MXene is Conductive 'Antenna Spray Paint' for IoT Devices
Drexel University researchers have discovered a way to turn a type of two-dimensional, conductive material, called MXene, into antenna spray paint. The development, which could help connect the Internet of Things (IoT), was reported in the journal Science Advances . The antenna spray, which can be applied as a thin — even invisible — coating, can create antennas that perform as well or better than those currently being used in smartphones. And they exceed the performance of new antenna materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes.
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00:00:00 antennas are the technological glue of our ultra connected society they connect our calls send our texts and emails and let us post pictures and videos from almost anywhere antennas give us the freedom to stay on the go from highways and Subway's to airports and check out lines they are also the key for unlocking the potential of smart technology anything you want to
00:00:24 communicate with collect data from or remotely control needs and antenna just imagine the things we could connect with if installing an antenna was as easy as doing a little spray painting at Drexel University researchers are doing just that spraying and tenant's all it takes is a few dashes of a special water-soluble titanium carbide powder called Maxine
00:00:51 that was invented at Drexel and a little water just mix and voila antenna spray the spray on antennas work because of the Maxine materials unique ability to transmit radio waves when applied as a very thin even invisible coating Maxine antennas function just like the larger metal ones in phones and mobile devices but they take up virtually no space and can turn almost any object into a fully
00:01:21 functional transmitter with just a few sprays just think about all the things you'd like to spray and communicate with lost socks car keys pets this antenna technology could help us communicate with just about anything ok maybe not anything but some really important things like roads and bridges baby cribs hospital gowns and other things that help keep us safe
00:01:48 this research is connecting us with the world in exciting new ways and it's only happening at Drexel [Music]