Chinese scientist made a new material make solar sail feasible

[YoucanYouup]

It has been a great challenge to achieve the direct light manipulation of matter on a bulk scale. In this work the direct light propulsion of matter is observed on a macroscopic scale using a bulk graphene-based material. The unique structure and properties of graphene, and the novel morphology of the bulk three-dimensional linked graphene material make it capable not only of absorbing light at various wavelengths but also of emitting energetic electrons efficiently enough to drive the bulk material, following Newtonian mechanics. Thus, the unique photonic and electronic properties of individual graphene sheets are manifested in the response of the bulk state. These results offer an exciting opportunity to bring about bulk-scale light manipulation with the potential to realize long-sought applications in areas such as the solar sail and space transportation driven directly by sunlight.
http://www.nature.com/nphoton/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nphoton.2015.105.html
=====================================

video begin at 00:30
you can see light push the material moving
中国研发出世界首个“光驱动”新材料-20150621新闻联播-凤凰视频-最具媒体品质的综合视频门户-凤凰网
second video shows light push material fly
碳世纪出品-石墨烯光电推动现象—在线播放—优酷网，视频高清在线观看

 

[YoucanYouup]

This material is amazing
scientist can use them to build a solar sail
light can push the spaceship with the solar sail