One day, the world’s most expensive material might just be found inside our mobile devices.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have identified a powder valued at $140 million per gram, which they believe could eventually be widely used.
Implementing this material in iPhones could significantly improve navigation.
This is due to the powder’s potential to enhance GPS signals, eliminating weak connections.
Though this might sound improbable, it could soon become a reality.
This is because Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes, the official name of the powder, could be employed to develop tiny, highly precise atomic clocks.
These clocks are essential in GPS technology, utilizing atomic vibrations to measure time accurately.
Currently, atomic clocks are used in satellites to transmit precise timing to GPS signals, assisting in navigation.
The problem is that current atomic clocks are quite large, roughly the size of a room.
However, Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes could miniaturize these atomic clocks, making them small enough to fit into mobile phones.
This advancement would significantly improve the accuracy of services like Google and Apple Maps.
Researchers at Designer Carbon Materials from the University of Oxford suggest that the potential for miniature atomic clocks could enhance the safety of driverless cars, benefiting companies like Tesla and Elon Musk.
Accurate on-board atomic clocks could allow GPS systems to track vehicle locations even in areas with weak GPS signals, such as tunnels.
This innovation could also transform route guidance, creating smoother travel experiences.
Interestingly, the ‘fullerenes’ in the name refers to its structural design.
The substance forms a tiny cage of carbon atoms with a nitrogen atom inside.
The term ‘fullerene’ is inspired by its cage-like formation, a tribute to architect Richard Buckminster Fuller, known for his geodesic dome designs featuring unique interlocking triangles.
Lucius Cary, an Oxford Technology SEIS fund director, stated to the Telegraph that there are “many potential applications for this technology,” with the application to autonomous vehicles being a logical starting point.
“The most obvious is in controlling autonomous vehicles,” he explained. “If two cars are approaching each other on a country lane, knowing their positions within 2 meters is insufficient, but within 1 millimeter, it’s adequate.”
Despite this, Dr. Kyriakos Porfyrakis, who has been researching the substance since 2001, mentioned to the Telegraph: “It will take several years to complete this research project.”
“If there will be a final product, it should be miniature enough to fit into portable devices,” he added.