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When graphene is used as a membrane, graphene exhibits several beneficial properties:
1) Selective Permeability
2) Exceptional Strength
3) Chemical Resistance
About
What is Graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice. It is the basic structural element of other carbon allotropes, including graphite, charcoal, and carbon nanotubes.
Key Benefits
Properties of Graphene
- Exceptional Strength: It is around 200 times stronger than steel.
- High Electrical Conductivity: Efficiently conducts electricity.
- Thermal Conductivity: Superior ability to conduct heat.
- Flexibility and Thinness: Despite its strength, it is incredibly thin and flexible.
- Transparency: Nearly transparent, allowing 97.7% of light to pass through.
- Impermeability: Gas molecules cannot pass through it, but can be made breathable as well as waterproof.
Even though it is a quite new material with really astonishing properties, the costs has decreased substantially already allowing it to be used for high end commercial applications.
Applications
Possible Applications of Graphene
- Electronics: Used in transistors, sensors, and flexible displays.
- Energy Storage: Enhances the performance of batteries and supercapacitors.
- Composites: Strengthens materials like plastics, metals, and ceramics.
- Water Filtration: Effective in desalination and purification processes.
- Membrane
- Medical Devices: Utilized in biosensors and drug delivery systems.
- Coatings: Provides corrosion resistance and improved thermal management.
- Aerospace: Lightweight and strong materials for aircraft and spacecraft.
For the Challenge "Materials for Moisture Absorption, Expansion, and Drainage":
Instead of aborbing the moisture, my proposal is to keep the water out of the pneumatic braking valve system altogether by using a membrane made out of graphene.
The function will be similar to Gore-Tex, but just much stronger, so it can withstand the strong air pressure (which Gore-Tex cannot): Gore-Tex blocks liquid water while allowing water vapor to pass through and is designed to be a lightweight, waterproof fabric for all-weather use.
Graphene itself is nearly impermeable to gases, including air. However, when subjected to sufficient pressure, specifically engineered graphene membranes with designed pores can allow certain gases to pass through. These membranes can be tailored for specific applications, such as filtration or separation processes, where selective permeability is crucial. The unique properties of graphene membranes, like their strength and flexibility, make them suitable for high-pressure environments where precise control over gas flow is required.
"We have developed two graphene-based state-of-the-art membranes with waterproof features."