Graphene and Its Possible Applications


Graphene

Since we talked about different forms of carbon during class, I decided to research more into a specific allotrope—graphene.
Graphene was observed in electron microscopes in 1962 but was later rediscovered, isolated, and characterized in 2004 by Andre Geim. 
For years scientists were trying for a very long time to isolate the theorized material but the methods that are used to normally isolate materials of that size did not work for graphene because it would destroy the source. However a chance look at a piece of tape that was used to remove flakes of graphite led to the discovery of isolated graphene.
It is a super material that is about 200 times stronger than steel, able to efficiently conduct heat and electricity, and is nearly transparent. Graphene is one atom thick and is two-dimensional made up of densely packed carbon atoms in a hexagonal pattern. 



I became interested in graphene’s conductive properties and found an article detailing possible usages of it on solar panels. 
Solar panels are a great source of renewable resource with one main concern: they cannot perform optimally without ideal weather conditions. Cloudy or rainy days will impede the ability of panels to store energy for later use. 
This can be effectively solved with the use of a coating of graphene which are transparent enough not to hinder the panels’ capability of absorbing sunlight but also generate energy from raindrops. 
In situations where water is present, graphene binds its electrons with positively charged ions via a process called Lewis acid-base interaction. 
Graphene and natural water is a great combination for creating energy due to the salt contained in rain separating into ions. The water clings to the graphene forming a pseudocapacitor with the graphene electrons—the energy difference between the layers generates electricity. 
Which got me to think about other things that can be coated in graphene that could utilize water as an energy source, namely transportation vehicles.
If the underside of ships were covered with a layer of graphene they can continually generate electricity via the constant movement of electrons across the surface. 

Even airplanes can be coated in this material and water droplets would collect every time it flew through a cloud. Of course, there would need to be a method of effectively compiling and converting the energy to be used on said vessels but this discovery in itself is an impressive breakthrough in modern technology. 



Sources

 “Future Solar Panels Will Generate Energy From Raindrops.” Science News Journal, 10 Apr. 2016, sciencenewsjournal.com/future-solar-panels-will-generate-energy-raindrops/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

 Colapinto, John. “Material Question.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 19 June 2017, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/22/material-question. Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

 “MIT researchers make new graphene discovery.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 May 2017, www.cnn.com/style/article/gyroid-new-material-stronger-than-graphene/index.html. Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

 Lambert, Robert J. “The story of graphene | The University of Manchester.” Close menu, www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/explore/the-story-of-graphene/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

 David. “Electric Rain? Solar Panel Turns Raindrops Into Power.” Off Grid Quest, www.offgridquest.com/energy/electric-rain-solar-panel-turns-raindrop. Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

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