Has found a way to produce graphene metamaterials at 100 times cheaper

The only thing that keeps graphene from creating a comprehensive revolution is the expensive price.

Find a way to produce cheap graphene

We all know, graphene is called the metamaterial of the future . Only one atomic layer, 200 times stiffer than steel, light and flexible, excellent conductivity and thermal load, the only thing that makes graphene not yet widely used to create such a comprehensive revolution is expensive from production costs.

However, the day that graphene appeared everywhere seemed close. Researchers at the University of Glasgow, Scotland have found a way to produce high-quality graphene sheets that cost up to 100 times cheaper than traditional methods.

The only thing that keeps graphene from creating a comprehensive revolution is the expensive price.

Today, graphene is commonly produced through chemical vapor deposition method (Chemical Vapor Deposition - CVD). Chemical precursors will be vaporized at high temperatures, then deposited and reacted on the substrate surface to create a thin film of graphene.

To achieve a high quality graphene film by this method, the base material used must be of great fineness . That's why only selected expensive materials like platinum, nickel or titanium are processed with high purity. The cost of production is of course expensive, making graphene's wide application potential limited.

Although earlier this year, a group of Polish scientists began using copper as a base for graphene. However, the copper base that they use still has to be processed to achieve high quality so the cost is basically not reduced.

Instead, although also moving towards the use of copper substrates, Glasgow University scientists opted for universal copper leaves that were being produced in large scale to create lithium-ion batteries. which we use every day.

Although not through any laboratory process, these copper sheets also achieve fineness that allows the fabrication of a single layer of graphene atoms. Even more impressive, the experimental process shows that graphene films with 'cheap' copper substrates also exhibit better photoelectric properties when using substrates from expensive materials.

The image of graphene material is made on copper base.

'These commercial bronze stands are retail for only 1 USD per square meter. Meanwhile, a copper base used to produce current graphene costs $ 115 for the same area, 'said Ravinda Dahiya, the lead researcher. 'The bronze base becomes expensive mainly because of the complicated handling and cleaning process'.

'Our manufacturing process can create graphene materials at a low cost and still achieve high quality. It is a step closer to creating graphene electronics at affordable prices. Application range will be extremely large. Graphene is an indispensable material from the scale of a smart city of the future to mobile health care devices , 'he added.

The first applications can be mentioned when these graphene sheets are commercialized, which is to manufacture high-tech filters and medical devices. As for the research team, Dahiya said : 'We focus on and pay special attention to synthetic skin. Graphene can provide a flexible conductive surface that helps users of prosthetics can also use touch. The new discovery of bronze base is very meaningful, we will continue to study further '.