Graphene the Wonder Material

by JJ Brewer

     In 2004 two individuals at The University of Manchester, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, rediscovered and characterized a long sought-after material. The material they discovered, called graphene, is the strongest and most conductive material known to man and has many other attributes that have piqued the interests of a multitude of industries. With its many beneficial properties graphene has become known as the ‘miracle material’ and is getting much attention from governments, companies and universities around the world. From energy production to healthcare, graphene has the ability to be used in nearly every industry, it’s only a matter of time until the new ‘miracle material’ is being used in the everyday lives of millions of individuals.

     Unfortunately, the manufacturing process is quite expensive putting the cost of graphene at a whopping $100 per gram. But don’t be fooled by the price tag because scientists all around the world are working day and night to find the quickest and cheapest way to produce the wonderful material. One of the reasons for scientists’ devotion to creating graphene so efficiently is because its properties could provide solutions to many of the worlds’ problems. For example, graphene is the most conductive material to be discovered thus far, making it an extremely valuable resource for the fast approaching all electrical world. Not only is it conductive but it’s extremely strong, flexible and only allows water molecules to pass through it, making it able to be used to desalinate and purify water.