All articles tagged with #graphene
US/UK researchers report that extremely sharp bends in graphene produce local electrical changes in line with flexoelectric theory, demonstrating that shape alone can create polarization in this ultrathin material and, at the atomic scale, may alter how electron orbitals overlap to yield a phenomenon dubbed quantum orbital flexoelectricity.
Researchers at the International Space Elevator Consortium say polycrystalline graphene could serve as a 62,000-mile tether for a space elevator, enabling climbers to reach a counterweight beyond geostationary orbit. If built, payloads could reach space at about 16,000 mph, with Moon missions potentially taking ~14 hours and Mars trips ~61–120 days depending on planetary alignments. Yet major hurdles remain: manufacturing a tether that long and withstands debris, safety considerations, and a hefty price tag—roughly $15 billion for a robotic first phase. Even optimistic timelines suggest 10–20 years to complete, with returns likely focused on cargo before people. Sources: New York Post, NDTV.
A breakthrough from the International Space Elevator Consortium proposes polycrystalline graphene as a tether for a future space elevator, potentially ferrying cargo from the equator to beyond GEO and enabling rapid trips to the Moon or Mars; while a 1,000-meter graphene test and optimistic projections exist, experts warn real-world construction would take decades and face cost, debris and engineering hurdles.
Researchers have demonstrated that nanoscale wrinkles in graphene induce a powerful flexoelectric effect: bending at the atomic scale creates charge separation, effectively turning graphene into a tiny battery. Using conductive atomic force microscopy and simulations, the team shows these wrinkles produce polarization up to 10 million times larger than in larger flexoelectric systems, suggesting geometry can tune electronic behavior in ultra-thin graphene without added chemicals. The findings, published in Advanced Materials (2026), point to potential uses in ultra-thin sensors and electronics, though further confirmation is needed.
MIT researchers report multiple superconducting states in rhombohedral graphene layers (4- and 5-layer stacks); notably, some states are enhanced by magnetic fields, raising the transition temperature from about 55 millikelvin to ~90 millikelvin and increasing the sustainable current by 50–60%, with the outcome depending on electron density and field orientation. This challenges the usual view that magnetic fields destroy superconductivity and may have implications for quantum computing, though experiments still require ultra-cold conditions and specialized setups.
Researchers report field-enhanced and field-induced superconductivity in rhombohedral tetralayer and pentalayer graphene, with three distinct superconducting states in the pentalayer that endure in-plane fields up to 8.5 tesla (well beyond the Pauli limit). Unlike Bernal bilayer graphene, the pentalayer also shows out-of-plane field effects, and the effects emerge at relatively low gate voltages due to flatter band dispersion. Proximitized spin–orbit coupling further yields new superconductors without adding disorder, establishing a new family of magnetic-field–boosted superconductors in high-quality rhombohedral graphene and opening paths toward realizing topological states and non-Abelian quasiparticles via interface engineering.
Scientists reveal that graphene oxide in graphene toothbrushes targets a bacterial membrane molecule called POPG, explaining how these brushes kill bacteria while largely sparing human cells. Increasing oxygen-containing groups on graphene oxide enhances binding and antibacterial effect (around 96–99% growth suppression), while removing oxygen or adding nitrogen weakens it, highlighting surface chemistry over sheet size. Microscopy shows membrane damage and cell rupture; the approach also suppresses drug-resistant strains and aided faster wound healing in animal models, with potential uses in medical textiles and protective fabrics. Safety data come from cell and animal studies, but human trials and design optimization remain needed. More than 10 million graphene toothbrushes have already been sold, underscoring the push toward evidence-based antibacterial products.
Scientists observed a Dirac fluid in ultraclean graphene where electrons flow like a nearly frictionless liquid at the Dirac point, causing heat and charge transport to decouple and violating the Wiedemann-Franz law by over 200x, revealing universal quantum behavior and offering a new platform for exploring extreme-physics phenomena.
A study in Advanced Science shows laser light can push graphene aerogel in microgravity, hinting at a propellant-free propulsion method for spacecraft; graphene cubes accelerated under laser beams suggest light-based thrust could cut fuel costs and enable longer, more efficient deep-space missions, though Earth gravity dampens the effect and further research is needed.
Swiss researchers developed ultra-thin graphene-oxide coatings that, when illuminated with near-infrared light, heat to about 44°C and generate reactive oxygen species to kill bacteria. In lab tests, the coating nearly eliminated a drug-resistant strain and reduced another by over 90%, and it can be activated through tissue, offering a potential implant coating solution, though clinical use is years away.
Scientists using graphene bilayers under a strong magnetic field observed excitons behaving as a superfluid at high density, but as density decreases the excitons halt and the material becomes insulating; heating restores the superfluid, a result that could point to a supersolid-like excitonic state or another unusual quantum phase, though measurements are not yet definitive.
Rice University researchers say Edison may have accidentally produced graphene while testing a carbon-filament light bulb, since heating carbon-based resistors above 2,000°C can yield turbostratic graphene—suggesting Edison could have encountered graphene long before its formal discovery, though he wouldn’t have known what it was.
Rice University researchers suggest Thomas Edison may have accidentally produced graphene in 1879 while testing carbon‑filament light bulbs with flash Joule heating; their experiments on bamboo filaments showed transient graphene formation that would quickly convert to graphite, implying Edison could have created a modern “wonder material” long before graphene’s official isolation.
Rice University researchers replicated Edison’s 1879 carbon‑filament bulb method and, using modern analysis, found evidence that turbostratic graphene formed in the heated carbon filament; while not definitive proof Edison himself produced graphene, the study shows how re‑examining historical experiments with current tools can reveal overlooked materials and spur new questions.
Scientists have developed a new form of graphene that significantly enhances supercapacitors' energy and power density, potentially enabling faster charging and higher capacity energy storage for electric vehicles, electronics, and household devices, overcoming previous limitations of space efficiency and charge speed.