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An Insight Into Graphene Facts
Nov 14, 2019 | ACS MATERIAL LLCWhat Is Graphene?
There’s a possibility you’ve never heard of graphene, but the chances of avoiding it become slimmer with each passing day. That’s because this revolutionary material is being produced in great volumes by graphene manufacturers, further lengthening its impressive list of characteristics and properties available for a myriad of applications. Graphene is a 2D material that consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern. It is is both incredibly thin and strong, and its advantageous properties go far beyond. Since its discovery in 2004 at the University of Manchester, the main limiting factor for graphene use in manufacturing has been its availability. Nowadays, however, graphene suppliers have ramped up production, and with the increase in production has come a reduction in cost. After all, graphene is made from a single element that happens to be the fourth-most plentiful element in the universe. That has opened the door for the application of graphene to diverse fields such as electronics, medicine, document storage, the aerospace industry, semiconductors, and solar power generation. Keep reading to learn more about some of the many impressive traits of graphene.
Incredibly Thin
Because graphene consists of a single layer of carbon atoms, it’s incredibly thin. In fact, at the time of its discovery in 2004, it was the first two-dimensional material ever discovered. Because of its thinness, when combined with its other qualities, graphene is an ideal material for making electronic components such as phone screens and printed circuits.
Extremely Strong
One of the primary characteristics of graphene for manufacturing applications is its amazing strength. Though it’s only a single layer of atoms thick, it has tensile strength that’s greater than that of steel. Its tensile strength of 130 gigapascals makes it nearly 100 times stronger than steel. That strength to thinness ratio means that it’s ideal for applications such as space travel and construction, two fields of endeavor in which great strength is required and light weight is cherished.
Highly Conductive
Graphene’s application in the field of electronics is exciting, partially because of its high degree of conductivity. Graphene has the highest current density of any known material. Copper is currently the backbone of the electrical grid, but the conductivity of graphene is a million times greater than that of copper. It has an intrinsic electron mobility ability that’s 100 times greater than silicon, which means it’s an incredibly efficient means of moving more electrons faster.
Totally Transparent
Given all its other virtues, it’s also important to note that graphene can accomplish these impressive traits while remaining a completely transparent material. One of the most exciting potential applications of graphene takes advantage of its transparency, strength, and conductivity. With graphene, flexible, thin, nearly indestructible phone and computer screens can become a reality.
Inherently Flexible
Because graphene is a two-dimensional material consisting of a single layer of atoms, it’s also extremely flexible. That quality makes it ideal for many applications in the field of electronics and even clothing. It’s as flexible as cloth or film while retaining its strength, durability, and other beneficial qualities. That makes if perfect for screens on electronics, but it may also facilitate the development of thin, foldable personal solar cells that can effectively power electronic devices on the go.
If you’ve never heard of graphene, you can rest assured that you will soon enough. This revolutionary material has the potential to forever alter the world by providing the thinnest, lightest, strongest, most conductive material available for a wide range of applications. To learn more about the facts surrounding graphene, contact ACS Material at (866) 227-0656.
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