Gum trees, also known as Australian eucalyptus trees, could be the key to producing sustainable and cost-effective graphene according to a team of scientists at RMIT University's Centre for Advanced Materials.
To create this "green graphene" producers would use the aromatic compound found in the eucalyptus leaves in addition to other "polyphenolic compounds, including catechin, which is abundant in dark chocolate and green tea, gallic acid and caffeic acid, which can be found in red wine." These ingredients work as an agent to separate graphite into single layers -- ensuring a more eco-friendly, cost-effective, and safer way of producing graphene in comparison to the traditional chemical reduction currently used to produce the material.
The new sustainable production process will cut costs from $100 USD per gram to approximately 50 cents per gram and the team at RMIT University hopes to make this process scalable in the coming years.
What's Driving This Trend
- Sustainable Graphene
- The use of gum trees and other natural compounds to produce graphene offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical reduction methods.
- Cost-effective Graphene
- The new production process significantly reduces the cost of graphene production, making it more affordable for various industries.
- Scalable Graphene Production
- The team at RMIT University aims to develop a scalable production process for green graphene, opening up opportunities for mass adoption in industries.
Who This Affects Most
- Materials Science
- The development of sustainable and cost-effective graphene opens up new possibilities in materials science, enabling the creation of lightweight and high-performance materials.
- Energy Storage
- The cost reduction in graphene production could lead to more affordable and efficient energy storage solutions, revolutionizing the renewable energy industry.
- Electronics
- The availability of low-cost graphene could disrupt the electronics industry, enabling the development of faster, more efficient and flexible electronic devices.
