September 3, 2009 - 7:15am
Scientists have created the first chemical computer that works on the basis of crystallization of sodium acetate. This produces the so called sodium acetate trihydrate CH3COONa3H2O, which is known as hot ice as well.
The working principle is described this way: “We prepare a supersaturated clear solution of sodium acetate trihydrate CH3COONa3H2O, pour the hot solution into Petri dishes and cool the solution down to -5oC. To induce crystallization we briefly immerse aluminum wire (powdered with fine crystals of the sodium acetate) into the solution. To compute shortest paths in a space with obstacles we mimic obstacles with blobs of silicon, small Petri dishes fixed to the bottom of experimental container and labyrinths made of Blu-Tack.”
By means of such “computer” researchers managed to perform several logic operations like AND and OR. With the help of these operations scientists programmed the machine to solve some elementary tasks.
The working principle is described this way: “We prepare a supersaturated clear solution of sodium acetate trihydrate CH3COONa3H2O, pour the hot solution into Petri dishes and cool the solution down to -5oC. To induce crystallization we briefly immerse aluminum wire (powdered with fine crystals of the sodium acetate) into the solution. To compute shortest paths in a space with obstacles we mimic obstacles with blobs of silicon, small Petri dishes fixed to the bottom of experimental container and labyrinths made of Blu-Tack.”
By means of such “computer” researchers managed to perform several logic operations like AND and OR. With the help of these operations scientists programmed the machine to solve some elementary tasks.