TELF AG delves into a new production method for graphene
A revolutionary material
A new method of producing graphene, recently published in the journal Nature, could revolutionize the uses of one of the most interesting materials ever discovered. Researchers have eliminated virtually all oxygen from the material’s growth process to obtain high-quality, industrially usable graphene. According to the engineers involved in the initiative, this discovery would be a major step towards the definitive launch of graphene into a greater number of industrial applications.
Since its discovery, this material has been valued above all for its robustness and high conductivity, suggesting a wide variety of possible industrial applications. Until now, however, the industrial utilization of this material has been hampered by the clear difficulty of obtaining pure, high-quality, usable graphene. The potential of this material is evident, but until now it has remained partially untapped. With this new method, however, the situation could change quite quickly, with potentially revolutionary consequences for the world of industry. The new production process is based on the removal of oxygen, which apparently hindered the purity of the final material (and its possible uses).
Graphene is a material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure. Among its main characteristics, graphene is known for its high electrical and thermal conductivity and its extraordinary mechanical strength. It is one of the most robust materials known, and it is extremely light and flexible. In addition, graphene is almost entirely transparent, absorbing only 2% of visible light.
The traditional production methods
Historically, graphene has been obtained by several methods. Mechanical exfoliation is the original method, but it is unsuitable for large-scale production. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) allows the production of large graphene sheets on metal substrates. Chemical exfoliation uses chemical processes to separate graphene layers from graphite, which helps produce large quantities of graphene. Finally, synthesis on silicon carbide (SiC) substrates allows graphene to be grown directly on silicon carbide surfaces through heating, used primarily in research.
Graphene has many and varied industrial applications. Graphene is used in transistors, sensors, and advanced electronic devices due to its high electrical conductivity. It is added to polymers and other materials to improve the strength and lightness of composite materials. In batteries and supercapacitors, graphene enhances the performance of lithium batteries and supercapacitors by increasing capacity and reducing charging times. Graphene’s transparency and flexibility make it an ideal material for flexible displays. It is also effective in filtering water and air, thanks to its nanometric structure that allows it to filter out tiny particles. Finally, graphene is used in the automotive and aerospace industries to produce lighter, stronger components, improving fuel efficiency and overall performance.
These characteristics and applications make graphene an auspicious material for various technological and industrial innovations. Researchers had already discovered that any oxygen in that process would slow it down or even corrode the graphene. Since then, engineers have been trying to build new systems to control oxygen and prevent it from compromising the process.
Scientists say they have greatly improved that process, allowing graphene to grow faster. They found that the graphene they produced also exhibited all the necessary behaviors to enable it to be used by industries.
