Could result in up to 100 times faster Web

British scientists have discovered a way to transmit light much more efficiently than current fiber optic technology. The technique uses increasingly popular graphene in conjunction with tiny metallic structures known as plasmonic nanostructures. The combination could transfer information at speeds tens or potentially hundreds of times faster than the fastest Internet cables available today.

Graphene, first identified in 2004, is a thin (one-atom-thick) form of crystalized carbon. It is the thinnest, strongest, crystalline material discovered to date. It can be stretched like rubber, is compatible with silicon technology, and is an exceptional conductor of heat and electricity. Graphene might also be cheap to produce commercially and has been pitched as the best of both worlds by some researchers.

Up until now, the major challenge in using graphene has been its poor ability to convey light. Normally, only about three percent of the light introduced into graphene is actually transmitted. The other 97 percent is essentially unused. The British researchers have found a way to make graphene 20 times more efficient as a light carrier without any negative impact on speed.

This is not the first time graphene has been suggested for use in communications applications. In May, University of California, Berkeley researchers demonstrated a photonic switch using the material. [Photo courtesy of AlexanderAlUS]

By Electronista Staff