Â鶹ԼÅÄ

Imagine a material two hundred times stronger than steel yet as flexible as rubber,Ìýa form of carbon so conductive it could replace silicon and transform computing.ÌýGraphene is the super-strong, super-flexible ‘miracle material’ which has set the world of science alight.

Ìý

Since a team at Manchester University first managed to create graphene in 2004 (using a lump of graphite and some sticky tape!) there's been a lot of interest in graphene and its potential applications. Its strength, flexibility and electrical conductivity could pave the way toÌý computers so thin you could fold them upÌý - or even wear them!

Ìý

In this week's Science Cafe Adam visitsÌýAberystwyth University's Institute of Mathematics and Physics to meet its Director, Prof. Andy Evans. He and his Ph.D student Simon Cooil are developing a new way ofÌýmaking graphene from diamond. In their laboratory Andy and Simon show Adam how theyÌýheat diamond in a vacuumÌýand then use an iron catalyst to 'shave' layers of graphene off the diamond.Ìý

Ìý

Adam also speaks to Dr. Owen Guy from Swansea University who's developing a use for graphene in biosensors, small, ultra-sensitive devices which could be used to detect warning signals of cancer from a saliva or urine sample.

Ìý

Links

Ìý