Intrigued by Graphene

[CTcard]

Just because... the Economist's technology quarterly featured a special on materials science, including the following passage on our old friend graphene:
...
You can read the whole thing to find out what other materials you should be intrigued about.

Hey!
I come here to get away from work.
Stop it.

[Treebound]

The ships were slow and much too inefficient for peace time work and many were purposefully sunk to form breakwaters and reefs after the wars.  This world war I era derelict is still in place south of Santa Cruz at Seacliff beach in Aptos.



(Picture courtesy of wikimedia)
[/quote]

Thanks for illuminating us regarding Graphene and for the trip down memory lane regarding the cement boat.  As a kid growing up in Aptos/Santa Cruz, I caught my first fish off that boat with my father!  He told me that when it was first docked/sunk at that location it was turned into a night club with some concerts and dances that hosted some jazz greats over the years.  I'm fairly certain that was before Santa Cruz had true harbor.

[Mick]

The ships were slow and much too inefficient for peace time work and many were purposefully sunk to form breakwaters and reefs after the wars.  This world war I era derelict is still in place south of Santa Cruz at Seacliff beach in Aptos.



(Picture courtesy of wikimedia)

Thanks for illuminating us regarding Graphene and for the trip down memory lane regarding the cement boat.  As a kid growing up in Aptos/Santa Cruz, I caught my first fish off that boat with my father!  He told me that when it was first docked/sunk at that location it was turned into a night club with some concerts and dances that hosted some jazz greats over the years.  I'm fairly certain that was before Santa Cruz had true harbor.
[/quote]


I spent my high school years (late 1970s) in Santa Cruz, and for ten years before that, my grandfather would rent a beach house for two weeks for all of us every summer.  I've been out on that boat probably 1/2 dozen times.  Good times.

[BostonCard]

At the risk of reviving the thread that won't die, I found this article about everyone's favorite carbon compound:

http://www.economist.com/news/science-an...bl%2Fed%2F

SINCE its discovery in 2004 graphene, a form of carbon made of sheets a single atom thick, has been an invention in search of an application. In particular, it has fired engineers’ imaginations with the possibility of making thin, flexible, semi-transparent electronics. But it has always promised more than it has delivered because, though an excellent conductor of electricity, its other electronic properties are lacklustre. First, instead of being easily channelled, electric current moves across a graphene sheet randomly and in all directions. Second, graphene does not have a bandgap—a property needed to create the distinct “on” and “off” electronic states that transistors rely on to work, and which is induced in a material by disrupting the way its electrons are distributed.

Sounds like some significant challenges in this attempt to make graphene useful.  But you never know...

BC

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

I can't decide whether I'm more amused that this thread exists at all, or that it actually gets updated with new information.

[martyup]

I was always concerned about that bandgap.  ::)

[BostonCard]

Well, this thread is somewhat legendary among the annals of the Cardboard, largely because it exists.  So, although I never would have started a thread about graphene, the fact that I know about this thread, and its legenedery-ness, means that the last couple articles about graphene I have encountered have reminded me of the thread, and made me update it.

I wouldn't quite call it a joke; I don't think anyone is trying to be funny here.  But to some extent subsequent follow-up posts are sort of like being part of the "in" crowd.  It's a badge of being a member of the cardboard family.  That being said, while not political, there is nothing Stanford-related about graphene, though I am sure some MSE folks are working on it.  So, if the powers that be wanted to lock this thread, they would be within their rights.

BC

[fullmetal]

I think there exist also a legendary coffee thread, music thread, and multiple Civil War threads...all elements of a properly balanced Cardboard experience.  Who has it better than us?

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

I think there exist also a legendary coffee thread, music thread, and multiple Civil War threads...all elements of a properly balanced Cardboard experience.  Who has it better than us?

"Dangerous Grounds," I believe.  'twas the first thread I ever entered here, IIRC.

[Extra Point]

This should keep the thread alive for awhile. A 16 year old girl in South Africa has invented a super absorbent material that may significantly alleviate the effects of droughts:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/09/africa/ora...index.html

[martyup]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=9890.msg167443#msg167443 date=1470788092]
I think there exist also a legendary coffee thread, music thread, and multiple Civil War threads...all elements of a properly balanced Cardboard experience.  Who has it better than us?

"Dangerous Grounds," I believe.  'twas the first thread I ever entered here, IIRC.
[/quote]

As the original poster of both the Graphene and Dangerous Grounds threads, I must say that when I migrated here from the ESPN boards I was drawn by the variety of topics and maturity of the Cardboarders in their comments.  I believe that I started both of these threads in the football off-season, a time when OT posts are the norm.  I would be saddened if non-controversial OT threads were locked because they didn't relate specifically to Stanford sports.  I agree that controversial non-Stanford sports related topics should be avoided and, when appropriate, censored by the administrators.  The members of this board cover the full spectrum of political, sociological, and religious beliefs.  Discussions on such topics will inevitably lead to verbal clashes, which often result in ad hominem attacks.  We don't need that here.  What we need is . . . good coffee . .  and a football National Championship.  :P

[BostonCard]

Apparently there are no current commercial uses of graphene. 

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/te...ar-n659456

Hey, graphene may show up in the batteries of soon-to-be bankrupt sports car companies.

FWIW, the Fisker Karma was a beautiful car.

BC

[BostonCard]

Apparently there are no current commercial uses of graphene. 

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/te...ar-n659456

Hey, graphene may show up in the batteries of soon-to-be bankrupt sports car companies.

FWIW, the Fisker Karma was a beautiful car.

BC

[Mick]

[quote author=martyup link=topic=9890.msg88456#msg88456 date=1398456947]
Apparently there are no current commercial uses of graphene. 

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/te...ar-n659456

Hey, graphene may show up in the batteries of soon-to-be bankrupt sports car companies.

FWIW, the Fisker Karma was a beautiful car.

BC
[/quote]

It got what it deserved...

[Mick]

[quote author=martyup link=topic=9890.msg88456#msg88456 date=1398456947]
Apparently there are no current commercial uses of graphene. 

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/te...ar-n659456

Hey, graphene may show up in the batteries of soon-to-be bankrupt sports car companies.

FWIW, the Fisker Karma was a beautiful car.

BC
[/quote]

It got what it deserved...

[martyup]

There certainly is a Stanford connection to graphene research.

http://dailab.stanford.edu/research.htm

It is quite intriguing.  ;)

[martyup]

There certainly is a Stanford connection to graphene research.

http://dailab.stanford.edu/research.htm

It is quite intriguing.  ;)

[CornFed]

Maybe we can use it to make light sabers a reality.  8)

[SUBuddha]

Maybe we can use it to make light sabers a reality.  8)

I just had a nerdgasm.

[BostonCard]

Looks like automobile technology may be the killer app for graphene.  HEre's one car company looking to make its body panels out of the stuff.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/11054...ene-panels

BC