Scientists use Graphene to build world’s smallest FM radio transmitter

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Graphene has been used by US researchers to create the world’s smallest FM radio transmitter, a nano-mechanical system that can create FM signals. Taking advantage of graphene’s special properties ( its mechanical strength and electrical conduction ) researchers from Columbia University led by James Hone have achieved this feat. “This work is significant in that it demonstrates an application of graphene that cannot be achieved using conventional materials,” Prof. Hone said. He further added “And it’s an important first step in advancing wireless signal processing and designing ultrathin, efficient cell phones. Our devices are much smaller than any other sources of radio signals, and can be put on the same chip that’s used for data processing,” Prof. Hone added. The team used graphene’s mechanical ‘stretchability’ to tune the output frequency of their custom oscillator, creating a nano-mechanical version of an electronic component known as a voltage controlled oscillator that is used to create a FM signal. They again used it to make a NEMS device with a frequency of about 100 Mhz (FM radio uses 87.7 to 108 Mhz). Low-frequency music signals from an iPhone were used to module the carrier signal. “This device is by far the smallest system that can create such FM signals,” said Prof. Hone.