Friday, January 27, 2012

Graphene



Graphene is tougher than diamond, but stretches like rubber. It is virtually invisible, conducts electricity and heat better than any copper wire and weighs next to nothing. An astonishing new material which could revolutionise almost every part of our lives. (link)

Now, new finding on this wonderful material:

(...)
Graphene oxide is the same graphene sheet but it is randomly covered with other molecules such as hydroxyl groups OH-. Graphene oxide sheets stack on top of each other and form a laminate.
(...) with ordinary water, they found that it evaporates without noticing the graphene seal. Water molecules diffused through the graphene-oxide membranes with such a great speed that the evaporation rate was the same independently whether the container was sealed or completely open.
(...)
"If another atom or molecule tries the same trick, it finds that graphene capillaries either shrink in low humidity or get clogged with water molecules."
(...)
"Just for a laugh, we sealed a bottle of vodka with our membranes and found that the distilled solution became stronger and stronger with time. Neither of us drinks vodka but it was great fun to do the experiment", adds Dr Nair.

See more:

PS: Sorry for the dry, impersonal post, but I felt like sharing and had little time for a deeper writing.
Still, I'm eagerly looking forward for what graphene will do for us over the next couple of years. :)