Scientists at the University of Manchester have developed the thinnest fabric in the world using a chemical process. The mesh of chain-like organic molecules is 10,000 times thinner than a human hair. While mechanical methods can produce very fine fabrics, they are limited when it comes to producing molecular-scale meshes. Researchers have been exploring new methods to create the finest fabrics needed in nanotechnology. The team, led by David August, has now succeeded in creating the world’s thinnest fabric using chemical methods, according to a publication in the journal Nature. The mesh of chain-like organic molecules, connected like a conventional fabric, is only four nanometers thick. Despite its thinness, the molecules form a regular mesh consisting of threads running both under and over each other. The chemically produced nanotextile consists of 40 to 60 million threads per inch, compared to fine clothing fabrics that have around 1,500 threads per inch. The fabric is around 10,000 times thinner than a human hair.
The fabric was created using sulfur-containing hydrocarbons (dithioles), which contain both rigid elements from linked ring molecules and flexible chain segments. In a solution with iron ions and tetrafluoroborate ions, these threads cross over each other, forming sections of three interwoven molecular threads. The terminal sulfur groups then connect the organic threads, forming larger fabric patches that settle at the bottom of the laboratory vessel. In the final step, the auxiliary ions are washed away, leaving behind a polymer fabric made of organic molecules. The team was able to create a fabric that was just under one millimeter long and four nanometers thick in the experiment. The so-called molecular weaving could be used in the future to produce a variety of nanomaterials, such as the production of fine filters.
This breakthrough in fabric technology could have significant implications for the future of nanotechnology. The ability to create such fine fabrics could lead to the development of new materials with unique properties, such as increased strength or flexibility. The researchers believe that their method could be used to create a range of nanomaterials, including filters, sensors, and electronic devices. The development of this fabric is a significant step forward in the field of nanotechnology and could lead to new innovations in a range of industries.
David Leigh
