Graphene--An Elegant Smart Material

Throughout the globe, research on graphene has become one of the most vibrant and active research fields in materials science, nanotechnology, condensed matter physics and engineering. Wikipedia states that graphene is just another allotrope of carbon, containing one atom thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb (hexagonal) lattice.

Ever since its discovery in 2000’s, graphene has been exploited for various applications with its outstanding properties. The shocking factor for this widely developed research area is that few scientists out there experimented with an adhesive tape and stacks of graphite which led to the discovery of graphene and Nobel Prize. Some of its impressive properties are:

• ·         Faster electrical conductivity
• ·         Best thermal conductivity.
• ·         Thinnest strongest flexible and transparent material
• ·         Great inertness and chemical stability
• ·         Large and nonlinear Diamagnetism

Other than their outstanding properties, graphene has been extensively produced in different forms through various synthetic methods.

Exfoliation, Sonication, Centrifugation, Electrochemical synthesis, Tang-Lau Method  Langmuir-Blodgett method and several other means are employed to produce graphene in its various forms like HSMG, Bilayer graphene, Graphene Nano ribbons, graphene gyroid, aerogel, Exfoliated graphite nano-platelets, Germanene, Graphane, Graphyne, Phagraphene and so on.

Graphene finds its applications in electronic and energy industry sector due to its impressive electrical and thermal conductivity hence you can view its appearance in mobiles, solar cells, LED’s, touch panels, wearable devices, semiconductors, capacitors, home appliance manufacturers and several other electronic devices. Graphene also finds its applications in aerospace, automobile, healthcare and manufacturing industries.

The commercial applications and market of graphene is seen recently (2015-2017’s) after several debates and breakthrough’s in research and toxicity factor of graphene. Recent news on graphene states that they can be used as hair dyes. Finding applications from an electronic sector to the cosmetic sector, what’s the next industry sector in line for graphene to step foot in? Let’s explore at Smart Materials Meet 2018 at Dubai on April 19-20, 2018.