BBC Inside Science Whatever happened to graphene?
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Nov 21, 2024 Sir Andre Geim, Nobel Prize winner and co-discoverer of graphene, reflects on the journey of this revolutionary material from its simple discovery to its potential yet unrealized applications. He discusses graphene's promising uses in sports gear and construction, as well as innovations like graphene-enhanced wool insulation. Geim also addresses the balance between initial expectations and the modest pace of integration into everyday products, while sharing anecdotes about the excitement and skepticism surrounding graphene's commercial future.
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Graphene's Potential
- Graphene, a two-dimensional material, is a million times thinner than human hair.
- It is stronger than steel and more conductive than copper, promising breakthroughs in various fields.
Graphene's Sticky Tape Origin
- Andre Geim's PhD student struggled to make graphite thin.
- A postdoc suggested using scotch tape, leading to graphene's discovery.
Importance of the Second Paper
- The first graphene paper wasn't as crucial as the second.
- The second revealed that graphene belongs to a larger class of 2D materials.