Miracle Material: Graphene?

[taiwan_girl]

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/13/could-graphene-finally-transform-our-world

Twenty years ago, ­scientists announced they had created a new miracle material that was going to transform our lives. They called it graphene.

Consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexa­gonal pattern, it is one of the strongest materials ever made and, for good measure, it is a better conductor of electricity and heat than copper.

The prospects for revolutionising technology seemed endless and a new generation of ultra-fast processors and computers was predicted. Reports said it could allow batteries to charge five times faster, and make concrete 35% stronger.

and

So what happened to the graphene revolution? Why has it not transformed our world? Sir Colin Humphreys, professor of materials science at Queen Mary University of London, has a straightforward answer: “Graphene is still a very promising material. The problem has been scaling up its production. That is why it has not made the impact that was predicted.”

but

Humphreys believes the market could soon be re-energised thanks to breakthroughs in the manufacture of graphene-based devices. A key development in this drive has been made by Humphreys and his colleagues, who realised the technology used to make gallium nitride electronic components could be exploited to make graphene on a large scale.

[Renauda]

I recall there being quite a bit of excitement over graphene ten or so years ago. I think there was even an episode of Nova that highlighted its properties.

Good article.

[Mik]

I've read several articles on it. Does seem to be a problem of scale.

[Doctor Phibes]

Apparently it was isolated/discovered in my old physics department in Manchester. They always used to tell us the best people were too busy doing actual work to turn up to lectures.