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Medicine
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Energy
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Environment
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Technology
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Transport
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Some thoughts around Graphene
Welcome to an exciting new world; the world of Graphene!
Historically, every 'Age' has proven of greater importance than ever imagined at the time, such as the Iron Age and the discovery of Electricity and it is now impossible to imaging a world without either, or the many additional benefits that developed from them; aircraft, spacecraft, computers, structures, communication and so on. The 'Graphene Age' is here.
Said to be around 200 times stronger than steel by weight, Graphene is a two dimensional (2-D) material, just a single atom thick in a hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms. It is one million times thinner than a human hair and a superconductor at room temperature. However, in this state, it is flexible and laterally very strong but not structurally strong, as in 3-D; similar to carbon fibre which must be bonded to form strong complex structures. Graphene has been found to readily bond with a growing range of other materials and enhance their properties accordingly; a certain grade of concrete has seen one aspect of its strength increased by around 40%.
As research continues, Graphene will play a growing part in every aspect of our lives with endless possibilities. It is bio-degradable, and Graphene-Oxide (GO) is an insulator meaning circuits similar to silicone chips could be built from alternate layers. Unlike many new technologies and developments, Graphene will lead to cheaper, stronger, better products and services; it is every present we ever wanted and an its exciting future is developing rapidly.
Graphene production will standardise and simplify and below, is tiny glimpse of the thousands of world-wide projects for Graphene including some that are just concepts, for the moment:
Historically, every 'Age' has proven of greater importance than ever imagined at the time, such as the Iron Age and the discovery of Electricity and it is now impossible to imaging a world without either, or the many additional benefits that developed from them; aircraft, spacecraft, computers, structures, communication and so on. The 'Graphene Age' is here.
Said to be around 200 times stronger than steel by weight, Graphene is a two dimensional (2-D) material, just a single atom thick in a hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms. It is one million times thinner than a human hair and a superconductor at room temperature. However, in this state, it is flexible and laterally very strong but not structurally strong, as in 3-D; similar to carbon fibre which must be bonded to form strong complex structures. Graphene has been found to readily bond with a growing range of other materials and enhance their properties accordingly; a certain grade of concrete has seen one aspect of its strength increased by around 40%.
As research continues, Graphene will play a growing part in every aspect of our lives with endless possibilities. It is bio-degradable, and Graphene-Oxide (GO) is an insulator meaning circuits similar to silicone chips could be built from alternate layers. Unlike many new technologies and developments, Graphene will lead to cheaper, stronger, better products and services; it is every present we ever wanted and an its exciting future is developing rapidly.
Graphene production will standardise and simplify and below, is tiny glimpse of the thousands of world-wide projects for Graphene including some that are just concepts, for the moment:
Medicine
Bio-degradable Graphene allows temporary use within the human body, or non-BD version for permanent joint repair, or as an electrical conduit within the nervous system. As research continues, even bones could be replaced by Graphene structures which may be cheaper and longer lasting than creating genetically. Potential uses include:
- A delivery system to take medicine to specific areas of the body and degrade after delivery
- Prosthetic limbs that include a nervous system to provide 'feeling' and near normal functionality
- Nerve replacement such as spinal cord, optic nerve etc. Complex but not an unrealistic expectation
- New 'connected' sensors, internal and external, to monitor our health, saving lives
- Impact on robotics; replication of a central nervous system could improve androids significantly; Commander Data; Star Trek!
Energy
Energy production is always costly, however this is going to change. We are bombarded with energy that we do not tap into efficiently. Electrical resistance is always an issue whether that is in transmission along power lines, capturing and converting solar energy, or within electric and electronic circuits including computer processors. Graphene provides an opportunity to reduce resistance and increase efficiency, and reduce the cost of energy by harvesting it from the environment:
- Super efficient solar panels that create energy even when its raining (in development)
- Super-Capacitors to replace batteries, powering hand-tools, electric vehicles and much more
- Super-Capacitors used to store electricity; will increase productivity of wind-farms alone
- Super strong, low resistance power lines for energy transmission
- Local Energy Harvesting and supply to communities; solar, wireless, kinetic... other?
- Potential for zero cost energy other than maintenance costs for equipment used
The Environment
Global Warming appears to be real but the debate continues over its cause; normal Earth cycle or enhanced by humans. However, major change is happening now. The development of clean Electric Vehicles (EVs) is logarithmic and moving rapidly, and is beginning to include Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and even small aeroplanes. However, current production of energy in not generally environmentally friendly and that must change. It is also highly unlikely that Hydrogen is sustainable as a power source for vehicles. Hydrogen is a volatile gas and must be stored, like petrol, in a vehicle carrying people. The concept is outdated and is similar to bolting a manure tank onto a tractor for power; it is likely to be phased out before 2025. Other things must happen also to help speed up the switch to EVs:
1 - Outdated battery technology in vehicle power-trains must be replaced by Super-Capacitors
2 - How we use our roads must change in order to encourage the switch to clean and connected vehicles
3 - The structure of roads must change and become intelligent, interactive, and a source of energy for transport
Simplicity is the key to everything. Humans need water; we have oceans. Graphene will become the prime construction material for everything from buildings to electronics, health sensors to robots and far more. We are surrounded by Carbon. Carbon Capture (from CO2) becomes part of the source of Carbon with O2 surplus returned to the atmosphere used for other purposes. Beyond emissions from vehicles and energy production, other Graphene related benefits include:
1 - Outdated battery technology in vehicle power-trains must be replaced by Super-Capacitors
2 - How we use our roads must change in order to encourage the switch to clean and connected vehicles
3 - The structure of roads must change and become intelligent, interactive, and a source of energy for transport
Simplicity is the key to everything. Humans need water; we have oceans. Graphene will become the prime construction material for everything from buildings to electronics, health sensors to robots and far more. We are surrounded by Carbon. Carbon Capture (from CO2) becomes part of the source of Carbon with O2 surplus returned to the atmosphere used for other purposes. Beyond emissions from vehicles and energy production, other Graphene related benefits include:
- Mass salt water desalination - our most abundant source of drinking water is the ocean! (in development)
- Water pipelines across (E.G.) Africa, incorporating Graphene, could include energy harvesting and communications in the pipe stricture
- Carbon capture, reducing the greenhouse effect while releasing oxygen, and carbon for more Graphene production
- A Graphene coating on a stressed structures visually changes to reflect stresses; structural inspections simplified
- Taller, lighter, stronger, buildings & structures
- Vehicles with integrated electronics that interface with the roads and environment
- Graphene paint that incorporates many properties; change to a bright colour (vehicle) in the dark, or colour by mood or 'app' during the day
- Harsh environment protection with Graphene paint; the Forth Bridge may finally be finished!
- New tools for all walks of life. Stronger, thinner, more manipulative etc.
- Graphene based Super-Capacitors for portable tools that charge in seconds
Technology
It would be simpler to list the areas in technology that will be unaffected by Graphene and once we find one, we'll add it below. One comment, Moore's Law may continue for a while, or need to be reassessed.
Transport
Every area of transport will see benefits from Graphene, whether simply improving strength and durability or creating new modes of transport. Some projects already underway, now include plans to revise aspects of design to include Graphene:
- New transport networks: the HyperLoop concept is likely to evolve to become the future of rapid transport and variations will evolve for purposes other than the movement of people; the possibilities are many
- Smaller group or individual travel pods will extend from main networks to local communities, potentially parcel delivery
- Drones are developing exponentially with uses including; security, search, survey, leisure, delivery and ultimately, personal transport; an updated Air Traffic Control system is in consideration and will address the issue of flying private vehicles
- Energy collection for trains using Graphene coated pantographs; longer lasting, less resistance.
- The Intelligent Highway will revolutionise land based mobility by interacting with vehicles and providing their energy en-route
- Virtual field propulsion/Electrogravitics will eventually provide virtually free travel, at speed, worldwide. (Future tech)
