{"id":55427,"date":"2023-10-20T16:31:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T16:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/folding-graphene-like-origami-may-allow-us-to-wear-sensors-in-our-skin-startupsmart\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T16:31:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T16:31:10","slug":"folding-graphene-like-origami-may-allow-us-to-wear-sensors-in-our-skin-startupsmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/folding-graphene-like-origami-may-allow-us-to-wear-sensors-in-our-skin-startupsmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Folding graphene like origami may allow us to wear sensors in our skin – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
Material scientists have found a way to apply the ancient art of kirigami<\/a> \u2013 a way of building complex structures by cutting and folding paper \u2013 to the wonder material<\/a> graphene. The experiment<\/a> shows that ripples in a graphene sheet can increase the bending stiffness of the material significantly more than expected \u2013 a discovery that could lead to new types of sensors, stretchable electrodes or tools for use in nanoscale robotics.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Graphene is a single layer of graphite<\/a>, a naturally occurring mineral with a layered structure<\/a>. The material, first produced<\/a> in the lab in 2003, has impressive electrical, thermal and mechanical properties<\/a>, which makes it potentially useful in applications ranging from new electronic devices to additives in paints and plastics.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The promising material is made up of carbon atoms structured in a series of interconnecting hexagons, similar to chicken wire. It is made by pulling apart the layers in graphite in what scientists call a \u201ctop-down\u201d approach (where we take something big and make it smaller). This can be done using adhesive tape<\/a>; chemical reagents<\/a>; or by sheer force<\/a> such as those generated in a kitchen blender or mixer. Although this sounds quite simple it is not suitable for producing large sheets of graphene.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To do this, a \u201cbottom-up\u201d approach is needed, where graphene is assembled by decomposing a carbon-containing molecule<\/a> such as methane over a hot metal surface, typically copper. This is the technique the researchers in the new study used to produce a sheet of graphene that they then could manipulate using a version of kirigami.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n