A atom Even though it is a million times thinner than a hair, it is possible to “feel” with your fingers a substitution of a single atom in a material, attests to a study published in Soft Matter by researchers at the University of Delaware. Of course, we will not discern the difference by the “relief” of the atom itself but because the chemical composition of the material affects the perception tactile.
Researchers tested several compounds applied in a thin layer of a single molecule thick on a plate silicon. Of the six pairs of compounds tested, human testers were able to distinguish three, including one where a single atom of carbone was replaced by an atom ofazote. « Some testers told us that some surfaces were a little more gritty and others were more velvety., explains Charles Dhong to New Scientist. The way molecules fit together changes the amount of friction ».
This approach could be used for applications for the visually impaired or to create textures in virtual reality, argue the authors. For example to make “feel” velvet or wood on the screen of a smartphone. We can already imagine the potential for clothing e-commerce!
