Graphene: Revolutionary Properties of the Super Material

Graphene is a single-layered form of carbon. It is not widely known but highly significant. This extraordinary material was discovered during an experiment using Scotch tape to peel layers off graphite, used in pencil lead. The substance left on the tape after several swipes was graphene. This groundbreaking discovery led to two scientists at the University of Manchester, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.

Extraordinary Properties of Graphene

Graphene boasts many extraordinary properties that make it a super material. It's over 200 times stronger than steel by weight, making it the strongest material ever measured. This impressive strength is due to the strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms in the hexagonal lattice structure. Despite its strength, graphene is incredibly lightweight and flexible, a combination of characteristics rarely found in materials.

In addition to its strength, graphene possesses other unique properties:

• Transparency: Graphene is almost entirely transparent, allowing about 97.7% of light to pass through. This makes it an ideal material for applications in transparent conductive films used in touchscreens and displays.
• Conductivity: Graphene is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity—better than copper. This high electrical conductivity is due to the mobility of electrons within the graphene layer, making it suitable for use in high-speed electronic devices and sensors.

Enhancing Other Materials

One unique aspect of graphene is its ability to enhance the properties of other materials. For instance, they become much stronger and more conductive when added to plastics. This opens up numerous possibilities for creating lightweight, durable, and conductive composites in various industries, from automotive to aerospace.

Emerging Applications

Despite its unique characteristics, applications using graphene are only beginning to emerge. Graphene is involved in various fields such as electronics, energy storage (batteries), sensors, and sports equipment like tennis rackets. For instance, graphene-enhanced batteries promise higher capacity and faster charging times than traditional lithium-ion batteries.

Future Potential

Research into possible future applications of graphene includes developing ultra-thin and flexible electronic devices and speeding up optoelectronic elements that could revolutionize the telecommunications industry. Its unique properties may yield uses we can't currently imagine, as the minute scale at which these atomic structures operate opens new technological possibilities. Scientists are exploring graphene's potential in creating flexible and wearable electronics, advanced medical devices, and even desalination processes to produce clean drinking water from seawater.

References

1. Nobel Prize. (2010). The Nobel Prize in Physics 2010. Retrieved from Nobel Prize
2. Geim, A., & Novoselov, K. (2004). Graphene: Exploring carbon flatland. Retrieved from University of Manchester
3. BBC. (2014). Graphene: The quest to unlock the secrets of the super material. Retrieved from BBC
4. Nature Materials. (2007). Electrical conductivity of graphene. Retrieved from Nature Materials
5. The Guardian. (2013). Graphene: The new wonder material. Retrieved from The Guardian
6. Scientific American. (2017). Graphene's potential: Where next? Retrieved from Scientific American