Deflating graphene balloons act as sensors for hard-to-detect gases

Press/Media: Public Engagement

Period29 Dec 2019

Media coverage

1

Media coverage

  • TitleDeflating graphene balloons act as sensors for hard-to-detect gases
    Media name/outletNew Atlas
    Media typeWeb
    Date29/12/19
    DescriptionWith excellent strength, flexibility and electrical conductivity, graphene has a lot of potential in a lot of different areas, and that may extend to the detection of odorless, colorless gases. Scientists have fashioned the nanomaterial into microscopic balloons they say can distinguish between different kinds of these hard-to-detect noble gases, by measuring how long they take to escape through tiny perforations in the surface of the balloons.

    "Picture a balloon that deflates when you let the air run out," says TU Delft researcher Irek Rosłoń, "We measure the time it takes the balloon to deflate. At such a small scale, this happens very quickly – within around 1/100.000th of a second – and interestingly, the length of time depends strongly on the type of gas and the size of the pores. For example helium, a light gas with high molecular velocity, escapes five times faster than krypton, a heavy and slowly moving gas."
    Producer/AuthorNick Lavars
    URLhttps://newatlas.com/materials/deflating-graphene-balloons-gas-sensor/
    PersonsI.E. Roslon