FEATURE: First steps towards the Graphene revolution
Tainan, Taiwan, Dec. 4, 2012
“Graphene is the material of the future.” With these words Professor Mario Hofmann introduced his current research with the nano-engineering group at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan. In an exclusive interview with the NCKU News Center, Hofmann spoke of his past and current research on the properties and applications of nanomaterials, especially graphene.
Graduated with a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Hofmann has devoted the last eight years to nanomaterial-related research. However, his involvement in graphene research did not start until approximately two years ago, when he and his friend in MIT played around with the idea of making something useful out of an available but overlooked nanomaterial known as graphene flake solutions. Both of them did not know what to do with the graphene flake solution although this special form of graphene has been around for more than a century.
“Graphene is one atom thick, looks like glass, behaves like metal and is one of the strongest materials known,” said Hofmann while describing this nanomaterial in the plainest language. “Many researchers are now working hard to make large area graphene for all kinds of applications but few ideas are out there on how to innovatively apply graphene flakes. Flake solutions are almost like the ugly step sister of large area graphene that nobody notices.”
Prof. Hofmann pointed out that creating graphene flakes, was much simpler than other graphene fabrication methods, as only graphite and common chemicals are needed. The ease of creating graphene flakes explains its lower cost relative to graphene films and other nano-materials such as nanoparticles or nanotubes. The reduced cost, which could reach as low as 1 dollar per kilogram, could work towards the benefits of industries which graphene can be applied.
To give an even clearer picture of how graphene flakes work, Hofmann demonstrated on the spot the result of a simple experiment conducted by his team. He showed a piece of paper that graphene flake solution had been painted on, and then explained that this treatment made the paper electrically conductive enough to be used as an electrical wire.
This leads to Hofmann’s recent study and experiment on graphene. He and his team used graphene flakes to produce a strain sensor that measures mechanical force through change in its electrical resistance. He further explained that graphene flakes in a film, do not stick together but often slide on one another and such movements cause change in the flake films electrical properties. This behavior makes graphene flake films much more sensitive to strain than current sensors and shows how the potential of graphene can be realized.
When asked about the applications of graphene strain gauges, Hofmann enthusiastically listed many potential uses. In practical applications, he foresees the use of graphene strain sensors to replace current sensors in oil and gas pipe lines, bridges, engines and airplanes to check the conditions of these items.
The research team went on to make a strain gauge directly on a light bulb which is impossible with current technology due to its curved, transparent and fragile surface. The results were very impressive, and they have even attracted the attention of the editors of one of the most influential scientific journals, Science, which published a highlight of the research in October. These results offer the vision of paper-like keyboards and meter sized touch sensitive screens.
“Everyone is excited about graphene at the moment,” said Hofmann. “It could even be the forerunner of the anticipated ‘nanotechnology revolution’ because it is easy to make and has tons of potential applications.” However, he warned that the lack of creativity in its applications could dampen this excitement. He emphasized repeatedly that further research on graphene and other nanomaterials has to identify areas of applications that are not possible with current materials instead of focusing on outperforming existing technology.
During the interview, Hofmann expressed his optimism regarding the future of graphene, claiming he was expecting greater things to come for this material. However, he pointed out that at the moment, graphene has not been widely used for commercial products despite its advantages. Therefore, he hopes that his strain gauges can be one of the first real life applications of graphene.
To reach that goal, industries would have to play a crucial goal in refining its applications and thus setting the direction of future research of graphene. This is also why he is trying hard to use various channels including NCKU as a platform to help attract interest industry.
Currently, Hofmann is actively engaged in graphene-related research by collaborating with various universities from other countries such as Germany, Japan and Brazil, with the aim of discovering more uses of this nanomaterial.
After arriving at NCKU earlier this year, he started collaboration with Taiwanese researchers which include graduate and undergraduate students in National Taiwan University (NTU), National Chung Cheng University (CCU) and NCKU to advance his research. He is also keeping in touch with his friends at MIT to help expand ideas related to graphene research.
At the end of the interview, Hofmann announced his next goal in his research and his predictions regarding the use of graphene. Expanding on his current involvement in research regarding the use of graphene in electronic devices, he wants to study the usefulness of graphene in energy application, focusing on energy generation and storage in the next stage of this research. “Nano(technology) and graphene will shape our future in ways we haven’t started thinking about” he boldly predicted. Yes, the world is waiting to see a revolution of graphene.
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“Graphene is the material of the future.” With these words Professor Mario Hofmann introduced his current research with the nano-engineering group at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan. In an exclusive interview with the NCKU News Center, Hofmann spoke of his past and current research on the properties and applications of nanomaterials, especially graphene.
Graduated with a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Hofmann has devoted the last eight years to nanomaterial-related research. However, his involvement in graphene research did not start until approximately two years ago, when he and his friend in MIT played around with the idea of making something useful out of an available but overlooked nanomaterial known as graphene flake solutions. Both of them did not know what to do with the graphene flake solution although this special form of graphene has been around for more than a century.
“Graphene is one atom thick, looks like glass, behaves like metal and is one of the strongest materials known,” said Hofmann while describing this nanomaterial in the plainest language. “Many researchers are now working hard to make large area graphene for all kinds of applications but few ideas are out there on how to innovatively apply graphene flakes. Flake solutions are almost like the ugly step sister of large area graphene that nobody notices.”
Prof. Hofmann pointed out that creating graphene flakes, was much simpler than other graphene fabrication methods, as only graphite and common chemicals are needed. The ease of creating graphene flakes explains its lower cost relative to graphene films and other nano-materials such as nanoparticles or nanotubes. The reduced cost, which could reach as low as 1 dollar per kilogram, could work towards the benefits of industries which graphene can be applied.
To give an even clearer picture of how graphene flakes work, Hofmann demonstrated on the spot the result of a simple experiment conducted by his team. He showed a piece of paper that graphene flake solution had been painted on, and then explained that this treatment made the paper electrically conductive enough to be used as an electrical wire.
This leads to Hofmann’s recent study and experiment on graphene. He and his team used graphene flakes to produce a strain sensor that measures mechanical force through change in its electrical resistance. He further explained that graphene flakes in a film, do not stick together but often slide on one another and such movements cause change in the flake films electrical properties. This behavior makes graphene flake films much more sensitive to strain than current sensors and shows how the potential of graphene can be realized.
When asked about the applications of graphene strain gauges, Hofmann enthusiastically listed many potential uses. In practical applications, he foresees the use of graphene strain sensors to replace current sensors in oil and gas pipe lines, bridges, engines and airplanes to check the conditions of these items.
The research team went on to make a strain gauge directly on a light bulb which is impossible with current technology due to its curved, transparent and fragile surface. The results were very impressive, and they have even attracted the attention of the editors of one of the most influential scientific journals, Science, which published a highlight of the research in October. These results offer the vision of paper-like keyboards and meter sized touch sensitive screens.
“Everyone is excited about graphene at the moment,” said Hofmann. “It could even be the forerunner of the anticipated ‘nanotechnology revolution’ because it is easy to make and has tons of potential applications.” However, he warned that the lack of creativity in its applications could dampen this excitement. He emphasized repeatedly that further research on graphene and other nanomaterials has to identify areas of applications that are not possible with current materials instead of focusing on outperforming existing technology.
During the interview, Hofmann expressed his optimism regarding the future of graphene, claiming he was expecting greater things to come for this material. However, he pointed out that at the moment, graphene has not been widely used for commercial products despite its advantages. Therefore, he hopes that his strain gauges can be one of the first real life applications of graphene.
To reach that goal, industries would have to play a crucial goal in refining its applications and thus setting the direction of future research of graphene. This is also why he is trying hard to use various channels including NCKU as a platform to help attract interest industry.
Currently, Hofmann is actively engaged in graphene-related research by collaborating with various universities from other countries such as Germany, Japan and Brazil, with the aim of discovering more uses of this nanomaterial.
After arriving at NCKU earlier this year, he started collaboration with Taiwanese researchers which include graduate and undergraduate students in National Taiwan University (NTU), National Chung Cheng University (CCU) and NCKU to advance his research. He is also keeping in touch with his friends at MIT to help expand ideas related to graphene research.
At the end of the interview, Hofmann announced his next goal in his research and his predictions regarding the use of graphene. Expanding on his current involvement in research regarding the use of graphene in electronic devices, he wants to study the usefulness of graphene in energy application, focusing on energy generation and storage in the next stage of this research. “Nano(technology) and graphene will shape our future in ways we haven’t started thinking about” he boldly predicted. Yes, the world is waiting to see a revolution of graphene.
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