Graphene
- Updated:
- By: Kevin van Mierlo
Contents
What is graphene?
Definition
Graphene is the first two-dimensional material consisting of a single atomic layer of carbon. It is therefore a flat layer of material just one atom thick; it simply cannot be any thinner. The carbon atoms in the material are arranged in a hexagonal structure (also known as a honeycomb or chicken wire pattern). Graphene is the strongest material currently available on the market. It is even stronger than steel or stainless steel. It is such an extraordinary material that its creators were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010. It is sometimes regarded as physicists’ favourite material.
Difference from graphite?
I hear you thinking; but isn't it the same as graphite? No it isn't. Graphene is not the same as graphite, but it is part of it. It is also composed entirely of carbon. Graphite is made up of several layers of carbon atoms. For example, you can find graphite in the tip of your pencil. When you write with that pencil, you scrape off layers of graphite, so to speak. This makes the tip smaller and creates a line on the paper. So the line on the paper is a scraped-off layer of graphite. Such a single layer is thus graphene.
Advantages
As it is currently the only two-dimensional material, it brings with it very many advantages compared to other materials. As highlighted earlier, graphene is among the strongest materials in the world. The material is flexible but also very strong at the same time. It is a very versatile piece of material. It also brings several advantages when it comes to electricity. Namely, the material conducts very well.
Graphene at TRALERT®
A number of products in our range of LED lighting utilise graphene. This is the case with various LED work lights. Several work lights feature a graphene housing. In some cases, the bracket of the light is also made from this strong material. To highlight just how special this material is, we have named a whole series of work lights after it: the TRALERT® Graphene Series.
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Author
Kevin van Mierlo
Lighting expert at TRALERT® - Kevin tests lighting and finds out everything about legislation. He can tell you all about it.
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