Question

Recent technological advances have allowed for the production of graphene, which is a sheet of carbon atoms one atom thick, densely packed into a honeycomb structure. This material has excellent electrical, thermal, and optical properties, making it an ideal candidate for the design of electronic components. These characteristics are further complemented by graphene’s ability to kill bacteria and by its breaking strength, which initial tests demonstrate is 200 times greater than steel. Research this material and prepare an approximately 250 word report on the current engineering applications for graphene. Cite at least three references for your information.

Answer 1

The current engineering applications of graphene are:

(1) Used in developing electrodes with very high surface area and very low electrical resistance.

(2) For manufacturing the components which require high strength to weight ratio, such as windmill blades and aircraft components.

(3) It is used as an electrode for lower cost solar cells.

(4) In grapheme, electrons move at higher speed when compared to electrons in silicon. This makes the graphene to use in transistors that operate at higher frequencies.

(5) It is used in organic light emitting diodes. These diodes are used in electronic device display screens such as mobiles. This use in electronic device display not only reduces the cost but also eliminates the use of metals in organic light emitting diodes.

(6) Used for storing hydrogen for fuel cell powered cars. Graphene layers increases the binding energy of hydrogen to the graphene surface in a fuel tank. This results in higher amount of hydrogen storage which results in lighter weight fuel tank.

(7) It is used on the surface of anode in lithium ion batteries, which makes the battery to recharge faster.

(8) Used in preparing membranes, this results in increase of efficiency in separation of gases. These membranes are made from sheets of graphene in which nanoscale pores have been created.

(9) Used in chemical sensors, those are effective at detecting explosives. These sensors contain sheets of graphene in the form of foam which changes its resistance, when low levels of vapours from chemicals such as ammonia is present.

It kills bacteria by slicing through their membranes and pulling out their phospholipids. In future it is used as an anti microbial material which can be applied directly to wounds.

Used in sensors that diagnoses the disease. Molecules that are sensitive to particular disease can attach to carbon atoms in graphene.

Used in sensors that diagnoses the disease. Molecules that are sensitive to particular disease can attach to carbon atoms in graphene.