CSIRO-led researchers have discovered an easier, less intensive method of producing graphene that reduces its cost and unlocks new commercial opportunities – all with the help of the humble soybean.
CSIRO Scientist Dr Dong Han Seo, co-author of the study, holds a piece of graphene film.
Source: CSIRO
Graphene is a carbon material one atom thick. Its thin composition and high conductivity means it is used in applications ranging from miniaturised electronics to biomedical devices.
Traditionally, graphene is grown in a highly-controlled environment with explosive, compressed gases, requiring long hours of operation at high temperatures and extensive vacuum processing. This has hamstrung its viability for commercial uses, which can include computers, solar panels, batteries, sensors and other devices.
The new “GraphAir” technology grows graphene film in ambient air with a natural precursor, making its production faster and simpler.
“This ambient-air process for graphene fabrication is fast, simple, safe, potentially scalable, and integration-friendly,” CSIRO scientist Dr Zhao Jun Han says.
“Our unique technology is expected to reduce the cost of graphene production and improve the uptake in new applications.”
GraphAir transforms soybean oil – a renewable, natural material - into graphene films in a single step.
“Our GraphAir technology results in good and transformable graphene properties, comparable to graphene made by conventional methods,” CSIRO scientist and co-author of the study Dr Dong Han Seo said.
With heat, soybean oil breaks down into a range of carbon building units that are essential for the synthesis of graphene.
The team also transformed other types of renewable and even waste oil, such as those leftover from barbeques or cooking, into graphene films.
“We can now recycle waste oils that would have otherwise been discarded and transform them into something useful,” Dr Seo says.
The potential applications of graphene include water filtration and purification, renewable energy, sensors, personalised healthcare and medicine, to name a few.
Graphene has excellent electronic, mechanical, thermal and optical properties as well.
Its uses range from improving battery performance in energy devices, to cheaper solar panels.