Graphene and Nanotechnology Applications

for Space Technology

Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin

Space Environment and Kibo Utilization Workshop (SEKUW)

18-19 April 2016, National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur
What is graphene?

▪ It is a single layer of Graphite (pure crystaline carbon)

Graphite was discovered in 1564 at Seathwaite (Borrowdale),
Northumberland

Oldest surviving pencil

circa 17th Cent.

Left: Tall graphite mine,

near Seathwaite, England CA12 5XJ
‘Graphene’ was first isolated in the lab by Professor Andre Geim
with former student Konstantin Novoselov at the University of
Manchester, England in 2004

◄Sir Andre K. Geim, FRS

The University of

[Link]@[Link] +44(0)161 275-4120

[Link]@[Link] +44(0)161 275-4119
Schuster Building, Rooms 2.10 & 2.11

The School of Physics and Astronomy

The University of Manchester
Manchester, M13 9PL

Sir “Kostya” Novoselov, FRS►

 2010 Nobel Prize
for “groundbreaking experiments
regarding the two-dimensional
material graphene”
(Both were later Knighted, twice)
 STRUCTURE
• It is the one-atom thick planar sheet of carbon
atoms (graphite), which makes it the thinnest
material ever discovered.
• 2-dimensional crystalline allotrope of carbon.

• C-C Bond length is 0.142 nm.

• Graphene Sheets interplanar spacing is of

0.335 nm.
• It is almost completely transparent, yet so dense
that not even helium can pass through it.
• Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov pulled
graphene layers from graphite and
transferred them onto thin SiO2 on a silicon
wafer in a process called either
micromechanical cleavage or the Scotch tape
technique.

Graphene can be seen with help of

[Link] electron microscopy.
[Link] microscopy
[Link] microscope
 STRUCTURE OF GRAPHENE

Sheets of graphene are bonded by loose

bond in graphite. These bonds are broken
and sheets are isolated to form graphene.
These isolated hexagonal sheets are
graphene.
Graphene is among several allotropes (forms) of carbon

Forms of carbon:
a) graphite 3D
b) diamond 3D
c) Buckminsterfullerene
“Buckyballs” 0D
d) carbon nanotube 1D
e) graphene 2D
 Physical properties of Graphene

• Density- density of graphene

0.77 mg/m2.

Strength- With its breaking

strength 42 N/m it is 1000 times
stronger than steel

Optical transparency- graphene is

almost transparent with its ability of
absorb just 2.3% of light falling on it.

Thinnest possible material

 Electrical properties

Different electronic structure.

 High electrical conductivity.
Conductivity further can be
increased by applying electric field.
 electrical conductivity of sheets are
10 times that of copper.
 Best known conductor till now
Electronic properties
• Graphene differs from most conventional three-dimensional materials.
Graphene has a remarkably high electron mobility at room temperature
• .
The mobility is nearly independent of temperature between 10 K and 100 K
Resistivity of the graphene sheet would be 10−6 Ω·cm.

Optical properties
Unexpectedly high opacity for an atomic monolayer
This is "a consequence of the unusual low-energy electronic
structure of monolayer graphene
It is further confirmed that such unique absorption could become saturated when the input
optical intensity is above a threshold value
Due to this special property, graphene has wide
application in ultrafast photonics
Thermal properties
• The near-room temperature thermal conductivity of graphene was recently measured to be
between (4.84±0.44) ×103 to (5.30±0.48) ×103 Wm−1K−1.

Mechanical properties
As of 2009, graphene appears to be one of the strongest materials ever tested.

Bulk strength is 130GPa 2200 times greater than steel

Graphene sheets, held together by van der Waals forces

What makes Graphene different from others???

 Unique structure.
 All in one properties.
 Low cost.
 Abundant element.
 Simple fabrication techniques.
 Chemically inert.
 Thermal stability.
 Applications
Graphene makes experiments possible that give new twists to the phenomena in
quantum physics.
Applications in electrical engineering.
Mechanical engineering.
Most important in electronics engineering as component material.
As a superconducting material.
Micro electronics.
Transparent conducting electrode.
Solar cells
Graphene bio devices.
Electronics Engineering
Will definitely replace silicon and germanium as device
material.
Conducting material on PCBs.
Single molecule sensors
Touchscreens
Graphene transistor.
Graphene integrated circuits.
Graphene chips.
 Fabrication of electronic devices
Graphene when converted into nanoribbon and nanotubes will replace silicon as
semiconducting material.
Due to its high electronic quality, graphene has also attracted the interest of
technologists who see it as a way of constructing ballistic transistors. Graphene
exhibits a pronounced response to perpendicular external electric fields, allowing
one to build FETs.
 Graphene has excellent properties to be a vital component of integrated circuits
Graphene transistors are conceivable and are ready to replace silicon transistors
In 2009 researchers demonstrated four different types of logic gates, each
consisting of a single graphene transistor
It is capable of taking an incoming electrical signal of a certain frequency and an
producing output signal that is a multiple of that frequency
A recent publication has described a process for producing gram-quantities of
graphene, by the reduction of ethanol by sodium metal, followed by pyrolysis of
the ethoxide product, and washing with water to remove sodium salts
Electrical engineering

Can replace graphite in brushes of motors.

Can be construction material for various electrical devices.
When mixed with plastic can be used as conductor with higher
strength.
 It will replace copper as conducting material.
 Mechanical engineering
In Manufacturing process as Manufacturing
material.
As a composite material for machines ,cars.
Defense.
 Airplanes, space shuttles , satellite.
GRAPHENE IN ADVANCED
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

• Flexibility and Slim

• Graphene based phones are very
easily placed in the pocket
• Graphene based phones are
slimmer as compared to the smart
phones.
• Graphene based phones are
thinner like floppy disc.
• Graphene based phones can be
worn as wristwatches.
NASA Develops Super Black Material That Absorbs
Light Across Multiple Wavelength Bands - straylight
suppression

NASA engineers have produced a material that

absorbs on average more than 99 percent of the
ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and far infra red light
that hits it ------ a development that promises to open
new frontiers in space technology.
The technology would allow scientists to gather hard-
to-obtain measurements of objects so distant in the
This closeup view (only about 0.03 inches wide) shows
universe that astronomers no longer can see them in the internal structure of a carbonnanotube coating that
visible light or those in high contrast areas, including absorbs about 99 percent of the ultraviolet, visible,
planets in orbit around other stars, infrared, and farinfrared light that strikes it. A section of
the coating, which was grown on smooth silicon, was
purposely removed to show the tubes' vertical alignment.
Earth scientists studying the oceans and atmosphere (Credit:Stephanie Getty, NASA Goddard)
also would benefit. More than 90 percent of the light
Earth monitoring instruments gather comes from the
atmosphere, overwhelming the faint signal they are
trying to retrieve.
 New Spacecrafts and Spacesuits
Using Nanotechnology
New materials, nanosensors and miniaturized
robots could improve the performance of
spaceships.

Anticipated advances in space travel thanks to nanotechnology

• Ultra-small sensors, power sources, as well as communication, navigation,
and
propulsion systems with very low mass, volume and power consumption
could
be developed using nanotechnology.
• Developments in electronics at the nanoscale are leading to autonomous,
“thinking” spacecraft.
• Networks of ultra-small probes can investigate planetary surfaces.
• Micro-rovers should be able to drive, hop, fly, and burrow.
• Micro-spacecraft will be able to make a variety of measurements.
Magic membranes Flakes of graphene
oxide could be used to separate water
from other liquids.
 Materials That Reduce Weight and
Cost of Components
It costs about $10,000 per pound to lift anything into Earth’s
orbit, and $100,000 per pound to carry anything when distant
planets are the destination. Space exploration experts agree
that miniaturization of everything onboard spacecraft is
essential to making space travel affordable, without giving up
anything in terms of functionality. In fact, better performance
and lower weight is always the goal.
State of the art for lightweight
Some of the best-known applications of nanotechnology in structures, purified carbon nanotubes.
space are those that deal with this issue. Using materials
constructed with carbon nanotubes can reduce the weight of
space vehicles significantly while maintaining or even
increasing structural integrity.
 Power Distribution
Energy distribution systems
constitute a significant fraction of
the mass of an aerospace vehicle.
There are over 4,000 pounds of
copper wiring in a Boeing 777. The
Space Shuttle had over 200 miles of
data and power cables. Significant
weight savings can be realized by Image of CNT yarn being developed for wiring Image
replacing metallic conductors in of CNT yarn being developed for wiring

data and power cables with lighter

weight wiring from nanomaterials,
such as CNTs and graphene.
Sensors and Actuators

Nanotechnology-based sensor system in space,

was capable of detecting trace amounts of
nitrogen dioxide.

Compact trace gas sensor system comprised of

a main nanoparticle-impregnated polymer
sensor and an auxiliary CNT-based chemical
sensor on the International Space Station (ISS).
It is anticipated that such sensor systems can
Nanochemsensor flown on the ISS
achieve sensitivity in the parts per billion level
with precise selectivity through the use of
appropriate chemical functionalization.
Engineered Materials and Structures: Damage tolerant systems

In the laboratory of MIT Professor Brian L. Wardle,

Schematic of nanostitching they are trying to make more durable materials
from the Wardle laboratory.
through a technique called nanostitching.

• “The advanced materials currently used for many

aerospace applications are composed of layers, or
plies, of carbon fibers that in turn are held together
with a polymer glue. But that glue can crack and
otherwise result in the carbon-fiber plies coming
apart.”

• To combat this problem, the Wardle group

reinforces the glue with multiwalled carbon
nanotubes that are grown parallel to each other.
These nanotubes “bridge the crack” between layers
of carbon fibers which results in composites that
are 2.5-3 times tougher.
A paper like battery electrode developed by a
Kansas State University engineer may improve
tools for space exploration or unmanned
aerial vehicles

• It is more than 10 percent lighter than other

• battery electrodes.
• It has close to 100 percent cycling efficiency for more than
1000 charge discharge cycles.
• It is made of low‐cost materials that are byproducts of the
silicone industry.
• It functins at temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees C,
which gives it numerous aerial and space applicatons.
Miniature Instruments and Instrument Components
 Nanotechnology in Space
Nanotechnology may hold the key to making space flight
more practical. Advancements in nanomaterials make
lightweight solar sails and a cable for the space elevator
possible.
By significantly reducing the amount of rocket fuel
required, these advances could lower the cost of reaching
orbit and traveling in space.
In addition, new materials combined with nanosensors
and nanorobots could improve the performance of
spaceships, spacesuits, and the equipment used to
explore planets and moons, making nanotechnology an
important part of the ‘final frontier.’

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