Materials: Bio-inspired super-elastic graphene
Nature Communications
December 5, 2012
A strategy for making three-dimensional graphene networks is reported in Nature Communications this week. These graphene ‘monoliths’ exhibit ultralow density, super-elasticity with an extremely high recovery rate, and electrical conductivity and they may pave the way for new types of graphene-based flexible devices.
The development of graphene as a functional material requires that multiple sheets can be assembled while maintaining the unique properties of single sheets. Dan Li and his colleagues use a combination of graphene chemistry and ice physics to freeze cast the graphene monoliths, which have a structure similar to that of natural cork. The new material can support more than 50,000 times its own weight and can recover from 80% compression.
The authors suggest that functional materials can be incorporated into the voids in the material, offering plenty of room to fabricate new graphene-based nanocomposites.
doi: 10.1038/ncomms2251
Research highlights
-
Aug 13
Animal behaviour: Pheromone turns locusts into a swarm enemyNature
-
Jul 30
Genetics: ENCODE expands the encyclopaedia of regulatory elementsNature
-
Jul 24
Drug repurposing: Large-scale screen reveals potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugsNature
-
Jul 23
Genomics: Six genomes provide clues to bats’ exceptional adaptationsNature
-
Jul 23
Biotechnology: A safer, rapid assay for studying SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodiesNature Biotechnology
-
Jun 30
Biotechnology: Bioengineered scaffold repairs uterus and supports live births in rabbitsNature Biotechnology
