Graphene is a 2D honeycomb pattern of atoms that is transforming technology as we know it. It’s made up of carbon atoms and is thin and malleable. This makes the material useful in a lot of ways from smart packaging to sensors, which can be printed the way newspapers are published.
Graphene made products are something that manufacturers and business will use a lot more in the future because most companies want more affordable and environmentally friendly ways to build electronics.
Here are six amazing facts about Graphene that you might not have known about:
Graphene is Very Strong
Graphene is the thinnest substance known to man, but it is also 200 times stronger than steel. Graphene is made from the same substance that makes graphite which is used in making pencil lead.
It’s Incredibly Thin
Graphene is made up of carbon atoms that are arranged in a hexagonal structure, which gives it incredible strength, while still being thin and flexible. Graphene is the thinnest material that’s just one atom thick making it the thinnest but strongest material ever.
Environmentally Friendly when Used in Printing
Siver has been used to print conductive patterns in the past. Since silver is costly to make and cannot be recycled, it means that silver coated electronics are very harmful to the environment.
Graphene inks are more than twenty times cheaper, harmless, and easy to recycle. Graphene inks also dry up faster than silver ink meaning that they don’t use as much energy during UV curing. This is a big step forward for the future of technology because using graphene to make electronics will not be bad for the environment.
Graphene Could Change the World
Specialists and scientists are finding more and more new ways to use graphene. Some of them include:
- Graphene could be used to develop ultra-fast phone charging due to its very fast levels of conductivity.
- Graphene could be used to create bionic devices that could be used to assist disabled patients.
- Graphene could also be used to treat cancer by targeting cancer cells without harming other cells.
- Graphene could be used to collect nuclear waste making collection and disposal waste easier.
- Creating filters using Graphene could make it easier to turn sea-water into drinking water.
Graphene is Transparent
Not only is graphene strong and thin, but it’s also transparent, which means that it could be used to make tough and durable solar cells, touchscreens and individual electronic parts that could have virtually unlimited use.
Graphene is Very Elastic
Graphene can be stretched for more than twenty percent of its original length and still be harder than diamond.
Graphene is so remarkable in so many different ways that it’s something to be very excited for in the near future.