Graphene has been in the news a lot over the past
decade, as its unique properties could lead to the development of a host of new applications. Some likely applications include biosensors and
wearable electronics. Before such devices can be created, however, a means must be found to create three dimensional objects from
flat sheets of the material. Up until now, most methods have involved etching or applying the sheets to a substrate that conforms to a desired
shape. Both methods leave much to be desired; thus, researchers continue to seek a better solution. In this new effort, researchers have developed a micropatterning
technique that leads to the flat
graphene sheets bending along predesignated lines when heat is applied, causing the
sheet to form into shapes—much like origami forms when manipulated by human hands.
One of the main benefits of the new approach is that it preserves the intrinsic properties of the graphene, which has been the goal all along—after all, what is the point of using graphene in the first place if you have to diminish its unique attributes to make it conform to a desired shape? Another benefit is that the creases can cause a band gap in the graphene, which graphene notoriously lacks in its natural state.
Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-10-graphene-self-fold-d.html#jCp
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