Graphene: 2 Dimensional Super Material will replace plastic and other substances

[Parsons]

A new substance has been invented (rediscovered?). From it's description, it is the most amazing substance I have ever heard of for manufacturing just about anything.



For those who can't watch the youtube video:

It is the first 2 dimensional substance ever created. It is just a 1 atom thick sheet of carbon. But it has already been determined to be the thinnest, strongest, lightest material KNOWN TO MAN.

It is stronger than a diamond, 300 times stronger than steel, and conducts electricity better than copper. It is also transparent.

It will be the biggest revolution in technology since the industrial revolution when products made with this material start coming out in the consumer market. It will make every piece of electronic or plastic equipment we currently own completely obsolete (including most cars!).

This may be gadgetry, but it is really impressive.

Additionally to all this, it has also very environmentally friendly compared to manufacturing plastic. Carbon is one of the cheapest and freely available elements *on Earth.

Lockheed Martin has developed a method using graphene to filter sea water into potable(drinkable) water at 1% the current cost of doing so.

*Edited for grammar

[Sagittarius]

And what does that represent to you ? Can you be strong and light, conduct electricity and become 300x stronger then steel ? all at a cheaper price < yes you can.

[BuddhistJedi]

People seem to be forgetting the fact that we are in the 21st century.

[Parsons]

This material is INCREDIBLE.

[Melissa]

That guy is incredible too! So inspiring

[Namaste]

Great video. I love passionate people, they change the world.

[Parsons]

More and more exciting concept applications for graphene have been developed over the years since I first posted this. The most recent one I happened upon is using graphene instead of graphite in the extremely prolific lithium ion battery that all our devices use.

http://www.graphenea.com/blogs/graphene-...-our-world

The resulting battery can store 10 times more power than ones that utilize graphite anodes.

The batteries made with such cathodes recharge in 20 seconds and retain more than 90% of their capacity even after 1000 cycles of use.

What does this mean for the planet? It's not perfectly 'green', but if batteries last much much longer, they will need to be replace much less frequently. So less quantity taking up landfills. Also, if they are much higher capacity, you could have a much smaller batteries in devices. So less volume in landfills. It's not the perfect solution, but it's definitely a big step in the right direction.

Also included in the article are applications for making supercapacitors / ultra-compact batteries with graphene and making solar panels much more efficient.

[Parsons]

Another application that I've know about for some time but never remembered to post here is use in night vision. Graphene can be used as a night vision sensor at a small fraction of the cost (and bulk) of current nightvision technology. You may be picturing military applications, but there could be wonderful applications for civilians. This article talks about nightvision contact lenses, but IMO a much more practical application would be night vision "sunglasses" (nightglasses?). Either that, or you could coat your windshield in graphene and be able to see at night without headlights or street lights. This could increase safety and virtually eliminate light pollution because lights wouldn't be needed anymore. That would mean a lot to any amateur astronomer (such as myself) living inside a major city.

http://www.sciencealert.com/graphene-can...atom-thick

[AnthroHeart]

I'd like to see a graphene plastic trash bag that won't tear.

[anagogy]

While I absolutely love hearing about new and innovative earth changing technologies, I can't help but notice that they never seem to see the light of day...

[The_Tired_Philosopher]

While I absolutely love hearing about new and innovative earth changing technologies, I can't help but notice that they never seem to see the light of day...

Ditto.  I saw the OP was from 2013 and chuckled.

I chuckled because this technology would make Solar Roads affordable, and essentially fast track us into the next tier of technology unburdened by extreme monetary costs to implement.

As Family Guy goes: Why Aren't We Funding This??

Its like....  Its like......  (blanking, uhhh!) What Cannabis is to mental health...?  ...A...major...aid to most??

. . .
There's so much great technology out there suppressed still.  When are we going to stop allowing it all to be suppressed? I'd rather hear about this and solar roads and ocean scrubbers vs Windows 10, Iphone8, PS5...  Where's the actual important stuff that matters??!

[Aion]

It's not two-dimensional, it's three dimensional and just only one atom thick. Atoms are three-dimensional, I believe.

[The_Tired_Philosopher]

What if 2D is made of atoms?

[Parsons]

I'd like to see a graphene plastic trash bag that won't tear.

In it's thinnest form, graphene is very flexible. So that would be an excellent application.

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While I absolutely love hearing about new and innovative earth changing technologies, I can't help but notice that they never seem to see the light of day...

I'm 100% certain this will see the light of day, and very soon (less than 10 years at the very outside, most likely less than 5). Almost every country in the world is actively developing it. For example, England has spent 10's of millions of dollars to create a Graphene Institute. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_G..._Institute

The creation of the institute, including the construction of the building, cost £61 million.

[Parsons]

It's not two-dimensional, it's three dimensional and just only one atom thick. Atoms are three-dimensional, I believe.

Well the many different scientists developing the technology are calling it two-dimensional. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene While I see your point that there are smaller sub-atomic particles than atoms, I think you are splitting hairs here (pun intended ).