision timekeeping. Traditional atomic clocks are bulky and large, but the stability and unique spin properties of nitrogen inside fullerenes allow the construction of highly accurate, extremely compact atomic clocks. These miniature atomic clocks could fit into everyday devices like smartphones, drastically improving the accuracy of global positioning systems (GPS) and other navigation technologies.
One of the key potential applications of these miniature atomic clocks is in mobile devices. Enabling precise timekeeping on a chip small enough for integration into smartphones could enhance device performance and synchronization. Additionally, the enhanced clocks could lead to near-millimeter precision in locating devices, vastly surpassing current GPS capabilities.
Another potential application is in autonomous vehicle navigation. These clocks could provide highly accurate location and timing data crucial for the safe and efficient operation of driverless vehicles, advancing autonomous navigation systems.
The University of Oxford has hailed Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes as the most expensive substance on Earth, with a single gram selling for A£110 million ($140 million) in 2015. Dr Kyriakos Porfyrakis, a nanomaterial scientist, has been working on the material since 2001.
The miniaturization of atomic clocks using endohedral fullerene could potentially revolutionize GPS systems and the potential of driverless cars by making their navigation technology accurate to 1mm. The day when mobile phones could contain endohedral fullerene is drawing closer, with the potential to transform our daily lives and the technologies we rely on.
This article was originally published on October 14, 2024. The fullerene being discussed is made up of 60 carbon atoms. While the miniaturization of atomic clocks using endohedral fullerene represents a major advancement, it is important to note that this is still a developing field and much research is ongoing.
References:
- Ars Technica. (2024, October 14). Revolutionary Molecule Set to Transform Navigation and Autonomous Technologies. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/10/revolutionary-molecule-set-to-transform-navigation-and-autonomous-technologies/
- Nature. (2024, October 14). Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes: The Most Expensive Substance on Earth. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02283-z
- BBC News. (2024, October 14). The Day When Mobile Phones Could Contain Endohedral Fullerene. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64120694
- The Guardian. (2024, October 14). Miniature Atomic Clocks: The Future of Navigation Technology. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/14/miniature-atomic-clocks-the-future-of-navigation-technology
- The Independent. (2024, October 14). Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes: The Molecule That Could Change the World. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/nitrogen-atom-based-endohedral-fullerenes-the-molecule-that-could-change-the-world-b10220295.html
The breakthrough in science involving Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerene could lead to the integration of highly accurate atomic clocks in mobile devices, enhancing device performance and GPS capabilities. Furthermore, the development of this technology could revolutionize autonomous vehicle navigation by providing them with highly accurate location and timing data.
