Copper Enclosed Carbon Nano-Tube Construction - Reducing Radiation Risks and Energy Collection - By Lance Winslow - The International NanoScience Community

By Lance WinslowLong-term robotic probe or manned human space flight will require special strategies, to prevent electronic equipment failures or health risks. New materials will be needed to wrap a safety factor around the capsule or probe. New innovative power and propulsion systems will be needed for unlimited durations, something that we still have not completely perfected.One interesting proposal set forth by the online think tank is to have multiple layers of carbon nano-tube construction with copper atoms that bounce inside the nano-tubes, a few layers back. These bouncing copper atoms will provide electricity to run the systems, as well as become a radiation barrier to prevent the harm to human health or organic sustainable systems. It would also prevent damage to electronic equipment, while providing energy that would normally be wasted and unused.How close is such technology to becoming a reality? Well, the technology is here, but the cost is very high and therefore it will take a while until mass production can be attained at a cost that is realistic to building large quantities of material needed to see such a concept to fruition. If we are to send humans into space for long-periods of time, perhaps in excess of their lifetimes, then we must consider future technologies which will allow for this.Experimenting with carbon nano-tube technologies in material sciences makes sense and the potentiality for transfer technologies clearly justifies the cost, even if such strategies are never used in space or leap-frogged by the next newest thing in the future. Think on this.By Lance Winslow

Comments

Min Zhang March 22, 2010 at 2:25am

good info. and good blog. i'll visit often.
Lance Winslow June 4, 2009 at 11:45am

This is very interesting in NASA News:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/03jun_fakeastronaut.htm?lis...
Lance Winslow May 28, 2009 at 8:24am

DWoroner, I believe the concept we came up with was a composite structure using Buckypaper, Graphene coatings and then the carbon nano-tubes. The atoms or molecules of copper, or perhaps something else, looked good, but yes, I completely agree on the need to calculate.

I agree, the concept does not have to be for space, it could be used for a Nuclear Aircraft, Lightweight submarine, submerged city, all sorts of things, in fact the more we thought about it the more applications we considered. Even aircraft skin which would be free flowing with the airflow for improved efficiency, a second layer of skin. In that case the electron trade of the boundary layer friction would power this whole thing up, make it shape shifting as needed, it opens up a whole new realm of manueverability, stability and safety. Plus it doesn't weigh anything.

I merely mentioned space, because radiation is a problem for probes and space craft, and we can use that energy for power. Plus, space applications are quite frankly much more interesting and "fundable" too, or at least you can talk about potential futures without anyone calling you a Sci Fi nut.
DWoroner April 10, 2009 at 2:29am

Dear Mr. Winslow,
I have been working along those lines (whenever I have had a moment amongst other business.) for almost 8 years. I have been able to achieve some success utilizing a patent pending method of entwining certain types of nanites with bamboo. This is difficult, as the element cant be toxic to a growing living thing.
So it was, when I proposed several years ago that some "living tissue soluble, non toxic" nanite be used in "chains to form targeted medicines" < originally i envisioned attacking cancer this way..... now, i watch and hear from friends who tell me several pharma companies are doing just that. Sounds like I might be hinting @ sour grapes right? No, not at all. I would love to see so many different things happen, Im just happy considering them.
Your article is interesting, though, I am curous and hope you don't mind me asking a question or two?
If you used "moving atoms" of what I suppose would be encaged copper, within several or at least two layers, would the radiation not "leak" past these moving atoms?
Sort of the same question applies to "If there are moving atoms in a matrice, then how would this protect and keep safe electronics and lower power requirements/prevent loss leakage?"
My thought on this (not space) < which I think should be turned over to "Mars Society" org...
Is that unless you could "constrain" within a calculable distance how far these atoms move, and are not otherwise entwined within the matrice, is how can anyone be sure? I guess there are ways to "microscopy" that?
Though, to see (or at least try to understand) what you mean, at least from what Ive learned is that perhaps this matrice would allow for a "pliable and stretchable" final material....... just a thought or two...
Thanks for letting me simply say "cool!, im curious"..... : ) Best, Dave