What is so amazing about graphene? The new super stuff
- The strongest material in the world: 200 times stronger than steel!
- however flexible
- Conducts electricity better than copper
Graphene is compared in importance to the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. We will call Graphene the Graphene Era. Graphene is an allotrope (form) of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms. They form a hexagonal network of 2D material. It is ultralight but also extremely resistant. It is 200 times stronger than steel yet flexible. It is the thinnest material possible and is transparent. It is a better conductor than copper and is a perfect barrier.
The University of Manchester is working with Graphene on the following applications:
- Energy
- diaphragms
- Compounds and Coatings
- biomedical
- sensors
- electronics
- wearable technology
unbreakable mobiles
Indium tin oxide is the material now used for touch screens, but it is brittle. Graphene’s flexibility and durability along with its conductivity properties will transform everyday devices. You could wear your smartphone on your wrist. Your tablet could be so thin and flexible that you could roll it up and put it in your top pocket. You will never have to worry about breaking your phone again. It would be virtually indestructible.
Graphene in Batteries
Samsung has developed graphene batteries that can now charge mobile phones and car batteries faster. Too much faster! With a conventional lithium battery, it takes about an hour to recharge a mobile. The new graphene battery could recharge it in 12 minutes. That’s 5 times faster.
Samsung also wants to improve electric car batteries. Imagine fully charging your electric car in just one hour. To do this, scientists at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology have synthesized graphene into a 3D form, using silicon dioxide. This 3D shape (known as a graphene ball) is used to coat the electrodes of the battery. The result is a massive 45% increase in capacity, and as stated above, you have 5x the charging speed.
It’s hard to get power in and out of traditional batteries quickly. For example, if you take an electric Ferrari, can’t you go from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds? Because graphene is a good conductor, high-capacity batteries could unleash the energy needed to hit that 0-60 in 3 seconds.
energy storage
The 45% capacity increase has other uses. The University of Manchester is testing graphene battery storage with wind and solar power for the national grid.
graphene filtration
Graphene oxide membranes are capable of forming a perfect barrier for liquids and gases. They can separate organic solvent from water and remove water from a mixture of gases. They can even stop helium, the most difficult gas to block. The University of Manchester is currently testing grahene membranes for water filtration, gas separation and desalination.
graphene semiconductors
Due to its unique properties of thinness and conductivity, researchers have seen the potential of graphene as a semiconductor. At just 1 atom thick, graphene can conduct electricity at room temperature. These two useful properties could spell the end of silicon computer chips for graphene chips. Research has already shown that graphene chips are much faster processors than silicon chips.
Graphene used for Biomedicine
Graphene displays many useful properties. It has high electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and is 200 times stronger than steel. All these properties can be applied to biomedicine. It could be applied to heal skin wounds; delivery of drugs within the body and potentially change the behavior of cells within the body. for example, cancer treatment.
Grahene Infused Packaging
Plastic containers may seem impenetrable, but water molecules can still get through. This can affect the shelf life of food, electronics, and medicines.
With a single layer of graphene fused into a polymer packaging, water absorption is reduced a million times. Products are protected from dust, bacteria and water.
For example, a moisture-sensitive device, such as an organic light-emitting diode, must have water-restricting packaging. The graphene-infused polymer has increased the life of diodes by more than a year compared to 30 minutes with a graphene-free polymer.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the potential use of graphene coatings as a water repellent surface. It could find use in boat hulls, pot and pan linings, glass surfaces (mirrors, windows, windshields), and textiles.
The benefits of graphene in so many applications are mind blowing. Large-scale commercial production is the next challenge. We should see graphene-based products on the market this year (2018)
Full market penetration will take effect in the next 5 to 10 years. A very exciting time for the advancement of science and technology.
