TECH SPECIAL ......9 ways graphene is about to change our life

9 ways graphene is about to change our life



The strongest material in the world potentially has amazing applications for us in the near future

It's strong, it's flexible, and it's here. After a long time in the labs, the first graphene-based products are beginning to come out into the world of smart phones, wearables, batteries, virtual reality, sports equipment, super-capacitors and supercars.It's been over 60 years coming as scientists and manufacturers alike have struggled to harness the power of this material. We are closing in on revolutionising so many things that we use every day.

A battery that charges in minutes

What if you could charge your phone in five minutes?
That's the thinking behind the Zap & Go charger, which takes full advantage of graphene's conductive prowess to fully charge in five minutes, though the prototype is only a 750 mAh battery. It's due to launch later in 2017.

E-tattoos and fitness trackers

Soon, popular fitness bands and other wearables are going to look clunky -and dumb.Graphene promises not only t hi n ner (even paper-t hi n) wristbands, but they will also have integrated graphene light sensors and circuitry that bring extra functionality just by using light.

Super-thin e-book

At MWC 2017, FlexEnable showed off a full colour, graphene-based mechanical pixel system for low-power displays and e-ink displays -that's a paper-thin Kindle-like device for us. The big breakthrough for the eink screen is using printed graphene instead of brittle titanium oxide. An e-book is only thick because it's on glass.

Supercars

British manufacturer Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has developed the BAC Mono -the world's first limited-edition supercar starting at around $163,000 -that features lightweight panels made with graphene composites. The material is lighter and stronger than carbon fibre composite, and therefore more energy-efficient.

Robotic hands

Graphene inks have been used by the Istituto Italiano i Tecnologia (IIT) to make the Prosthetic IIT-NAIL Hand, which uses graphene ink on paper as the electrodes, replacing titanium. The Prosthetic IIT-NAIL Hand is f lexible, more comfortable and cheaper to make than existing techniques.

Scanners for smartphones

Graphene can be used to make extremely thin and sensitive image sensors that can detect invisible infra-red light. A spectral application to differentiate between different organic materials, with a quick photo can reveal exactly how ripe a fruit is, or whether the baby milk is toxin-free -all from a smartphone.

Sensors for 3D cameras

Studies reveal that a graphene camera is 1,000 times more sensitive to light than the ones we have today. A project from the University of Michigan indicates a DSLR-size camera that uses multiple translucent graphene sensors can record 3D images and video.The camera is under development.

Cure blindness

It's flexible, and it's safe when used against flesh. A new graphene contact lens -officially an `electronic retinal prostheses' -helps patients that have lost their sight but still have a functional optic nerve. Graphene is used to detect and translate more light into electrical signals, increasing the resolution of images perceived by the patient's brain. It is under development.

Night vision for self-driving cars

The ability to see in the infrared -effectively night vision -means that same graphene CMOS camera can be used as part of a selfdriving car's automatic brake system, specifically in bad weather .

in.techradar.com