Thinnest Glass Discovered

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Molecule Thin Glass

Scientists from Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Netherlands have come across the thinnest glass in the world which is only as thick as a molecule. The glass is so thin that its individual silicon and oxygen atom are visible only through electron microscopy.

The glass discovered in the lab of Professor David A. Muller has also been published as holding the record for thinnest glass in the Guinness World Records 2014 Edition. The glass was discovered accidentally when researchers were making graphene, a 2D sheet of carbon atoms in a chicken wire crystal formation on copper foils in a quartz furnace. They noticed muck on the graphene, which on further inspection turned out to be composed of the elements of glass – silicon and oxygen.

Scientists therefore concluded that the glass which cannot be seen directly was created out of quartz after an air leak caused the copper foils comprising oxygen and silicon to react with it. A picture of the 2D glass was later produced and scientists are of the opinion that such a glass could be used in transistors by providing defect free, ultra thin material that could improve the performance of current processors in computers and smartphones. 


The most wonderful and precious element of universe is the human life which can only be guided by the right knowledge and right attitude. So, here is an ocean of knowledge, both in English and Hindi encompassing every detail and each facet of human life which ‘one must know’ in order to grow and attain the summits of success. A team of around 200 dedicated members is working ceaselessly to turn such a colossal dream into reality. We are confident that this portal will help bring change in people across the world.

Content creation, research, development and execution done in-house at Aatman Innovations.