WhatsApp In most science fiction, I am equal parts amused and intrigued by the technology that shapes the world on the page. At times I find myself too easily scoffing at the unbelievable capabilities described. A ship that can generate electricity from the beating of waves on its hull? Nanobots capable of gaining sentience and possessing a human? Instinctively, I take a deep breath, ready to treat the book as more fantastical than based in any real “science.” However, as I’ve grown as an engineer and scientist, I have found a great appreciation for the imaginative technology in science fiction, often pondering on how to marry the materials we have today to the technologies of tomorrow. I have primarily spent my scientific career studying nanomaterials, specifically two dimensional (2D) materials, analyzing synthesis modes and exploring their novel properties. In that time, I have learned how surprisingly often that 2D-tech makes cameos in sci-fi. Yet, when considering their place on a Starship, their use becomes less obvious. After all, they’re nanomaterials: how could they contribute to the operation of these large, space traversing behemoths? But it is actually the remarkable characteristics brought about by their size that makes them so versatile and valuable for use in a Starship. What is a Two Dimensional Material? Nowadays, you can’t throw a stone without hitting some piece of media that incorporates the phrase “nano” or “quantum.” Colloquially, it just means cool, small technology, but before describing the ways 2D materials contribute to a Starship, we should first define the true meaning of “nano” and what makes a material 2D. By definition, the prefix “nano” denotes a factor of one billionth, or 0.000000001. When considering “nanotechnology” or “nanomaterials,” these phrases refer to materials or technology on the scale of roughly 100 nanometers or smaller. These nanomaterials are not only exciting due to the versatility supplied by their minute size, but also their behavior at these small length scales. As we decrease the size of a material, its properties change and no longer follow the rules of classical physics, entering the realm of quantum mechanics. In this quantum realm, particles behave more like waves than solid objects, and their properties become uncertain and governed by probabilities, leading to entirely new abilities. When considering nanomaterials, this can refer to two-, one-, or even zero-dimensional structures! As we exist in a three-dimensional world, the concept of reduced dimensionality is hard to reconcile with physical reality. These materials are not actually missing a dimension or two, but rather these dimensions have been so far reduced that the material no longer acts as a 3D, or “bulk,” object. We can understand this by considering a ream of paper, it has an obvious length, width and height. It would be extremely difficult to cut, tear, or even crinkle the entire stack. However, if we remove a single sheet of paper from the stack, its height is incredibly small compared to its length and width. Now, we can easily rip, fold, and crumple the sheet. A similar concept is applied to 2D materials, first discovered with the generation of graphene, a single sheet of carbon atoms1. This reduction in the materials’ size unlocks novel, electrical, optical, mechanical, and thermal properties. These exciting characteristics, combined with the size of the 2D materials, establish them as a material for the future, with a wide variety of applications. In this article, I will first focus on more “traditional” technologies employing 2D materials scientists are actively researching and are on the brink of integration in our everyday lives. Then, we will switch our focus to more inventive and futuristic ways 2D materials can play a role on Starships. 2D-based computation 2D materials are of particular interest for their use in novel and cutting-edge electronic technology. An obstacle in much of device fabrication is the desire to push toward smaller and smaller technologies with enhanced abilities. As stated previously, many materials tend to behave differently within a very small length scale, which can limit how small devices can be made without compromising their properties. The advantage of 2D materials is not only their small size, but the quantum effects are the very behavior that makes them attractive for device integration. Scientists have not only used them to replace typically used electronic materials, but have begun designing completely new device architectures outside of the traditional silicon transistor that has been employed in computers since their advent in the 1960s. Such advancements are especially relevant in the context of Starships, where command centers require electronics capable of real-time course correction, environmental monitoring, and secure communication. While modern, silicon-based technologies offer impressive computational power, they are approaching their fundamental physical limits. In contrast, 2D materials offer a promising path forward, enabling robust, compact, and efficient devices ideally suited for the next generation of aerospace systems. Their small size, coupled with their compelling properties, will ensure the Starship has access to state-of-the-art technologies while maintaining a low payload. This is why 2D materials, along with other nanomaterials, are often referred to as the materials of tomorrow. Not only are they overcoming existing limitations but are also redefining what is possible in electronics. Although it has now gained popularity in the mainstream vernacular, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in science fiction for decades. From HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey to Eddie from A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, novelists have long included sentient machines and digital companions in their stories. Today, we are witnessing many of these once-fantastical ideas become reality. However, the realization of this dream brings an enormous cost: AI is incredibly energy intensive, demanding extreme amounts of computational power and complex computational infrastructure that strains our current systems. As we evolve with a world increasingly shaped by AI, we, and our hardware, must evolve with it. Most devices today employ the Von Neumann architecture, which keeps computational processing units and system memory separate. This separation struggles to keep pace with AI, creating a bottleneck that slows performance and wastes energy. To overcome this, researchers have shifted to new computational paradigms that combine processing and memory storage in one unit. 2D materials play a pivotal role in this revolution, as their atomic thinness and unique electronic properties make them prime candidates for realizing these technologies. For instance, consider a machine that does not simply compute, but mimics the neurons and synapses found in our brain. A machine that can think. Neuromorphic computing uses this approach2. 2D materials are often used as “memristors” in these devices, an electronic component that regulates electrical current and remembers how much charge has passed through it, even after the power is turned off. Such a system drastically reduces the necessary compute power for advanced AI, which could one day enable on-board intelligent companions to subsist for years on minimal power during deep-space expeditions. The atomic-scale thinness inherent to the 2D material itself can reduce power by improving electrostatic control, resulting in less leakage currents and lower voltage requirements. When considering the individual material used, a 2D material with high mobility, like graphene or MoS2, enables fast switching speeds and low voltages. These 2D materials are part of a class of layered structures called van der Waals solids. In these solids, there is strong in-plane bonding between atoms whereas the forces holding the layers together are relatively weak. The weak out of plane bonding enables the layers to be separated, or exfoliated, into 2D sheets. The unique bonding structure empowers scientists to easily engineer complex stacking architectures with tailored properties3. In this way, a custom neuromorphic architecture can be designed and generated from the ground up, powering AI systems that can journey with us through space. Another exciting realm for 2D materials to contribute is quantum computing. Traditional computers operate using binary bits: a 0 or 1. However, quantum computing leverages quantum bits, “qubits,” which exist in superposition, allowing for both states to be occupied at simultaneous. This superposition exponentially scales the computational power available. Imagine navigating a maze: a classical bit can only take one path at a time, but a quantum system operates like an army of clones, quickly identifying the correct path without trial-and-error setbacks. Beyond computation, quantum technologies encompass quantum communication and cryptography, which offer effective modes to transmit sensitive information, allowing starships to communicate without fear of interception. 2D materials have been extensively probed as qubit sources. Photons, a single particle of light, are a promising medium for qubits and can be emitted by 2D materials like hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and certain TMDs4. An advantage of using 2D materials as single photon emitters in quantum computing is their atomically thin nature, making the extraction of the photonic qubits easier. Moreover, their incredibly flat nature opens the door to easy integration into plasmonic cavities, a necessary attribute for practical use in a quantum information system. The emission centers in the 2D materials are often sourced from “point defects,” a location within the material where one or two atoms are out of place. This could be as simple as a missing atom, or a missing atom with a foreign element substituted adjacent to the vacancy. This localized defect creates a disruption in the material’s structure, modifying the electronic structure at that site. As we advance toward an era of quantum-enhanced technologies, 2D materials may form the foundational fabric of secure, intelligent starship networks, bringing quantum supremacy into deep space. Until now, we have focused on the practical role of 2D materials in the electronic systems on starships, as that is where they have been most extensively studied. But what if we broaden our purview, thinking like some of our favorite sci-fi authors. If we think beyond circuitry and computation, what other roles could these atomically thin materials play in building a more robust, versatile starship? 2D Materials in Starship Construction Article Author Meghan Leger MXenes are a relatively recent addition to the 2D materials umbrella and possess the chemical formula Mn+1XnTx, where M is a transition metal, X is carbon and/or nitrogen, and T represents a surface terminating functional group such as fluorine or oxygen5. These materials are hydrophilic, allowing them to easily disperse in organic solvents and create stable solutions. Coupling this accessible fabrication mode with their superior electrical conductivity, MXenes can be formed into free-standing, conductive films. While MXenes have been heavily investigated for their use in energy storage due to their excellent electrochemical properties, another attribute of theirs highlights their value to starship design: electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding6. Thanks to their conductivity, MXenes efficiently dissipate energy via conduction or reflection, resulting in a surface with low emissivity. This means they radiate minimal heat and therefore emit a low amount of infrared (IR) waves. This insignificant IR emission makes MXenes nearly invisible to heat-tracking sensors. This cloaking capability would keep a Starship coated in MXenes invisible in the vast, frigid expanse of space, becoming indistinguishable from the vacuum in which it is blanketed. Graphene is the original 2D material, its discovery birthed the entire field of 2D material research, inspiring development of countless new material families. Graphene itself is incredibly remarkable: it possesses excellent electrical conductivity, it is one of the strongest materials ever tested, and, as it is a single layer of covalently bonded carbon atoms, it is the thinnest known material known. Its thin, ultralight yet incredibly strong structure make it graphene standout as an attractive material candidate to reinforce starship hulls7. By adding a graphene layer or composite, Starships can be shielded from meteorites or other hazardous impacts. Beyond physical shielding, the high thermal conductivity of graphene works to efficiently dissipate heat, ideal when entering and exiting planets’ atmospheres or jumping into warp speed, where thermal stresses are extreme8. TMDs have immense potential past employment in futuristic electronics, offering broader applications on a Starship. TMDs are a popular 2D material to use in sensors due to their reactive defect sites and their sensitivity to strain9. TMD sensors embedded in the surface of the Starship can be used to analyze changes in atmospheres during approach. The mechanism behind these sensors is based on gas molecules adsorbing onto the TMD surface. When adsorbing onto the TMD surface, the gas molecule will either donate or withdraw electrons, altering the TMD’s electrical properties. This shift results in a measurable shift in conductivity that can be quantified to identify the presence and concentration of various gases. TMDs are also flexible, yet highly sensitive to mechanical strain, their bandgap modulating based on applied compressive or tensile strain. Through optical detection, the bandgap adjustment can be observed by monitoring changes in the color of the TMD emission. This sensitivity makes TMDs ideal for tracking the starship’s structural integrity, capable of detecting cracks in the microstructure or pressure fluctuations caused by rapid acceleration and relaying the information to the commend center in real time. From reshaping the future of electronics to enabling the next frontier of space exploration, 2D materials stand poised to become the backbone of Starship technology. Their impact begins with revolutionizing computation, whether by replacing silicon in traditional transistors, powering brain-inspired neuromorphic systems, or advancing quantum information processing. This positions them as natural candidates for the command centers of future vessels, seamlessly supporting on-board AI and responsive systems. But their potential doesn’t end at the circuit board. With creative engineering, 2D materials can transcend conventional applications: MXenes offer stealth capabilities by masking thermal signatures; graphene provides unparalleled strength and heat dissipation for hull reinforcement; and TMDs serve as sensitive, multifunctional sensors embedded throughout a ship’s structure. These atomically thin materials don’t just support a Starship: rather, they help define what a Starship can be. Read Grimdark Magazine #43 This article first appears in Grimdark Magazine #43 References Novoselov, K. S. et al. Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films. Science 306, 666–669 (2004). Liu, C. et al. Two-dimensional materials for next-generation computing technologies. Nat. Nanotechnol. 15, 545–557 (2020). Geim, A. K. & Grigorieva, I. V. Van der Waals heterostructures. Nature 499, 419–425 (2013). Aharonovich, I., Englund, D. & Toth, M. Solid-state single-photon emitters. Nat. Photonics 10, 631–641 (2016). Naguib, M. et al. Two-Dimensional Nanocrystals Produced by Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2. Adv. Mater. 23, 4248–4253 (2011). Han, M. et al. Beyond Ti3 C2 T x : MXenes for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding. ACS Nano 14, 5008–5016 (2020). Lee, C., Wei, X., Kysar, J. W. & Hone, J. Measurement of the Elastic Properties and Intrinsic Strength of Monolayer Graphene. Science 321, 385–388 (2008). Balandin, A. A. et al. Superior Thermal Conductivity of Single-Layer Graphene. Nano Lett. 8, 902–907 (2008). Ping, J., Fan, Z., Sindoro, M., Ying, Y. & Zhang, H. Recent Advances in Sensing Applications of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheets and Their Composites. Adv. Funct. Mater. 27, (2017). This article first appears in Grimdark Magazine #43 Tags Source: https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/thinner-stronger-smarter-the-two-dimensional-future-of-starship-design/