Graphene has been hyped up over the last few years as the next generation wonder-material that will solve all of the problems that are inherent in modern day processors and batteries, giving us a future filled with new, powerful and efficient electronics.
Knowing that graphene could be the solution and getting to a point where it can be reliably mass produced, however, are two vastly different things. Scientists at Yonsei University, in Seoul, South Korea may have found a way to mass produce more efficient graphene particles that could be used in next gen batteries, and it’s remarkably similar to how you would deep fry food.
By spraying graphene oxide flakes through an ultrasonic nozzle into a 160°C mixture of an organic solvent and ascorbic acid the team were able to transform the graphene particles into fluffy pom-pom-like three dimensional molecules.
These larger molecules are better suited to the storage and transmission of electric charges than the standard, near-two-dimensional film that graphene is normally produced in and is simpler to produce and scale for mass production than other, more complex methods that have been used to make three dimensional graphene structures in the past.
As with all new technologies we won’t be seeing the benefits from these pom-poms any time soon, but a future full of deep fried, graphene battery goodness might not be too far away, which should please anyone who’s smartphone has ever run out of juice before bedtime.
[Source – Chemical & Engineering News, Via – Engadget]
