“I wish to close with a sort of retrospective I think about on the three most incredible elements in our pursuit of technology
Silicon. I have been an electrical engineer for all my life, and read many articles about alternatives to silicon for microprocessors, such as germanium, DNA, proteins, optical components, and others. And all the while, there have been predictions that Moore’s law would come to an end.
While people were talking about these alternatives, Silicon microprocessors just kept on getting better and better and more powerful. Moore's law doesn't run out for humanity because Moore's Law is a measure of ingenuity, and ingenuity is an unlimited resource.
Lithium. When it comes to batteries the lead chemistry will always be based on lithium. It's the lightest metal, it is only the third heaviest element, and it has the largest electrode potential, so the energy ratio is the best.
Hydrogen. And when it comes to fuels, hydrogen is magic. It's the number one element. No nasty by products when it burns.
I wrote a Cosmos article called Silicon is King. Another Cosmos article called Lithium being Queen. I also wrote an article on Hydrogen, but I didn't get a good title for it! On reflection, maybe hydrogen is Supreme.
There is something very special about these three elements. There are other important ones too, but I'm not sure the top three will ever be dislodged.”