Graphene is an allotrope of carbon. It is the basic building block of graphite and gets its name from that in that it is made up of a single layer of carbon atoms bonded together in a hexagonal lattice arrangement. Graphite has been around as a material since ancient times but it was only named graphene in the early part of the 20th Century. Since then, there have been many discoveries surrounding this unique material including the fact that it is 200 times stronger than steel and 65 times more conductive than copper.
What is Graphene? How was Graphene Discovered?
Graphene is the first two-dimensional material ever discovered. It is a one atom thick planar sheet of sp2-bonded carbon atoms that are densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice. Graphene has high electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and extraordinary optical properties.
Graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Geim and Novoselov at The University of Manchester. They used a simple method known as the Scotch Tape technique to isolate graphene from graphite by peeling layers of graphene with sticky tape. This method has since been used by many research groups around the world to isolate graphene.
The name of this material comes from the Greek word “graphein”, meaning to write or draw. The name is appropriate because 2D sheets of carbon atoms can be drawn on paper or any other flat surface.
The Properties of Graphene. Creating a Graphene Membrane.
The properties of graphene have been studied for a long time, and thanks to its unique properties, it is ideal for use in a Hyperloop system. Graphene has an extremely low density while also being incredibly strong. It has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any material ever tested. This allows it to be very light weight while being able to withstand the extreme pressure required in a Hyperloop system.
In addition to the strength needed in a Hyperloop system, graphene also provides incredible impermeability. It is impossible for even the smallest molecules to pass through graphene, which is important for maintaining the atmosphere inside of the Hyperloop pods.
The membranes used in Hyperloop systems are created by using a process called thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD). This process involves taking a substrate, such as copper or nickel, and placing it inside of a vacuum chamber where it is heated to upwards of 1000 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, methane gas is added to the chamber and breaks down into carbon atoms that are deposited on the substrate, forming a sheet of graphene.
Current and Future Uses of Graphene.
Graphene is a form of carbon that can be used in many applications in the real world. It has many amazing properties and has been used in the creation of several life changing inventions.
Graphene could revolutionize the solar power industry. It is not currently the most efficient material to use for this application; however, the material does have potential for improvement. Graphene is very thin and light allowing for more solar cells to be placed on a single panel. It also has less resistance than other materials which allows it to produce more energy from each cell.
Graphene could enhance the future of portable electronics. Smaller, lighter, longer lasting batteries are just one of many possible applications of graphene based technology. If a battery were created with graphene it would be able to charge much faster than its silicon counterparts, it would also be able to hold more power and last much longer than current batteries on the market today.
Graphene can be used to create supercapacitors that can charge extremely fast and hold large amounts of energy. These capacitors could be used as a replacement for batteries in many products such as electric cars or cell phones because they do not lose their charge over time like batteries do.
Graphene could replace silicon in transistors
Graphene is a two-dimensional material that’s been the subject of intensive research since it was first isolated in 2004. It’s a form of carbon, but instead of appearing as a diamond or graphite crystal as we’re used to, graphene is an atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms bonded together in a hexagonal lattice.
Graphene might be thin, but its unique properties show enormous potential for use in many applications. Here are some of the reasons why people are excited about this supermaterial.
Graphene is strong and flexible — and it conducts electricity.
Graphene is stronger than steel, but it’s also very flexible and stretchy. It conducts electricity better than copper, and heat passes through it more efficiently than almost any other material known to humanity.
We could theoretically use graphene to create ultra-fast, flexible electronics that are resistant to wear and tear, able to stretch, and capable of dissipating heat quickly. You could replace the fragile glass touchscreens on our phones with graphene sheets that were still responsive to touch but practically unbreakable.
What makes graphene such a remarkable substance is its variety of properties. And there are many other properties that we haven’t discussed here. Scientists around the world continue to discover new applications for the material, and it will likely be decades before we stop seeing news about groundbreaking discoveries. Graphene has yet to enter the mainstream, but it’s only a matter of time before that happens. Until then, you can get a glimpse of what to expect in the future by uncovering some of graphene’s most exciting properties today.
There are many reasons people are excited about graphene.
