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Tuesday, 13th October 2009 (594 views)

Researchers have found a way of using gold to increase the usefulness of graphene.

Graphene is a carbon material that is just one atom thick and was discovered by experts at the University of Manchester five years ago.

A team of engineers at Kansas State University in the US placed sheets of graphene oxide in a gold ion solution containing a growth catalyst to embed the precious metal into them.

This resulted in the formation of gold 'islands', or nanostars, on the surface of the sheets, rendering the graphene-gold combination particularly promising for use in biological and electronic applications.

"If graphene is absent, the gold would clump together and settle down as big chunks," said Vikas Berry, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Kansas State University.

"But the graphene helps in stabilising the gold. This makes the nanostars more useful."

Graphene could potentially be used to make transistors, gas sensors, inert coatings and support membranes for transmission electron microscopy, according to Graphene Industries, which specialises in research and development involving the material.

 

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