The world of scientific advancements is constantly pushing boundaries and setting new standards. One such recent advancement that has been making headlines in the news involves researchers from the City University of Hong Kong, who have succeeded in manufacturing a laser-induced graphene mask that holds the potential to deactivate the coronavirus species. This promising development comes in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic and could prove instrumental in mitigating its spread.
Graphene Mask and Its Impact on Coronaviruses
The research team at the City University of Hong Kong conducted initial tests which successfully deactivated two strains of coronaviruses. Encouraged by these results, the team is now set to test the effectiveness of this mask against Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the current pandemic.
Coronaviruses represent a large family of viruses known to cause multiple illnesses. These range from milder diseases like the common cold to more severe conditions like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Apart from its virucidal capabilities, the graphene mask also demonstrated significant antibacterial efficiency of about 80% against E coli (a type of bacteria). Remarkably, this efficiency can spike to almost 100% if the mask is exposed to sunlight for 10 minutes.
Production of Graphene Masks
The procedure of producing laser-induced graphene involves the conversion of all carbon-containing materials, such as cellulose or paper, into graphene. The method has been labeled as a “green technique” by the research team due to its environmental-friendly characteristic.
Benefits of Graphene Masks
What makes these graphene masks particularly exciting are their dual benefits of sustainability and affordability. They can be reused and manufactured at a low cost. Moreover, they help resolve issues related to procurement of raw materials, and disposal of non-biodegradable masks.
Properties and Uses of Graphene
Graphene is constituted by a single layer of carbon atoms and is only one atom thick. Despite being the building block of graphite, graphene’s properties are distinct and unique. Known as the strongest material known to man, it is harder than diamond while being more elastic than rubber. It’s tougher than steel and yet lighter than aluminium.
Other notable properties of graphene include its thermal stability, high elasticity, excellent electrical conductivity, and high electron mobility at room temperature. Furthermore, Graphene oxide (GO) membranes can be employed for desalinating seawater by filtering common salt.
Due to its thin composition and superior conductivity, graphene finds application in an array of fields. These range from miniature electronics to biomedical devices such as computers, solar panels, batteries, sensors, and numerous other devices.
About Carbon Allotropes
There are several known allotropes of pure carbon, including diamond, graphite, and fullerenes. Fullerenes are substances that comprise nanotubes and buckminsterfullerene. Allotropy refers to the phenomenon where some chemical elements exist in two or more different forms in the same physical state. These heterogeneous structures exhibit varied properties, enhancing their utility in diverse applications.