In the midst of looming water scarcity in the world, graphene is here to save the day. The groundbreaking material, graphene has the potential to desalinate the dirtiest of water and make it fit to drink. The filters made from its oxide are capable of cleaning even the seawater.

The graphene filters are highly efficient. Graphene has potential to filter out pollutants and the multi-layer membrane made from graphene oxide can filter out salts like sodium chloride present in the seawater. This technique is more effective and quicker than the existing water filtration techniques.

Graphene- Material of the Future

Originally observed in electron microscopes in 1962, Graphene was rediscovered, isolated and characterized in 2004 at the University of Manchester. It is an allotrope of densely packed carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. The notable work won Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for “groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene”.

It is the strongest material ever tested. It is transparent and shows high conductivity of heat and electricity and shows higher diamagnetism than that of graphite.

WIth much more unique properties, graphene has a potential to assist in a wide variety of applications including solar cells, LEDs, touch panels and smartphones.

Graphene supercapacitors can store energy much more efficiently than the traditional electrolytic batteries with fast charging, longer lifespan and eco-friendly production. The supercapacitors can replace lithium-ion batteries in electric cars. Graphene has brought a revolution in technology.

The Seawater Filters

The filters made from graphene oxide are known to remove dye from whiskey making it completely transparent. In case of seawater, graphene oxide membrane can sieve out small nanoparticles, organic molecules, and large salts. The real challenge lies in filtering out the common salts.

But the molecules of common salts form a shell of water molecules around them. That results in the salt molecule unable to pass through the filter while the water molecules pass through.

The capillary size of the membrane is around one nanometer which is very close to the size of the water molecule. When pushed from one side, the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules form a chain and passes through the membrane linearly and quickly.

The laboratory tests show positive results but implementing the system on an industrial scale, more work is needed to be done to produce the membranes inexpensively and prove their durability.