New graphene structure resembles sponge harder than iron

According to a report by the British “Isle of Independents” on the 8th, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) pressed and melted graphene sheets to produce one of the lightest, strongest materials ever built—a porous, three-dimensional graphene structure. Its shape is similar to a sponge, its density is only 5% of iron, but it is more than ten times stronger than iron.

Graphene is a two-dimensional form is considered the most solid materials, but researchers have been difficult to robust strength of its two-dimensional form, transformed into a useful three-dimensional material. In the latest study, the research team by applying heat and pressure, the graphene flakes are pressed together, creating a stable complex biological diatoms and the like coral structure. The new structure is called “Spiral Tetrahedron” and its surface area is large relative to its volume, but it is very strong.

"The graphene, a two-dimensional material that is only one atom thick, has a unique degree of ruggedness and electrical properties, but because it is too thin, it is very important," said team leader Marcus Bille, head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT. It is difficult to make 3D materials. However, our latest research has achieved this."

Biller pointed out: "The geometry of graphene naturally formed under the action of heat and pressure is very complicated and cannot be produced by traditional methods." In the experiment, the researchers used a 3D printer to create a structure that was expanded thousands of times. And test it to get the above results.

The new study recently published in the journal "scientific progress" showed excellent performance to a greater extent from the new structure of this unique structure rather than the material itself. This means that scientists can make other materials into the same geometry to obtain lightweight materials of the same strength.

The researchers believe that the same geometry can even be applied to larger blocks of structural material. For example, the cement that makes the bridge can be made in the same porous geometry, achieving the same degree of strength while reducing the weight. In addition, because this shape is filled with tiny pores, it is expected to be used to filter water or chemicals. (Reporter Liu Xia)