From toothbrushes to aerospace: Graphene research advances fibers that conduct heat efficiently
KAIST's discovery of graphene oxide liquid crystals in 2011 laid the foundation for 15 years of research worldwide, leading to technologies for producing graphene fibers with high strength and thermal conductivity.
KAIST's discovery of graphene oxide liquid crystals in 2011 laid the foundation for 15 years of research worldwide, leading to technologies for producing graphene fibers with high strength and thermal conductivity.
The short version
- The fundamental materials research that helped bring antibacterial toothbrushes and functional sportswear to market is now advancing into materials for thermal management.
- by The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
- Graphene oxide consists of graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure, with oxygen functional groups attached.
What happened
Graphene is strong and conducts heat and electricity well, but its poor dispersibility in water makes it difficult to process in liquid form. By contrast, the oxygen functional groups allow graphene oxide to disperse readily in water, making it easier to formulate into inks, apply as coatings or spin into fibers.
Why it matters
In 2011, Kim's team was the first in the world to report that graphene oxide dispersed in water above a certain concentration spontaneously forms a liquid-crystalline state in which its thin sheets align in a common direction.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.