Inspire sixth formers with a story about graphene and UK Chemical Manufacturers Thomas Swan

Graphene is an amazingly useful form of carbon.

Consisting of a sheet of carbon 1 atom thick it:

• is a 2D honeycomb structure
• can conduct electricity better than copper
• is about 100 times stronger than steel

Now scientists are trying to make graphene on an industrial scale with the help of Thomas Swan . Apart from its potential use in electronics other applications may include water treatment and  oil-spill clean up.

The Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to Manchester University's Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov in 2010 for its discovery.


Use The Essential Chemical Industry online to find out more about graphene and other composites.

And for more information on the graphene story look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27113732