Graphene: A ‘Supermaterial’ Future

Graphene—the thinnest and lightest known material—is about 200 times stronger than steel, one of the best conductors of electricity and heat, and visually transparent. Yet, despite these remarkable qualities, the substance has not been available in building construction.

Ever since professors Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov isolated graphene at the University of Manchester in 2004—an accomplishment that won them the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics—designers and manufacturers have sought ways to utilize this supermaterial in making commercial products. As a result, many applications are currently in development, with early successes in smartphone touchscreens, batteries, inks, composites, and filtration technologies.