Thanks to researchers at the University of Manchester and the National University of Singapore, a splash of paint may both add a decorative flair to a building, and generate solar power. The main ingredient in this eclectic mixture is known as graphene, the strongest material known to humankind presently. Graphene, the first known bendable two-dimensional crystal, also happens to conduct electricity better than copper and measures a scant one atom thin. These thin sheets may be the harbingers of future tech.Â
Dr. Michio Kaku, the co-founder of string field theory and holder of the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York, explains in a 2011 Big Think-sponsored video: "Think of saran wrap made out of one molecule thick carbon atoms. That graphene is so strong in principle, you could take an elephant, put the elephant on a pencil, suspend the pencil on graphene, and graphene will not break."
Dubbed G research, the field of study has the potential to feed into consumer products with stretchable electrodes, foldable displays, RF applications, touch sensors, and flexible solar panels.
Graphene was first discovered by University of Manchester Professors Konstantin Novoselov and Andre Geim in 2004. The duo came upon the single-atom graphene sheet with a surprisingly simple experiment which requires two materials: a piece of masking tape and graphite. Once the adhesive picks up the graphite fragments, the tape can be used to continually pull apart the sheets until only one is left. Novoselov and Geim were both awarded the Nobel Prize for their research in 2010.
In their latest study, the laureates combined "graphene with monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC)," according to the University of Manchester's official press release.
Since the original discovery of graphene, scientists have found new ways to cultivate a new suite of one-atom thin crystals which can interchange to express different characteristics suited for various industries.
"Such photoactive heterostructures add yet new possibilities, and pave the road for new types of experiments," says Dr. Novoselov. "The functionalities of the devices will become richer, entering the realm of multifunctional devices."
The study was originally published in the journal Science.