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The material, discovered in 2004, was meant to be revolutionary. But only now is the technology coming of age
Twenty years ago, scientists announced they had created a new miracle material that was going to transform our lives. They called it graphene.
Consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern, it is one of the strongest materials ever made and, for good measure, it is a better conductor of electricity and heat than copper.
The prospects for revolutionising technology seemed endless and a new generation of ultra-fast processors and computers was predicted. Reports said it could allow batteries to charge five times faster, and make concrete 35% stronger.
It was even put forward as the solution to potholes; just mix it with traditional surfacing material and the curse of modern driving would be eradicated, it was claimed.
The Manchester University scientists who discovered it, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, were awarded the Nobel prize in physics in 2010 and a National Graphene Institute was established at the university.
But the hype over this miracle material has waned significantly. Graphene has yet to trigger an electronics revolution; potholes are still with us.
So what happened to the graphene revolution? Why has it not transformed our world? Sir Colin Humphreys, professor of materials science at Queen Mary University of London, has a straightforward answer: “Graphene is still a very promising material. The problem has been scaling up its production. That is why it has not made the impact that was predicted.”
www.theguardian.com
Twenty years ago, scientists announced they had created a new miracle material that was going to transform our lives. They called it graphene.
Consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern, it is one of the strongest materials ever made and, for good measure, it is a better conductor of electricity and heat than copper.
The prospects for revolutionising technology seemed endless and a new generation of ultra-fast processors and computers was predicted. Reports said it could allow batteries to charge five times faster, and make concrete 35% stronger.
It was even put forward as the solution to potholes; just mix it with traditional surfacing material and the curse of modern driving would be eradicated, it was claimed.
The Manchester University scientists who discovered it, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, were awarded the Nobel prize in physics in 2010 and a National Graphene Institute was established at the university.
But the hype over this miracle material has waned significantly. Graphene has yet to trigger an electronics revolution; potholes are still with us.
So what happened to the graphene revolution? Why has it not transformed our world? Sir Colin Humphreys, professor of materials science at Queen Mary University of London, has a straightforward answer: “Graphene is still a very promising material. The problem has been scaling up its production. That is why it has not made the impact that was predicted.”
Wafer-thin, stretchy and strong as steel: could ‘miracle’ material graphene finally transform our world?
The material, discovered in 2004, was meant to be revolutionary. But only now is the technology coming of age
