Graphene -  The material for future energy storage?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2015, 07:49:40 pm
content: It seems that two universities will start serious research in Europe on the subject of Graphene. Some say it has the potential to completely change the way for energy storage in supercapacitors of the next generation and other energy storage devices.The Calmers University in Sweden is looking for Postdocs researchers and started a roadshow to present their vision to smaller companies to generate interest for this research for technology applications."Chalmers University of Technology is aiming to be one of Europes leading universities on graphene research. To help us achieve this goal we are looking for talented researchers. ??"http://www.chalmers.se/en/areas-of-advance/nano/Pages/Join-the-graphene-adventure.aspxAt the same time, the Lund University is preparing for the production in larger quantities of Graphenehttp://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/homeWhat do you guys think, will Graphene prevail and hold the future for new storage devices?Have you come across any serious research papers on graphene?Or does this fall in to the "snake oil" category?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2015, 08:00:16 pm
content: First question - does it take more energy to make it than it will usefully save in its lifetime?

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2015, 08:13:31 pm
content: QuoteI'm always worried that when people propose great contraptions without explaining why it is great.Those people sound more like looking for research grants than to explore a concrete idea.Unless they can show me where the beef is, I'm going to pass.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2015, 05:58:01 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on February 16, 2015, 07:49:40 pmA university with .aspx web pages? Yack. ;-)It's hard to tell where the next technological breakthrough will come. There are many competing ideas and most will fail. Ask me again in 25 years.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 07:34:24 am
content: I look at it like aerogel. We knew we had this great unique stuff but apart from catching micrometeorites with it nobody really knew what to do with it. Eventually some limited reasonable applications came up over the years. Graphene will probably follow the same arc. A solution looking for a problem that has enough of a commercial application to push its development.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 07:43:54 am
content: Quote from: calexanian on February 18, 2015, 07:34:24 amNumerous uses for graphene are self-evident, although others are more speculative. The real issue is how do you make it by the ton at low cost? Answer that, and the users will be lining up.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 11:58:30 am
content: QuoteA lot more hyped though.

author: mswhin63
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 12:07:16 pm
content: I wouldn't dismiss the use of graphene, I am not sure but Robert Murray Smith has been working as an independent scientist working mostly with graphene and he too has come to the same conclusion about it revolutionary. My concern is that do the University get the idea from Robert.https://www.youtube.com/user/RobertMurraySmith/videosI have even purchased some of Robert Graphene ink to test out as well. Although I do not intend using it to develop supercapacitors.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 12:57:39 pm
content: Graphene is forever talked about as a future material with many great uses... but it will remain a future material if it can't be made in reasonable quantities for a low price.I'm pretty sure fusion is the same, would be great if someone could just fix all the problems with it...

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 02:03:12 pm
content: Well, graphene is just carbon right?Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't carbon one of the most common elements on the planet?We breathe out the stuff.Also didn't they find out they could make it in a DVD burner?Idk, but if it can charge quick, hold a long charge, and tap dance, I'll buy a thousand.

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 01:13:55 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on February 18, 2015, 02:03:12 pmCarbon is one of the most abundant elements, but the problem is that turning it into graphene is very expensive.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 08:20:59 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on February 18, 2015, 02:03:12 pmDiamonds are just carbonAs for making it in a DVD burner, well, not quite, you have to paint a surface of graphene oxide and then use a light scribe laser to turn portions into graphene.Graphene is just one layer of caramel totally dehydrated (meaning not H and no O) it's almost flat and only has one single layer.Take a nanotube and splice it and make it flat and you have graphene, anything over that it's graphite and the Nobel price went to two guys that made graphene using mechanical methods by using just scotch tape against graphite, then keep on peeling layers with more tape until you end with a single layer.Carbone nanotubes, graphene and buckyballs have a lot of cool properties. So it's not really a lot of hype, but it will take a while to get there.