James Tour Honored for Nanotechnology Achievements
The Houston Technology Center recently celebrated its 10th year anniversary, and during the said event, honored 6 people who have made great contributions to the field of nanotechnology. James Tour was one of the awardees. Tour is a laboratory professor in Rice University; he teaches chemistry, computer science, materials science, and mechanical engineering. He is also holder of over 40 patents and a consistently active nanotechnology innovator. In fact, he is most famous for his invention of the so-called nanoribbons.
Specifically, James Tour and his team of scientists were able to develop a process of unzipping or unraveling carbon nanotubes in room-temperature conditions. The result is the successful bulk production of nanoribbons or microscopic sheets of graphene that are much stronger (200x) than steel. These nanoribbons can be painted on to surfaces or combined with other substances and, in fact, are now being used extensively as an additive (conductive film) in the manufacture of conductive materials.