The Applications of Graphene

If we had to choose two words to describe graphene, the first would be revolutionary and the second would be versatile. This wonder material has taken the world by storm and industries across the board have taken notice, implementing the material in an array of projects.

Aerospace

Researchers within the aerospace industry are always looking for new ways to make planes stronger, lighter and faster. Unfortunately, lighter materials often result in less durability. Over the years, industry experts have addressed this problem through the development of alloy and composite materials, a substance made from a combination of different elements (often metals). Alloys and composites have proven to be effective, but graphene has the potential to advance them even further. Not only is graphene the strongest material in the world, but it’s also the lightest. Companies plan to implement graphene into the development of their composite materials. These materials will be used to build various parts, helping planes to achieve greater strength, lighter weight and better fuel efficiency.

Electronics

Electronics devices are dependent upon the free and efficient movement of electricity. As a result, many electronics are developed using metals like copper and silver for their conductivity. One of graphene’s many wonders is its electro-conductivity; in fact, graphene has proven to be just as conductive as many of the popular metals available. For this reason, graphene is being used for the development of interstates circuits. A recent study done by IBM revealed that graphene transistors were 2x’s more efficient than their metal counterparts.

Biomedical

The biomedical field is extremely diverse, resulting in a wide-array of different technological products. One area within the biomedical field which is particularly important is diagnosis. Researchers, surgeons and doctors alike are all looking for new ways to identify, prevent and eradicate abnormalities. But before any recommendation can be made, a diagnosis must be achieved.

Graphene’s chemical composition coupled with its electrical properties enables the material to have tremendous biomedical compatibility. That’s why new sensing solutions are being developed using graphene, these sensors are being placed into patients and retrieving vital information for diagnosis. Not only is graphene being used to develop sensors. It’s also being used to make neural implants to prevent neurological disorders.

Flexible Electronics

Flexible electronics, also known as flex circuits, are becoming increasingly popular. Flex circuits are a technology for assembling electronic circuits by mounting electronic devices on flexible plastic substrates. As of now, these technologies are highly dependent upon materials like polyimide and transparent conductive polyester film. But industry experts are now considering graphene as an alternative solution. Graphene is transparent, flexible and extremely strong. As far as materials are concerned, graphene surpasses any other materials currently used in the development of flexible electronics.

Energy Storage

One of graphene’s greatest impacts has been in power storage. Due to the proliferation of electronic vehicles and solar power, energy storage is more important now than ever. There are various types of power storage, but one universally understood example are batteries. Most battery solutions use lithium, however; graphene-based batteries are quickly replacing lithium options. Two distinct advantages have propelled the popularity of graphene-based batteries: their lightweight and conductivity. Lithium-based batteries have also been considered an environmental hazard; graphene could minimize the negative environmental externalities associated with energy storage.