tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295847325204250062024-02-02T15:53:28.182-08:00Graphene Wirehacking graphene techindiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-12272022803341722902020-12-28T04:50:00.002-08:002021-01-05T04:46:08.683-08:00 When pattern of work targeted by hostile takeovers, enable long LSTM guards.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Hwiiv95IgIhfpmF8GHaubI8J4AcfBBIkD47SlUtSjufDAckiQsCSnlAu59MnXvKh6eUjtu9KR2NQjXQ2hj1_vnU5TBCEz0ctwJe3eHD-qgRsGA_6K2lTUDA1aFyx04wYgSaCqXUagP0/s0/coverart.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="1020" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Hwiiv95IgIhfpmF8GHaubI8J4AcfBBIkD47SlUtSjufDAckiQsCSnlAu59MnXvKh6eUjtu9KR2NQjXQ2hj1_vnU5TBCEz0ctwJe3eHD-qgRsGA_6K2lTUDA1aFyx04wYgSaCqXUagP0/s0/coverart.png"/></a></div>
If you purchased this blog without a cover, be aware that the author has not received payment for her work on these (and other) publications.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-zJ4pUqZ3IltDZu1FO9PoK-wjfeyL4_nq9AcsmyoQkGXCGG6gpkz8q3D1sG-wT3Qf2wWaAcs6JirOgVbh3BDfKlg6MR1ZLG2hYOElCB7PV-1USp4mMsMok9na2EKgR1b8x4ZjWrXVcM/s1279/indie_mechaniqs.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-zJ4pUqZ3IltDZu1FO9PoK-wjfeyL4_nq9AcsmyoQkGXCGG6gpkz8q3D1sG-wT3Qf2wWaAcs6JirOgVbh3BDfKlg6MR1ZLG2hYOElCB7PV-1USp4mMsMok9na2EKgR1b8x4ZjWrXVcM/s200/indie_mechaniqs.png"/></a></div>
indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-56856993817799144222015-08-20T05:13:00.000-07:002021-11-08T04:29:45.645-08:00Public Service Warning - Graftech is BrookfieldThis blog post is a public service warning to any companies in the space of graphene development: please AVOID doing business with <a href="http://www.graftech.com/" target="_blank">GrafTech,</a> <br />
<br />
Graftech, International was recently swallowed in a hostile takeover by one of the biggest bullies<a href="http://sirf-online.org/2013/03/11/paper-world-of-brookfield-asset-management/" target="_blank"></a> in the global sphere -- <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=100&q=Brookfield+%22hostile+takeover%22&oq=Brookfield+%22hostile+takeover%22&gs_l=serp.3...171261.179647.0.180105.36.32.2.1.1.0.152.2939.18j14.32.0....0...1c.1.64.serp..10.26.2229.0.lpYBC1eu1us" target="_blank">Brookfield Asset Management Group</a>, sometimes known as Brookfield Renewable -- a group of fat "investors" who also happen to be devoid of ethics... this group gets a kick by throwing around abuses of power.<br />
<br />
Brookfield is AKA a few different names, publicly-traded companies trading under the tickers BAM or BEP -- incantations of a sleaze named Richard J Legault.<br />
<br />
Brookfield quite literally stole shareholder equity with its most recent hostile takeover of graphene research firm GrafTech. The hostile takeover was not done to further advancements in graphene research, to give an honest ROI to existing shareholders (the author of this blog being one), or to make the world a better place. Any corporate slogans or company statements about business purposes are a <b>sham</b>. Brookfield is a robber, plain and simple.<br />
<br />
The takeover of GrafTech was done to <i>steal</i> equity and future ROI from existing owners, essentially removing it and all future benefit from the common good. It was done to <i>halt</i> progress and arrest an industry that cannot thrive when it is being shepherded by Evil. <br />
<br />
Brookfield Asset Management and its subsidiaries have a little dance routine that's been been working pretty well for them for some time: the routine siphons value directly from small-er companies and kills them (and in the process kills everyone who has invested in them).<br />
<br />
With a mixture of takeover bonuses for the parent company (BAM), executive-only dividends, managed "trusts", REITs paid to those "managers" of BAM and intentionally complex financial instruments that leave existing company shareholders in the red, Brookfield is the bigger, meaner Bernie Madoff at global scale. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Brookfield bears a pyramidal control structure, a design that U.S.
regulators have frowned on since the 1930s. Simply stated, this type of
structure lets a small group of shareholders exercise control of a
business</blockquote>
<br />
And even the SEC can't keep up with them: http://sirf-online.org/2013/03/11/disclosure-diligence/<br />
<br />
Regulations, as much as hardcore right-wingers hate them, are needed. There is nothing protecting independent investors when their retirement savings are being yanked away from them. <br />
<br />
Help with this please. Help write the SEC. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, doing business with Graftech is doing business with Brookfield, and you DO NOT want to do that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-23974342631379476312015-04-01T19:54:00.000-07:002015-04-02T08:21:02.261-07:00Graphene Makes Quick-Charge Super CapacitorsThe most annoying problem with re-chargeable electric batteries is that they can take a long time to charge. From electronic devices to electric car batteries... nobody likes waiting for the juice to be re-filled. <br />
<br />
But one of graphene's more interesting properties is its ability to conduct electrons in such a way that very few electrons are "lost" in the process of charging. <a href="http://graphenewire.blogspot.com/2013/11/tin-graphene-stanene-is-conductive.html" target="_blank">As I wrote about a while ago</a>, its conductive properties are powerful. Now imagine all that power being conducted mega-efficiently into a very strong capacitor. Capacitors are essentially miniature silos of energy storage. A "super" capacitor is a stronger capacitor<sup>1</sup>, and a micro-supercapacitor is next.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...Researchers at UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute have
successfully combined two nanomaterials to create a new energy storage
medium that combines the best qualities of batteries and
supercapacitors.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The new hybrid supercapacitor stores large amounts of energy,
recharges quickly and can last for more than 10,000 recharge cycles. The
CNSI scientists also created a microsupercapacitor that is small enough
to fit in wearable or implantable devices. Just one-fifth the thickness
of a sheet of paper, it is capable of holding more than twice as much
charge as a typical thin-film <a class="textTag" href="http://phys.org/tags/lithium+battery/" rel="tag">lithium battery</a>. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The microsupercapacitor is a new evolving configuration, a very
small rechargeable power source with a much higher capacity than
previous lithium thin-film microbatteries," El-Kady said. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The new components combine laser-scribed graphene, or LSG—a material that can hold an <a class="textTag" href="http://phys.org/tags/electrical+charge/" rel="tag">electrical charge</a>,
is very conductive, and charges and recharges very quickly—with
manganese dioxide, which is currently used in alkaline batteries because
it holds a lot of charge and is cheap and plentiful. They can be
fabricated without the need for extreme temperatures or the expensive
"dry rooms" required to produce today's supercapacitors." - Source: <a href="http://phys.org/news/2015-04-scientists-quick-charging-hybrid-supercapacitors.html" target="_blank">Phys.org</a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</blockquote>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">1. The difference between Capacitors and Super-capacitors:</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">• Super-capacitors have a very high energy density than normal capacitors.</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">• Super-capacitors use two layers of the
dielectric material separated by a very thin insulator surface as the
dielectric medium, whereas normal capacitors use only a single layer of
dielectric material.</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">• Normal capacitors are much cheaper than the super-capacitors in general.</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Source: <a href="http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-capacitors-and-vs-supercapacitors/">http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-capacitors-and-vs-supercapacitors/</a></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-7647383291778873792014-01-14T08:58:00.002-08:002014-01-15T20:07:26.142-08:00Sugar String Graphene BalloonsA recent article discussing an innovative technique for creating a <a href="http://www.rdmag.com/news/2014/01/researchers-make-3-d-strutted-framework-graphene-first-time" target="_blank">3D strutted framework</a> for graphene mentions some inspiration came from <a href="http://youtu.be/9iZhCar7aP0?t=45s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blown sugar art:</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The research group succeeded for the first time in the world in making
3-D graphene products, by applying an innovative, never-before-published
method inspired by the blown sugar art, <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sugarturntable.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/small-sugar-glass-balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sugarturntable.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/small-sugar-glass-balls.jpg" height="152" width="200" /></a></div>
which they call the "chemical
blowing method" or uniquely name as "sugar-blowing method". In this method, glucose and ammonium salt are mixed and heated at around
250 C, through which glucose-deriving polymers can be obtained. The
released ammonia gases "blow" polymers by creating pressure from the
inside, generating a number of small polymer bubbles of tens of microns.
Concurrently, a framework for stabilizing the structure is formed and a
product with a strutted 3-D structure is made. </blockquote>
<br />
So I looked up sugar art, and it got me thinking back to my childhood days. Maybe there's something similar that could possibly produce results better suited to graphene's unique properties . . something better than the pure sugar method . . . <br />
<br />
Sugar string-wrapped balloons!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR84MS49NXC-bjPvn1kqSl9q1S3Jropwl7H8GVmIqnPZ9roHDD5m_96eoPgLBWNmlep0mb6ee1CpbOG0aX0Df0XNVre1vJdF2mPI8U0H6JSHx4UYA4gS1W5UCBj56ZqQfPsabYi-fwPY/s1600/sugarstringballoon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR84MS49NXC-bjPvn1kqSl9q1S3Jropwl7H8GVmIqnPZ9roHDD5m_96eoPgLBWNmlep0mb6ee1CpbOG0aX0Df0XNVre1vJdF2mPI8U0H6JSHx4UYA4gS1W5UCBj56ZqQfPsabYi-fwPY/s320/sugarstringballoon.png" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image credit: http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss66/abentleylarsen/IMG_0001.jpg</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I was a little girl between first and third grades, my grandmother would have me over to her house every year where we'd make these ridiculously messy, but very fun and cool Easter baskets. <br />
<br />
These Easter baskets were very simple and crafty, made out of sugar-water soaked yarn and balloons. After dipping the yarn into sugar water, you "wrap" the balloon in swaddles of this messy gooey yarn, and tie it somewhere outside dry. After the water dissolves and the sugar hardens, the shape of the balloon remains via the crystallized structure. After a few hours, it stiffens pretty hard and becomes surprisingly sturdy. Sturdy enough to be an Easter basket and lightweight as can be. <br />
<br />
This seems like it has some interesting implications, and could be an even better method of creating a sturdy lattice for graphene to have an amazingly large surface area in what generally amounts to small space -- all the while retaining the "hollow" and therefore lightweight property that makes graphene so special and amazing.<br />
<br />
Graphene-oxide + water + dissolved sugar-soaked balloons? <br />
<br />
Presuming that this technique can be patented and used with graphene, I shall pre-emptively call patents and trademarks and copyrights and whatever else for the "sugar string graphene balloon" method of producing 3D graphene.<br />
<br />
For the record: to-date (prior to the publishing of this post) there are no results for "sugar string graphene" .. dibs! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AtuLkaBkiv9-1x050FEscYGj7q3vO26wvau_18zlPaU8MS2_xJ-g2jcNIFf6F4wxkxuqhuNR93SghXIo10GI2hxF0njFTMF5TeBBhN_Z1s4KApVR1vokAyVRzqEOQ9GMJ1GlFTEWJv4/s1600/uninvented.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AtuLkaBkiv9-1x050FEscYGj7q3vO26wvau_18zlPaU8MS2_xJ-g2jcNIFf6F4wxkxuqhuNR93SghXIo10GI2hxF0njFTMF5TeBBhN_Z1s4KApVR1vokAyVRzqEOQ9GMJ1GlFTEWJv4/s640/uninvented.png" height="449" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Awesome. Remember you read it here first, and if you're so inclined -- please <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20" target="_blank">buy your graphene hacking materials smartly</a>. Collaboration and shared credit really are going to be the way to usher in the new generation of conceptualized science. indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-38397988663426956912014-01-14T07:21:00.004-08:002014-01-14T07:27:25.356-08:00Lowering the Cost of Solar PowerA collaboration between James I University in Spain and Oxford University has achieved a new record in efficiency for solar cells. And not only is the solar energy more efficiently captured with titanium oxide (rather than silicon), but the techniques used to produce them require less energy, and are thus lower cost. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
The high efficiency solar cell, consisting of several layers, can be
manufactured at rather low temperatures of about 150 degrees Celsius.
The low temperature requirements combined with its high <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyni4IGNYaS0QjVqWVLpC_FQjwDgMS19_hE6m5Snrll6yVNCe7_mcv2gEKzvZYYIFjfLnZ8blPhekt86Bke_LWfu-n_Kb0n6RZ9tAlUP6h9KQOt4KoRRxlUSK1weDGa1X7-646-jESh0/s1600/how-solar-cells-work.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyni4IGNYaS0QjVqWVLpC_FQjwDgMS19_hE6m5Snrll6yVNCe7_mcv2gEKzvZYYIFjfLnZ8blPhekt86Bke_LWfu-n_Kb0n6RZ9tAlUP6h9KQOt4KoRRxlUSK1weDGa1X7-646-jESh0/s320/how-solar-cells-work.gif" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
efficiency, the
researchers believe, make the device a suitable candidate for
large-scale manufacturing. Lower energy demands mean lower cost of
production compared with conventional solar cells. The low temperatures
during production would also enable the graphene-petrovskite-based solar
cells to be combined with devices based on flexible plastics</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sources: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2014/jan/graphene-solar-cell.cfm">http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2014/jan/graphene-solar-cell.cfm</a> </span><br />
<a href="http://universe-review.ca/I12-22-solarpower.gif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://universe-review.ca/I12-22-solarpower.gi</span>f</a>indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-57959890846474250662013-12-23T08:17:00.009-08:002021-01-05T05:37:20.662-08:00Graphene Hacking -- A Recipe for GrapheneHow to make graphene at home for various uses of experimentation and invention?<br />
<br />
First, some clarifications:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Graphene</i> is technically only "flat" like a lattice wire one atom thick. Ten or more layers one atom thick ar Graphite. Layers of graphene one on top of the other are <i>graphite</i> AKA #2 pencil lead<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Pencil">1</a> </sup></li>
<li><i><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=3" target="_blank">Graphite</a> </i>is available in various forms and can be used to produce graphene.</li>
<li><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=1" target="_blank"><i>Graphene oxide</i></a> is a water-soluble "flaked" form of graphene that has a <a href="http://graphenewire.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-sponge-to-soak-up-radioactive-waste.html" target="_blank">spongelike</a> quality and the ability to adsorb and absorb molecules according to the chemical properties of graphene, H<sub>2</sub>O, and whatever else.</li>
<li>Graphene aerogel (pictured below) is a mixture of carbon nanotubes and graphite; the end result is an extraordinarily lightweight and strong substance that has unique thermal properties. </li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GsOMpA0zr0JdH9Y-HAqTN0EfW6ftI5a4pT3WRN-wR_mha2jSrfvnluU294ik3ZFxXNxNqtPZ2W2nFcWZOXQDLwgVzG3D8OsMgN1rIbVjTQkA50MuPof-P9fgMFeusYr39GMPYDzCxd4/s1600/aerogel-grass-spines-640x360.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GsOMpA0zr0JdH9Y-HAqTN0EfW6ftI5a4pT3WRN-wR_mha2jSrfvnluU294ik3ZFxXNxNqtPZ2W2nFcWZOXQDLwgVzG3D8OsMgN1rIbVjTQkA50MuPof-P9fgMFeusYr39GMPYDzCxd4/w432-h243/aerogel-grass-spines-640x360.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/153063-graphene-aerogel-is-seven-times-lighter-than-air-can-balance-on-a-blade-of-grass" target="_blank">extremetech.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p> </p><p>The first method of producing graphene in actual "sheets" not bound to any tape surface (see article below) requires graphene oxide. There are several ways to get graphene oxide: one is to purchase prepared vials of graphene oxide -- which can be expensive, but easy. The other is to make it yourself <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20">from various industrial suppliers</a> -- to hack the composition of the graphene yourself using chemistry and a recipe of ingredients -- sulfuric acid, sodium nitrate, potassium permanganate, etc. <br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Graphene oxide can be a bit complicated to pull off, but not impossible to do at home for the amateur chemist. The original paper from 1958 defining the technique can be found <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja01539a017?journalCode=jacsat" target="_blank">here</a>; the recipe below has been derived from some of the academic research discussed <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/nn1006368" target="_blank">here.</a><hr />
<br />
<h3>
A Recipe for Graphene Oxide</h3>
Materials needed (can be obtained via <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a>):<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Not recommended to double this recipe unless you're a certified lab with professionals, or in a very safe preparation space. </span> <br />
<ul>
<li>50 grams <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=3" target="_blank">graphite</a>, pre-powdered or shaved into powder form </li>
<li>25 grams sodium nitrate (<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=4" target="_blank">NaNO<sub>3</sub></a>)</li>
<li>150 grams potassium permanganate (<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=2" target="_blank">KMnO<sub>4</sub></a>)</li>
<li>1.15 liters sulfuric acid <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfuric_Acid" target="_blank">(H</a><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=5" target="_blank"><sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></a>)</li>
<li>2.4 liters of water (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water" target="_blank">H<sub>2</sub>O</a>)</li>
<li>Hydrogen Peroxide (<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/graphene-wire-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=6" target="_blank">H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub></a>) </li>
<li>large chemical-reaction-friendly container (capable of holding 8 - 10 liters)</li>
<li>larger leakproof bowl for "ice bath" </li>
<li>stirring stick </li>
<li>enough ice for an ice bath around the chemical-reaction friendly container</li>
<li>thermometer</li>
<li>safety equipment: (goggles, gloves, etc) </li>
</ul>
<hr />
Directions: <br />
<br />
1. In the leak-proof bowl prepare the ice bath and place the chemical-reaction-friendly container in it. The production of graphene oxide releases a lot of thermal energy and the ice bath is imperative! <br />
<br />
2. Pour the sulfuric acid into the chemical-reaction-friendly container.<br />
<br />
3. Mix the powdered graphite and sodium nitrate slowly into the sulfuric acid, stirring continually.<br />
<br />
4. Add the potassium permanganate to the mixture in a very slow drizzle. <b><br />
</b><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"> WARNING -- Potassium permanganate is a powerful oxidizer that can burn or stain skin and
other organic materials such as clothing upon contact.
When mixed with sulfuric acid, it produces a highly explosive
manganese oxide, so every safety measure should be taken. Make sure the
maximum
temperature is not exceeded.</span></span>
</blockquote>
5. After the potassium permanganate has been slowly and carefully dissolved into the mixture, remove the
ice-bath and allow the temperature to come up to 35 degrees Celsius. Maintain this temperature for ~ 30 minutes, and watch as the solution thickens and gases reduce. At around the 20 minute mark, expect the solution to
be brownish-gray and beginning to thicken to a more pasty consistency.<br />
<br />
6. After 30 minutes have passed, slowly and carefully add 2.4
liters of water into the mixture while stirring. Adding H2O at this point should create an exothermic reaction, increasing the
temperature of the mixture to close to 100 degrees Celsius; a large volume of gas will be released in a violent reaction! Maintain
the temperature at 98 degrees Celsius for another 15 minutes. At this point the solution should be a murky brown.
<br />
<br />
7. After maintaining the temperature for 15 minutes, further dilute the
mixture to a total of 7 liters of fluid with warm water. Add 3%
hydrogen peroxide in order to reduce the leftover permanganate. With
the addition of hydrogen peroxide, the mixture should turn bright
yellow.<br />
<br />
8. Filter the mixture while still warm. The filter will take a
yellow-brown color. Wash the filter cake three times with a total of 10
liters
of warm water.<br />
<br />
9. Disperse the resulting graphite oxide in at least 12 liters of
water. The quickest way produce dry graphite oxide is by using a centrifuge to "dry" the mixture; but for the average at-home experimenter, a centrifuge is likely not practical. As an alternative means, the water
containing graphite oxide may be heated to 40 degrees Celsius and left to evaporate. A large, flat and thin "pool" of water for evaporation works best since the rate of evaporation is correlated to the surface area upon which it is allowed to evaporate. <br />
<br />
That's it! After the water has been centrifuged-away or evaporated the remaining substance should be pure flakes of graphene oxide -- capable of cleaning up radioactive waste. Higher grades can be distinguished by brighter yellow flakes. If you messed something up, the end result may be dark green or black. This is not "useless" oxide but simply less effective at screening pollutants; the "percent Hydrogen Peroxide" can be altered slightly to obtain more "pure" graphene oxide flakes, but -- of course -- extra precautions should be taken when repeating the experiment any variables altered.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<h3>
Recipe for Graphene (using the Graphene Oxide we just made)</h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>DVD burner - LightScribe technology approach</i></span><br /></h3><p>
Graphite oxide is water-soluble, so after mixing it with water, carefully pour it on a DVD
drive. Make sure the graphite oxide solution is evenly distributed on the plastic surface of the disc. After the solution
has dried and created a film of graphite oxide on the disc, place the disc into the DVD drive, film-side down.
Use the LightScribe software to burn in the layer of oxide. The areas of the film which come into contact with the
laser beam will be turned into graphene. What actually happens is a reduction reaction which reduces graphite oxide back
into graphene. The resulting graphene layer should be carefully removed from the disc and cut into appropriate sized
pieces.</p><p></p>
<div>
(recipe from <a href="http://www.graphene-battery.net/graphene.htm" target="_blank">my friend Nebojsa Mrmak at graphene-battery.net</a> ) <br /></div><p>
<br />
<br />
</p><hr />
<h3>
Recipe for Graphene </h3>
<i>Pencil & Tape Method (for electrical circuitry hacking)</i><br />
<br />
Believe
it or not, it is possible to create graphene with some pencils and simple Scotch tape.
Graphene in this form isn't quite as useful as pure sheets, but can be
used to demonstrate some of the electrical properties of nanoscale
graphene.<br />
Materials needed: <br />
<ul>
<li>2 pencils, sharpened</li>
<li>any kind of transparent tape </li>
</ul><p>
Directions:<br />
1. Lay a piece of tape flat on a surface such
that the sticky side faces up. You may wish to fold over each end of
the tape to adhere to a base surface. <br />
<br />
2. Rub together the two sharpened pencils' sharpened tips with enough pressure to make it "snow" graphite on the tape. <br />
<br />
3. Repeat the process until a thin gray powder of graphite is barely discernible.<br />
<br />
4. Take a piece of "clean" tape and place it sticky-side face-down on the layer of graphite snow, and pull apart gently<br />
<br />
5. Repeat the process a few times -- until you're pretty sure that you're just sticking and un-sticking bare tape. <br />
<br />That's
it. Your final "peel" of tape should have a fine layer of graphene
atoms bound along the tape.
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Pencil" target="_blank">1</a>. Some time before 1565 (some sources say as early as 1500), a large deposit of graphite was discovered on the approach to Grey Knotts from the hamlet of Seathwaite in Borrowdale parish, Cumbria, England. Chemistry was in its infancy and the substance was thought to be a form of lead. Consequently, it was called<i> plumbago</i> (Latin for "lead ore").The black core of pencils is still referred to as lead, even though it never contained the element lead. The words for pencil in German (<i>Bleistift)</i>, Irish (<i>Peann Luaidhe</i>), Arabic (قلم رصاص <i>qalam raṣāṣ</i>), and other languages literally mean <i>lead pen.</i></span></p>indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-70175995270266432982013-11-29T16:36:00.001-08:002013-11-29T17:48:10.728-08:00Tin + Graphene -- Stanene is a conductive material theorized for nearly 100 percent efficiencyStanford Linear Accelerator researchers have developed a material that may be the holy grail of conductivity -- a material that permits almost 100 percent conductivity between a power source and destination.<br />
<br />
Tin (Sn) is a " dull-gray powdery material with no common uses"<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Tin">1</a></sup>, but as an alloy is known for its anti-corrosive properties.<sup><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S181538521200051X">2</a></sup> Combined with the flexible structural integrity of graphene, it creates a nearly-perfect medium for tin's diamond-shaped and inherently covalent nature to "bridge the gap". The covalent bonding is so strong that electricity can flow <i>literally</i> without losing electrons.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Diamond_Cubic-F_lattice_animation.gif" /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">graphic from Wikipedia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin" target="_blank">The diamond-lattice covalent atomic structure of Sn</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Coined "Stanene", this material may soon be replacing copper as the relay of choice for newer-generation electronic circuits. Copper, while inexpensive and ductile, is susceptible to overheating. Legacy chips, such as the "POWER3-II chip — about the size of a thumbnail — contains
a quarter mile of copper wiring." <sup><a href="http://intro.phys.psu.edu%2fclass%2f212recitations%2f06_current_and_resistance%2fcurrent_and_resistance.doc/">3</a></sup>.<br />
<br />
More modern electronic circuits may contain several miles of copper "wire" -- sometimes just an atom thick. High-voltage electricity pushed through such narrow channels may cause the wires to melt and cause electronic components to catch fire. Stanene would overcome such constraints by allowing the flow to distribute through the "channel of least resistance" more efficiently.<br />
<br />
At present, <i>Stanene</i> is but a theoretical, though franchisable "wonder material"; as reported by <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/new-wonder-material-stanene-could-replace-graphene-with-100-electrical-conductivity-8967573.html" target="_blank"><i>The Independent,</i></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">there are many obstacles standing between stanene and mainstream use
(not limited to the difficulties of manufacturing one-atom thick wires
on an industrial scale) and without working samples of the material
available it is perhaps a little early to get excited.</span><i> </i></blockquote>
</div>
<br />indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-90409970922669309552013-08-11T08:17:00.002-07:002013-08-13T12:23:38.614-07:00Making the Internet go faster with graphene-enhanced switchesJust how tough is graphene? Researchers have theorized that it'd require an elephant, balanced on a pencil, to
break through a single sheet. Every industry, it seems, has been grazed by graphene's wondrous potential -- the strength, light-weight nature (a single sheet of carbon atoms so thin it's actually transparent), flexibility and conductivity can be replicated at a relatively low cost and applied to a plethora of materials.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/graphene-optical-switches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/graphene-optical-switches.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The latest industry it may soon help -- telecom. How? Enhancing switches to increase speed of data transfer rates. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Ordinarily optical switches respond at rate of a few picoseconds –
around a trillionth of a second. Through this study physicists have
observed the response rate of an optical switch using ‘few layer
graphene’ to be around one hundred femtoseconds – nearly a hundred times
quicker than current materials." </span></blockquote>
How would this technology be implemented? Commenting on the report’s main findings, lead researcher <a href="http://www.bath.ac.uk/physics/contacts/academics/enrico_da_como/" target="_blank" title="Dr Enrico Da Como Profile (opens in new window)">Dr Enrico Da Como</a> noted:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Right now the capacity for data transfer in fibre optics is below a terabit per second,” he says. “But graphene will allow us to reach the one terabit per second rate ... It will take some years and there is engineering development to be done, but I think it will be in about four or five years. We are working on the first prototypes now." </span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sources: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <a href="http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/2013/07/12/graphene-internet-speed">http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/2013/07/12/graphene-internet-speed</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.information-age.com/technology/mobile-and-networking/123457194/graphene-based-optical-switches-promise-lightning-fast-network">http://www.information-age.com/technology/mobile-and-networking/123457194/graphene-based-optical-switches-promise-lightning-fast-networks</a></span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/graphene-faster-internet/28382/">http://www.gizmag.com/graphene-faster-internet/28382/</a></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
“Right
now the capacity for data transfer in fibre optics is below a terabit
per second,” he says. “But graphene will allow us to reach the one
terabit per second rate.<br />
“It will take some years and there is engineering development to be
done, but I think it will be in about four or five years. We are working
on the first prototypes now.”<br />
- See more at:
http://www.information-age.com/technology/mobile-and-networking/123457194/graphene-based-optical-switches-promise-lightning-fast-networks--#sthash.SP1VkbfO.dpuf</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
“Right
now the capacity for data transfer in fibre optics is below a terabit
per second,” he says. “But graphene will allow us to reach the one
terabit per second rate.<br />
“It will take some years and there is engineering development to be
done, but I think it will be in about four or five years. We are working
on the first prototypes now.”<br />
- See more at:
http://www.information-age.com/technology/mobile-and-networking/123457194/graphene-based-optical-switches-promise-lightning-fast-networks--#sthash.SP1VkbfO.dpuf</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
“Right
now the capacity for data transfer in fibre optics is below a terabit
per second,” he says. “But graphene will allow us to reach the one
terabit per second rate.<br />
“It will take some years and there is engineering development to be
done, but I think it will be in about four or five years. We are working
on the first prototypes now.”<br />
- See more at:
http://www.information-age.com/technology/mobile-and-networking/123457194/graphene-based-optical-switches-promise-lightning-fast-networks--#sthash.SP1VkbfO.dpuf</div>
</blockquote>
indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-62575597253007244242013-05-22T11:00:00.000-07:002013-08-11T07:47:22.129-07:00'Printable' Graphene ink writes circuits<a href="http://cleantechnica.com/2013/05/22/new-printable-graphene-ink-made-possible-by-exfoliation/" target="_blank">CleanTechnica</a> is reporting that a new method of "exfoliating" graphene from blocks of graphite has been developed. "The graphene is being used to develop a low cost, highly conductive ink
that can be used to print electronic circuits on flexible material,
leading to the next generation of tiny, foldable, mobile electronic
devices."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1.wp.com/cleantechnica.com/files/2013/05/printable-graphene-ink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://i1.wp.com/cleantechnica.com/files/2013/05/printable-graphene-ink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-48059405010762382402013-01-25T05:35:00.001-08:002013-08-13T12:23:57.037-07:00Graphene, interruptedOne of the biggest challenges in working with a material whose chemical-binding properties are contingent upon physical construction is getting that material to "stay put" in its physical form long enough to get the material to do its chemical thing.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpOO7_zftvIjKmunPy6nOZQe4xmpLgbeJFeBPEEiqHj6wWv_ER3XFatO2pQbbyHLQuGRwWEaDGKoMMQOH3TKytXikZgKCc1XZF0NM-y51TW8Y9notOFEgKCi5Ex7Q5swL3stDa3L8sIY/s1600/crumpled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpOO7_zftvIjKmunPy6nOZQe4xmpLgbeJFeBPEEiqHj6wWv_ER3XFatO2pQbbyHLQuGRwWEaDGKoMMQOH3TKytXikZgKCc1XZF0NM-y51TW8Y9notOFEgKCi5Ex7Q5swL3stDa3L8sIY/s320/crumpled.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>crinkled graphene</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Graphene's physical construction is often likened to chicken wire, one <i>atom</i> thick; but when it is "unrolled" it can easily contract and constrict in upon itself, "crumpling" like the skin of a grape into a raisin that has been left in the heat and sun too long. In its crumpled form, graphene behaves differently, and is significantly more difficult to handle. <br />
<br />
But new research by Duke University offers a new technique for getting the graphene to un-crumple itself. By adhering the graphene to a rubber film, the chicken wire lattice's crumpling can be controlled and flexed on demand: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Duke engineers attached the graphene on a rubber film that had been
pre-stretched multiple times of its original size. Once the pre-stretch
in the rubber film was relaxed, part of the graphene detached from the
rubber while other part kept adhering on the rubber, forming an
attached-detached pattern with a size of a few nanometers. As the rubber
was relaxed, the detached graphene was compressed to crumple. Once the
rubber film was stretched back, the adhered graphene will pull on the
crumpled graphene to unfold it." source: <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130123165042.htm" target="_blank">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130123165042.htm</a></span><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130123165042.htm" target="_blank"> </a></blockquote>
</blockquote>
This process opens up new frontiers for application such as artificial muscle, which needs a large surface area that can be "deformed" as the muscles constrict and relax naturally. <br />
<br />
Xuanhe Zhao, one of the engineers researching this application said, "In particular, they promise to greatly improve the quality of life for
millions of disabled people by providing affordable devices such as
lightweight prostheses and full-page Braille displays. The broad impact
of new artificial muscles is potentially analogous to the impact of
piezoelectric materials on the global society." indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-28843814409373044882013-01-08T16:36:00.003-08:002013-08-13T12:24:17.766-07:00A sponge to soak up radioactive wasteFlakes of graphene oxide have a "spongelike" quality that can be used to bind to and solidify radioactive waste. Once in solid form, the contaminated material can be easily collected and cleaned up.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">"Capturing radionuclides does not make them less radioactive, just easier
to handle. Where you have huge pools of radioactive material, like at
Fukushima, you add graphene oxide and get back a solid material from
what were just ions in a solution," said chemist James Tour of Rice University. "Then you can skim it off
and burn it. Graphene oxide burns very rapidly and leaves a cake of
radioactive material you can then reuse."</span></blockquote>
<br />
The large surface area of graphene oxide particles means that they have an increased ability to adsorb and bond with other materials, specifically those with toxic quality which tend to have volatile chemical properties. The honeycomb lattice of graphene can bond to and essentially stabilize them. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIYkyvYpyrsRY49_lfouBldFCGCpqtxtf7zNEoVtEaFznYH40GHhkli_Ocd2lI6jYhC1DOyqJvWUW5vIF7R920TsIXYxGhHWGqyac5Z0aPQ0OQkAP0h0rYEh6TnqSKwtf5G06eHImTBQ/s1600/graphen_oxide_sponge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIYkyvYpyrsRY49_lfouBldFCGCpqtxtf7zNEoVtEaFznYH40GHhkli_Ocd2lI6jYhC1DOyqJvWUW5vIF7R920TsIXYxGhHWGqyac5Z0aPQ0OQkAP0h0rYEh6TnqSKwtf5G06eHImTBQ/s320/graphen_oxide_sponge.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source: <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130108112459.htm">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130108112459.htm</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Scientists at Rice University and Lomonosov Moscow State University have developed the new method for removing radioactive material. In the flask on the left, the solution contains the particles of graphene oxide (atom thick flakes); on the right the particles have bonded to simulated radioactive material.<br />
<br />
Practical applications range from cleanup of sites such as the Fukushima nuclear power plant to fracking -- or using graphene to filter out contaminants from the water. "Hot" radioactive water normally needs to be shipped to various containment facilities around the country, which is done so at great expense.<br />
<br />indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-31352842243261399332012-12-03T06:20:00.000-08:002014-01-04T06:18:21.710-08:00Nanotubular awesomeness Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are vertical hollow structures comprised of carbon atoms enjoined via industrial-strength hexagonal lattice. Scientists at <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v3/n11/full/ncomms2234.html" target="_blank">Rice University</a>
have published research into a method of "gluing" the SWCNTs to sheets
of graphene that maintain the ohmic properties of the bond.<br />
<br />
Picture chicken wire that is stronger than steel, yet able to conduct
electricity. Comparatively, copper (Cu) and gold (Au) -- two
traditionally "conductive" materials are soft and would never be able to
support comparative structures of these relative heights. Just as an
ant is able to lift ~50 times their body weight, these carbon nanotube
structures are able to scale to heights beyond imagination -- "<span id="intelliTXT" name="intellitxt">up to a distance of 120 microns
(0.12mm), which is really rather impressive at this scale. If we scaled
it up to actual trees, they would rise into outer space," reports <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/computing/141801-rice-university-creates-graphenenanotube-hybrid-material-that-could-redefine-electronics-and-energy-storage" target="_blank">ExtremeTech</a></span>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4S3CEPMMsA6JVR3hblL_sOjB14UrSRjF44i3dpD0tbXVT2Yv_3rVARWfTALk5a9roqn0SYXL4K3RQadDiUi5yfDbHCJaMfQQAIzwVOfAzM__dVgLtiXzNdm4OxtdvIeRSFy1rD-Qvvg/s1600/nanotube_tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4S3CEPMMsA6JVR3hblL_sOjB14UrSRjF44i3dpD0tbXVT2Yv_3rVARWfTALk5a9roqn0SYXL4K3RQadDiUi5yfDbHCJaMfQQAIzwVOfAzM__dVgLtiXzNdm4OxtdvIeRSFy1rD-Qvvg/s400/nanotube_tower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This microcosm of tubular awesomeness is significant because it means that the <b>surface area</b> of a base can actually support much more "storage" power. That is, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and other kinds of energy storage may be able do do more with less. Denser energy storage structures mean longer-life batteries in a smaller space. indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-90785421518785776262012-10-09T07:30:00.000-07:002012-10-09T07:32:06.553-07:00Screening pollutantsResearch sponsored by the <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/" target="_blank">National Science Foundation</a> and <a href="http://www.imintcenter.org/" target="_blank">DARPA Research Center for Micro/Nano-Electromechanical Transducers</a> has garnered some breakthroughs in what could be the next era of pollution reduction. <br />
<br />
Graphene membranes, which are known to be selectively porous, exhibit the capability to screen out pollutants by separating inert carbon dioxide molecules from larger, more potentially harmful ones, such as nitrogen and sulphur hexaflouride. The graphene membranes work especially well for gaseous "pollutant" materials because of the semi-permeable nature of graphene membranes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Illustration by Zhangmin Huang</span></div>
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<span class="st_twitter_button" displaytext="Tweet" st_processed="yes" st_title="Graphene membranes may lead to enhanced natural gas production, less CO2 pollution, says CU study" st_url="http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2012/10/08/graphene-membranes-may-lead-enhanced-natural-gas-production-less-co2"><span class="stButton" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block;"><span class="stMainServices st-twitter-counter" style="background-image: url("http://w.sharethis.com/images/twitter_counter.png");"></span></span></span></div>
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"The findings are a significant step toward the realization of more
energy-efficient membranes for natural gas production and for reducing
carbon dioxide emissions from power plant exhaust pipes," <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2012/10/08/graphene-membranes-may-lead-enhanced-natural-gas-production-less-co2" target="_blank">reports the University of Colorado at Boulder</a>, where much of the research took place. "Those characteristics make graphene an ideal material for creating a separation membrane because it is durable and yet doesn’t require a lot of energy to push molecules through it, he said." <br />
<br />
Given these findings, may I hypothesize about some other related applications -- Radiation containment? Automobile exhaust pipes? Chimney screens? <br />
<br />
As with any recent breakthrough, there are some logistical challenges to be overcome before the applications can be widely applied. For example, "creating large enough sheets of graphene to perform separations on an
industrial scale, and developing a process for producing precisely
defined nanopores of the required sizes are areas that need further
development. The CU-Boulder experiments were done on a relatively small
scale."indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-29010603248698154082012-10-05T08:34:00.000-07:002013-08-13T12:30:43.815-07:00Extending memory beyond Moore's Law<a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1112706299/graphene-flexible-transparent-memory-100312/?print=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Red Orbit</a> is reporting that researchers at Rice University have been able to combine the almost <a href="http://graphenewire.blogspot.com/2012/07/graphene-for-desalination.html" target="_blank">ionic properties of graphene</a> with the light-penetrable properties of <a href="http://www.timedomaincvd.com/CVD_Fundamentals/films/SiO2_properties.html" target="_blank">silicone oxide</a> to design what amounts to flexible and transparent 3D, two-terminal memories. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm5PVyQOAb_TX8NdKflTY5PTbXKl2MR2zFsZiK6bnb3FKCMYXfn1gzT87b6h2HdgIWSj2LDCpd_QXa5gXL7J7D0wJTRwA4-qXRuYXHrK4bThf9UKYmoCxs9O3FPheWZW8R6c3N3qxI2o/s1600/transparency.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm5PVyQOAb_TX8NdKflTY5PTbXKl2MR2zFsZiK6bnb3FKCMYXfn1gzT87b6h2HdgIWSj2LDCpd_QXa5gXL7J7D0wJTRwA4-qXRuYXHrK4bThf9UKYmoCxs9O3FPheWZW8R6c3N3qxI2o/s320/transparency.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">"[The] highly transparent, nonvolatile resistive memory devices are based on the revelation that silicon oxide can be a switch At just 5 nanometers, a channel can be created to extend memory beyond <a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1112525472/theoretical-physicist-michio-kaku-the-end-is-near-for-moore%E2%80%99s-law/" target="_blank">Moore’s Law</a>, which predicts computer circuitry will double in power every two years.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">Manufacturers are finding physical limits on current architectures
when trying to fit millions of bits on small devices. Currently,
electronics are made with 22 nanometer circuits.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">Combining silicon and graphene enables the scientists to extend the
possibilities of where memory can be placed. The devices could not only
have potential for facing the harsh conditions of radiation, but also
could be able to withstand heat of up to about 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">source: <a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1112706299/graphene-flexible-transparent-memory-100312/?print=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1112706299/graphene-flexible-transparent-memory-100312/?print=true</a></span><a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1112706299/graphene-flexible-transparent-memory-100312/?print=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<br />
Stepping down from 22 to 5 nanometers may not seem like a huge leap, but thus far it has presented some logistical challenges. Up to this point, the primary limitation in down-sizing circuitry has been in finding materials that can retain their "transmission" properties at such small diameters. As explained by Dr. James Tour, "We need transparent wires to wire them together and bring in the
needed voltages and record the currents." <br />
<br />
So what is it that makes graphene so special? <br />
<br />
"Graphene, being transparent, is being used as the wiring for both the
input and output electrodes on the plastic substrates." he explains further. "On the glass
substrates, we use indium-tin-oxide (ITO), a transparent metallic
electrode for the input and graphene on top for the output.”indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-40436120704921410872012-09-27T06:10:00.001-07:002013-08-13T12:28:40.518-07:00Boosting the anti-corrosive properties of copper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0008622312003636-gr5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0008622312003636-gr5.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
A microscopic layer of graphene atoms coating a simple copper wire can boost the anti-corrosive properties of that wire by up to 100 times, reports Science Direct<br />
<br />
Pure copper is one of the softest and most malleable metals, and copper ions alone are water-soluble. But with the application of a single layer of graphene atoms, the wire can stand up to much more harsh environments. <br />
The implications are for better "insulation" materials allowing copper to be used in places where it otherwise wouldn't make sense. <br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The researchers applied the graphene to copper at temperatures between 800 and 900 degrees, using a technique known as chemical vapour deposition, and tested it in saline water.
“In nations like Australia, where we are surrounded by ocean, it is particularly significant that such an atomically thin coating can provide protection in that environment,” Dr Banerjee said.
Initial experiments were confined to copper, but Dr Banerjee said research was already under way on using the same technique with other metals.
This would open up uses for a huge range of applications, from ocean-going vessels to electronics: anywhere that metal is used and at risk of corrosion. Such a dramatic extension of metal’s useful life could mean tremendous cost savings for many industries. </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">source:<a href="http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/newsid=26835.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622312003636</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">source: <a href="http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/newsid=26835.php">http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/newsid=26835.php</a></span>indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-44577623161719095592012-09-19T12:28:00.000-07:002014-01-04T06:29:54.303-08:00Downsides to the scienceAmazing as it is, there appear to be some potential downsides to the amazing graphene. <br />
<br />
Two recent stories stick out in my constant perusal of this topic. The first is potential danger to individuals, the second is a potential downside to our fragile ecosystem.<br />
<br />
The first one discusses the downside of carbon nanotubes as they can essentially "trap" cancer cells<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB_E0_jxRDxebIwpWGdPxDoDyNvKmgHoQEx9nbmkiKxkoQ2gL3ysxa3nktUqsP3m9DOce-m8zydxkzKyN7PZoCI4k0gg453URlDaAyS1Ul14JkwNP-j9w5N4mzMjat6bM-C19IzGOKHs/s1600/cancer-cell-trap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB_E0_jxRDxebIwpWGdPxDoDyNvKmgHoQEx9nbmkiKxkoQ2gL3ysxa3nktUqsP3m9DOce-m8zydxkzKyN7PZoCI4k0gg453URlDaAyS1Ul14JkwNP-j9w5N4mzMjat6bM-C19IzGOKHs/s320/cancer-cell-trap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source: <a href="http://www.technewsdaily.com/5246-nanoparticles-carbon-nanotubes-asbestos.html" target="_blank">nanotube posts from technewsdaily</a></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">According to a new study conducted by researchers at Brown University,<a href="http://www.technewsdaily.com/5246-nanoparticles-carbon-nanotubes-asbestos.html" target="_blank"> nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes </a>mimic asbestos and can fool our cells into thinking they are big enough to ingest,
leading to some disastrous results. This is the same thing that makes
asbestos dangerous, a process lead researcher Huajian Gao compared to
eating a lollipop that's bigger than your own body — it would get stuck.</span></span> </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
The second source of danger appears even more disturbing, as the extremely durable, pliant and "resistant" materials that graphene can enhance end up being toxic to many aquatic animals:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Nickel, chromium and other metals used in the manufacturing process can
remain as impurities. Deng and his colleagues found that these metals
and the CNTs themselves can reduce the growth rates or even kill some
species of aquatic organisms. The four species used in the experiment
were mussels (<i>Villosa iris</i>), small flies' larvae (<i>Chironomus dilutus</i>), worms (<i>Lumbriculus variegatus</i>) and crustaceans (<i>Hyalella azteca</i>).</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <a href="http://esciencenews.com/articles/2012/08/22/super.strong.high.tech.material.found.be.toxic.aquatic.animals" target="_blank">source</a></span>indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-71220388716795037872012-08-24T07:15:00.001-07:002012-08-24T07:26:02.624-07:00"Zapped" graphene increases power density of lithium-ion batteriesThat which doesn't kill it makes it stronger . . .
Research has revealed that the action of "zapping" a sheet of graphene with a laser or super-concentrated camera flash actually helps it become a more powerful anode for lithium ion batteries. It works because the damage done to the sheet allows the ions to cycle more quickly through the cracks and newly-created pores, without damaging the actual charging ability of the battery.
<blockquote>The new material is made from graphene, which is the world's thinnest material. They took a sheet of graphene and blasted it with a camera flash or laser to deform it, causing several pores and cracks. This made the graphene sheet a great anode for lithium ion batteries because the lithium ions could cut through the pores/cracks to charge and discharge rather than run the entire length of graphene (which took much longer). This ultimately increased the power density. <a href="http://www.dailytech.com/Damaged+Graphene+Sheets+Provide+Greater+Power+Density+for+EVs/article25497.htm">Source</a>
</blockquote>
<br />
Other research revealed graphene's self-healing capacity to "knit" itself back together. Hole-burning "metals" which were initially thought to damage sheets of graphene were later discovered to magically mend themselves. <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120729150055.htm"> Source
</a>
indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-60415412036222076142012-08-01T09:34:00.000-07:002012-08-01T09:51:43.902-07:00Applying graphene to solar panel technology<i>Researchers Develop Method to Create Photovoltaic Solar Cells from Any Materials
</i>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh980JHAC0_c2S8mHHadHNjpNudu1bkSJnZBYrvjziKBj_Vl8oVwhfjd-_c8dbh2N1o0H83ITmdLwnoeMlhePHcWWlrrtojNqbuQ_qfcCsgx0X1iVMHeEFqN8CBWPhzD9d3zXKUKXGEyzw/s1600/graphene-sheet-348x196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh980JHAC0_c2S8mHHadHNjpNudu1bkSJnZBYrvjziKBj_Vl8oVwhfjd-_c8dbh2N1o0H83ITmdLwnoeMlhePHcWWlrrtojNqbuQ_qfcCsgx0X1iVMHeEFqN8CBWPhzD9d3zXKUKXGEyzw/s320/graphene-sheet-348x196.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Graphene's awesomeness can also be applied to solar panel technologies. The article is a little. . . chewy, but the basic gist is that a single layer of graphene applied to a panel creates somewhat of self-fueling system to power the "self-gating configuration, in which the gate was powered internally by the electrical activity of the cell itself."
<br />
<blockquote>Under the SFPV system, the architecture of the top electrode is structured so that at least one of the electrode’s dimensions is confined. In one configuration, working with copper oxide, the Berkeley researchers shaped the electrode contact into narrow fingers; in another configuration, working with silicon, they made the top contact ultra-thin (single layer graphene) across the surface. With sufficiently narrow fingers, the gate field creates a low electrical resistance inversion layer between the fingers and a potential barrier beneath them. A uniformly thin top contact allows gate fields to penetrate and deplete/invert the underlying semiconductor. The results in both configurations are high quality p-n junctions.
</blockquote>
<br />
<a href="http://theenergycollective.com/energyrefuge/98631/researchers-develop-method-create-photovoltaic-solar-cells-any-materials">http://theenergycollective.com/energyrefuge/98631/researchers-develop-method-create-photovoltaic-solar-cells-any-materials</a>indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-66149493201553332042012-07-30T09:25:00.001-07:002012-07-30T09:25:11.730-07:00Graphene self-repairsThis has some amazing implications for bendable circuits, wearable electronics, etc.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY0awK1QDHw-d3kybhrmVoKHQ6Jur9xvQNHaPD43-HOnMBkvwX8iTiyDCFzsSalcRfFKcPqyeKLOYgiSPtoVrCRTvITUQSWjd7HnBx1Y1r7JCMWdEIVgMgfTZEf6ndU16439tcQ0beyc/s1600/gaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="201" width="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY0awK1QDHw-d3kybhrmVoKHQ6Jur9xvQNHaPD43-HOnMBkvwX8iTiyDCFzsSalcRfFKcPqyeKLOYgiSPtoVrCRTvITUQSWjd7HnBx1Y1r7JCMWdEIVgMgfTZEf6ndU16439tcQ0beyc/s320/gaa.jpg" /></a></div>
<blockquote>RESEARCHERS at the University of Manchester and the SuperSTEM facility at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory have found that graphene can self-repair its holes.
Graphene is composed of one-atom-thick carbon sheets and has electronic and physical properties that promise a number of exciting applications in the future.
The team, led by Professor Kostya Novoselov was originally looking to gain a deeper understanding into how metals interact with graphene.
However, in the course of their study, they found that while metals can cause holes in the graphene sheet, some of these holes mended themselves using nearby loose carbon atoms to re-knit the graphene structure.
According to the researchers, not only can they use metals to controllably sculpt the graphene at an atomic level, they can also grow it back in new shapes, making for an increased degree of flexibility.</blockquote>
Source: http://www.electronicsnews.com.au/news/graphene-self-repairsindiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-50069915659106141162012-07-18T05:15:00.002-07:002012-07-30T09:25:48.581-07:00Making salt-water fresh<center><img src="http://newshour.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/2012/07/17/106051464_blog_main_horizontal.jpg"></img></center><br />
<br />
Oh, the many uses of this amazing material! Discovered a new application today -- desalination! With 70 percent of the Earth's water containing salt, the possible application of this to use the most plentiful source of water? Awesome. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Earlier this year, University of Manchester researchers studying
graphene’s ion permeation properties found that water molecules from a
container diffused through a graphene membrane at the same evaporation
rate whether the container was closed or open. Professor Andre Geim, a
recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for his research with
graphene, told WDR, “Its properties are so unusual that it is hard to
imagine that they cannot find some use in the design of filtration,
separation or barrier membranes and for selective removal of water.”</blockquote>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">SOURCES: http://www.desalination.com/wdr/48/28/graphene-membranes-show-promise </span></b>indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2729584732520425006.post-49876581186379110382012-07-16T21:04:00.000-07:002013-08-13T12:25:14.521-07:00Transforming the capabilities of electronics<span style="font-size: small;">A sheet of graphene "one carbon atom thick" has unique physical properties that can transform a passive device into one that can produce and interact with microwave frequencies. </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">New research by Columbia
Engineering demonstrates remarkable optical nonlinear behavior of
graphene that may lead to broad applications in optical interconnects
and low-power photonic integrated circuits. With the placement of a
sheet of graphene just one-carbon-atom-thick, the researchers
transformed the originally passive device into an active one that
generated microwave photonic signals and performed parametric wavelength
conversion at telecommunication wavelengths.</span> </blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>SOURCE: http://www.pddnet.com/news-graphene-leads-to-a-new-paradigm-for-low-power-telecommunications-071612/</b></span>indiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07915029607231654726noreply@blogger.com0