Graphene – Stronger Than Steel but Lighter Than Steel

Graphene Stronger Than steel But Lighter than Steel

Overview

Plastic & polymer research ruled the 20th century now in the 21st century it is graphene that will call the shots. Graphene is the thinnest material – it is 1 million folds leaner than a human hair. It has a two-dimensional crystalline structure consisting of horizontally laid out atoms. Each stratum made of hexagonal “rings” of carbon which gives it a honeycomb-like appearance.

Graphene is part of the fundamental structural constituent of other allotropes that includes carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, graphite & charcoal.

Applications of Graphene:

The most Important applications of Graphene (membranes) is in the area of water purification technology in developing countries, and it has proved to make desalination plants more efficient.

New and novel electronic technologies along with better energy/fuel storage management are now possible due to advances in graphene research.

Future technologies where Graphene has an immense role to play are as follows:

1. Wearable technology
2. Clothing bearing communication features
3. Advanced Biomedical Sensors
4. Smart 5th Gen mobile phones
5. Electric vehicles & Lightweight planes.

Up till now, the chemical process of keeping Graphene oxide to a minimum, currently considered as the most reliable method of graphene mass production. It has been a bit challenging for researchers to devise the task of producing graphene sheets of similar qualities as ‘mechanical exfoliation’ on a much more significant level.

Also when it comes to electrical conductivity, graphene oxide has become the essential material for electrical insulation, due to the congenital anomalies of its SP2 bonding networks.

Welcome to the Family of Graphene Nanomaterials:

Graphene nanoplatelets:

Graphene Nanoplatelets are part of the naturally occurring functional groups that include ethers, carboxyl’s or hydroxyls that are prone to chemical reaction with atmospheric humidity rendering the formation of specific acids or other compounds.

Since it has a size, shape & physical composition that is exceptionally nanoscale, so Graphene nanoplatelets are found to be useful to enhance the properties of a variety of polymeric materials involving all types of rubber variants, thermoplastic elastomers, adhesives, paints and coatings along with some thermoplastic and thermoset composites.

Functional Graphene nanomaterials: (FGNs) are Neo materials with exceptionally distinct physical and chemical properties and physiological potential to transact with bio-organisms. All such possibilities allow FGNs to provide diverse opportunities across a range of biological applications.
Some of the applied areas in which FGNs plays a vital role mentioned below

1. Drug/gene delivery
2. Phototherapy
3. Bio-imaging
4. Encourage interfacial bio-transactions at a cellular level.

Graphene Nano-powder

Graphene is considered one of the most profoundly researched Nano-powders in its category today. It offers excellent prospects when it comes research and development in medical areas.

In fact, the kind of nanopowder employed in determines the benefits it provides in studies related to tissue engineering, DNA sequencing tools, diagnostic devices, microbial detectors, bio-sensors, pharmacological research and much more.