Graphene for Spill Response

As a nanomaterial, graphene has the ability to separate oil and water. This means that there are promising applications for this new material in the field of spill response. The production of graphene, however, remains a constraint, since it is expensive to produce the material in large quantities. 

 

The material, which consists of a one-molecule-thick layer of praphitic carbon, is a hexagonal array of bonded carbon atoms and is characterised as a 2D material. It is thin but strong, according to the manufacturer. Through its structure, it can act as a transistor, gas sensor or membrane. It has been discovered that the graphene can not only absorb oil, but also filter it. The video below shows the results of experiments.

 

The restricting factor in the use of graphene is, however, the cost of the production - this is still expensive. However, A-Z Comp has found a solution to overcome this problem.