2023-10-30 11:12:40
Graphene, this revolutionary material with exceptional properties, has long attracted the interest of the scientific community. Recently, researchers led by Roop Mahajan, the Lewis A. Hester Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, took a significant step forward in graphene production by developing a revolutionary new process.
Graphene is an incredibly strong material, being 200 times stronger than steel, while being lighter than paper. Its hexagonal carbon structure, on a microscopic scale, measures only one atom thick. Its unique mechanical properties make it a versatile material that can be used in many applications, from reinforcing car and aircraft bodies to creating portable electronic devices to improving battery performance.
Until now, graphene production involved the use of potentially dangerous chemicals, such as sulfuric acid, potassium permanganate, sodium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide. However, Roop Mahajan’s team has developed a revolutionary process that can produce graphene from coal, using primarily nitric acid, thereby reducing the number of harmful chemicals.
In addition to the environmental benefits of this new method, which reduces chemical waste and risk for researchers, it also offers considerable economic benefits. Graphene produced from coal costs 10 to 15 times less than previous methods, which might pave the way for new innovations in the market and promote the commercialization of this exceptional material.
Coal-derived graphene has demonstrated superiority over graphite-derived graphene in many applications, including the fabrication of highly sensitive sensors for detection of single-stranded DNA. These sensors are essential in areas such as diagnostics, therapeutics, food safety and various industries, due to their ability to bind specifically to target molecules.
The expansion of this technology in India has also paved the way for promising new applications. These include wound healing solutions, portable sensors for potassium and urea, corrosion inhibition of reinforced bars in concrete, and technologies for green hydrogen production. The potential of coal-derived graphene extends to a diverse range of fields, providing considerable economic and environmental benefits.
With this discovery, graphene might become a key material in a variety of fields, from electronics to energy, healthcare and more.
By AlexanderAlUS — Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
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