Drawn with a pencil? Its graphene what you made with! Graphene is 2D atomic substance thousands of times thinner than hair and is extracted from Graphite. The scientists started analysing graphene since 1859, but the exact way to extract this rare substance was never possible until 2004. Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were awarded with Novel Prize as they found ‘graphene’ in a tape, used to bind graphite.
Graphene is the lightweight and thinnest substance in the world. It is thousands of times thinner than your hair; a single hair! And it is as light as a feather. Due to its thin layer and the light weight, it is flexible enough to be bent as you like.
Graphene is the world’s first 2D material that is highly conductive to electricity next to us humans. Graphene is thinnest yet strongest material. It is 300 times stronger than steel and harder than diamond.
So what would graphene help to achieve? That’s the great question. To answer this question, you should know where graphene could be used! Graphene composites could be used in aerospace, biotechnology, as energy storage also alternative fuels. The graphene tech could also be weird, or better; its still to see!
Use of Graphene in Aerospace
‘Where would be graphene used? Graphene is thinner than hair!’
The reproducible parts like trays, storage areas, lockers, seat fill-ins could be replaced by the use of graphenes. The graphene materials would be light-weight and could reduce the total weight of the aeroplane than that was before. Flying cars could also use graphene to make it better.
“Aerospace’s goal: No compromise on safety!
Graphene in Vehicles
The Sesto Elemento of Lamborghini uses carbon fibre to decrease the total weight of a car. Now imagine a car made up of graphene; the car would be super strong and super lightweight. Graphene is way stronger than 300 sheets of steel and harder than diamonds. The car would also be the eco-friendly car as graphene also functions as a solar panel.
It is not totally perfect, as the graphene are bendable, and it would be hard to mass-produce such thing. But if there is a way out, carbon fibre would be totally replaced!
Graphene in Electronics
Electronics, mainly phones and TVs are getting slimmer day by day. The phone now comes in 5mm thickness and TVs less than 3-inches thickness. Now imagine again a gadget with the thickness less than a paper; and also the weight of 1 gramme or less!
Graphene is a good conductor of current better than copper, so when graphene is used to build the electronics, it is likely to boost performance and build quality. Rather than using old-tech models, you could use new.
The Graphene Council commented about the use of the material in electronics. The graphene could be used to make electronics with a flexible display, boosted RAM and SAR value reduced.
“Gra-Phones, Gra-TVs, or more!
Alternative Energy Source
Have you thought about the alternative power source? The energy you are using is not limitless, it might end one day, maybe tomorrow! The electricity, or lithium, polymer and more sources are being exploited and in time, they may disappear from existence. So what would be the best alternative? – Graphene it is!
Recently, Spanish company ‘Graphenano’ announced a polymer battery made up from Graphene. This battery allows a car to travel nearly 500 miles on a single charge. Tesla Model 3 can travel 500 miles on a single charge! Are they related? Is graphene battery already been tested then? It might be possible, as tesla is yet to mention about the battery.
Batteries from graphene could be a game changer. As graphene is disposable, the battery could be used as fertiliser. You would get two benefits from a single battery!
Boosts up Solar Panels
Imagine a solar panel with the capacity to collect charge faster from the heat of the Sun! The use of graphene would make it possible. The solar panels are made up of conductive materials that could collect electrons from the rays of the sun. Graphene is a good conductor, yet is not better enough to collect electric atoms from solar panels.
Graphene Oxide is the best alternative to using with solar panels. It is not much conductive, but could collect charge from panels faster. It helps to alter the electron molecules that ultimately excite the electron to generate electricity.
Other Uses of Graphenes
- Graphene Sensors
- Ultra-Filtration
- Defence
- Bio-medical Applications
- Super Capacitors
- Use in Industries