A number of game-changing inventions that we can’t live without were founded in Manchester over the years including the NHS, the football league, atomic theory, railways, canals, votes for women and Vimto. However, 20 years ago, one of the newer creations to come to fruition in Manchester was the incredibly unique and innovative material, graphene, yet not many people know just how versatile it is.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single atomic layer of graphite, the carbon mineral found in the tip of pencil, and is arranged like honeycomb in a hexagonal lattice. It’s considered a ‘super material’ for the following reasons:
- It is many times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible
- It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent
- It is the world’s first two-dimensional material and one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
How was graphene created in Manchester?
In 2004, graphene was isolated for the first time at The University of Manchester by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov. The scientists made the discovery by pulling graphene layers from graphite with adhesive tape in a process called micro-mechanical cleavage, also referred to as ‘the Scotch tape technique’.
This work from Geim and Novoselov resulted in the pair winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for their ground-breaking experiments with graphene. This has then lead to research on graphene expanding into many different subfields, exploring different properties of the material such as quantum mechanical, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, magnetic and more.
What uses does graphene have?
Known for its high tensile strength, electrical conductivity, transparency, and regarded as the thinnest two-dimensional material in the world, these properties mean graphene is brimming with versatility and has quite the problem-solving potential. These are just some of the uses that graphene has:
- Electronics – Graphene can be used in sensors, wireless tracking tags, heating elements, and electromagnetic shielding.
- Batteries and supercapacitors – Graphene can help batteries charge faster and last longer.
- Sports equipment – Graphene can be used in blended plastics for high-performance sports equipment.
- Tyres – Graphene can be used in more durable racing tyres for bicycles.
- Motorcycle helmets – Graphene can be used in motorcycle helmets to better distribute impact forces.
- Lubricants – Graphene can be used as a lubricant to reduce friction and wear between mechanical parts.
- Desalination – Graphene oxide products can be used for desalination (the process of removing dissolved mineral salts from water).
- Wastewater treatment – Graphene oxide products can be used for wastewater treatment.
What are the future possibilities with graphene?
According to the University of Manchester, researchers are currently working to develop brain implants from graphene which could enable precision surgery for diseases such as cancer. Researchers have also developed wearable sensors, based on a 2D material called hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), which have the potential to change the way respiratory health is monitored.
Graphene could also potentially be used as part of a new form of renewable energy and also used to reinforce concrete, reducing cement use. Plus, there are investigations into graphene-based membranes that can be used as water filters and could transform access to clean drinking water.
Speaking at the World Academic Summit, Professor Sir Andre Geim said: “Thousands of people are trying to understand how it works. I would not be surprised if graphene gets another Nobel prize or two given there are so many people who believe in this area of research.”