(GRAPHENE AND GRAPHITE) important isotopes of carbon part-1

IMPORTANCE OF CARBON

Carbon is one of the most important element found on earth. The earth’s crust has only 0.02% carbon in form of minerals and the atmosphere has 0.03% of carbon dioxide. In spite of this small amount of carbon it’s importance is immense.

Carbon alone can form ten million compounds more than all the elements in the periodic table can form. The compounds formed by carbon are known as organic compounds.

Most of these organic compounds form the basis of living. Even Glucose that provides us energy is an organic compound.

Many other organic compounds are exploited for different uses in various sectors of industries.

Organic compounds have different properties though they are formed from carbon. The different properties arise due to different elements bonded to carbon that impart characteristic properties to the compound .

Also carbon occur in different forms in nature, each form is known as an allotrope. Diamond, graphite, fullerene are some of the common allotorpes of carbon. These allotropes are extensively used in induatries for various purposes.

This post will cover two important allotropes of carbon.

GRAPHENE

Graphene is a crystalline allotrope of carbon in which carbon atoms are bonded in a hexagonal shape (in 2D plane).

graphene

 It is the basic structure of other allotropes such as graphite, charcoal and nanotubes.

The word GRAPHENE is formed from graph and ene. The suffix ene is used for unstaturated carbon compounds containing double bond.Graphene is a semi-conductor and has zero gap in it.

Being light, transparent semiconductor it is used in devices such as solar panels, touch panels and LED (light emitting diode)

CAPACITORS

Also graphene is extensively used for making super capacitors. A capacitor stores energy in an electric circuit. Graphene capacitors are special because they are small in size and can store more amount of energy than other capacitor and batteries.

They are used as a replacement for activated carbon in capacitors. The use of graphene capacitor has brought a revolutionary impact in many electric circuits. As the circuits now can store more energy despite of their smaller size.

Other advantage of graphene capacitors is that they get charged quickly and store energy safely as compared to other capacitors.

capcitors

How to make a super capacitor using graphene ?

 For this we will need aluminium foil, Copper foil, graphene, acetone, tissue paper, potassium hydroxide and binder

We will need binder to make graphene paint

Make a paint by mixing binder, acetone and graphene. The paint should be thick enough to be applied on the copper foil . Apply the prepared paint on 

the copper foil.

Prepare an electrolyte by dissolving some potassium hydroxide in water.

 Connect wires to both the foils (one wire to each), now apply the electorate on the copper foil and place a tissue paper on it.

Now apply the electorate over the tissue and place aluminium foil on it and let it dry.

And a basic structure of graphene capacitor is ready. In commercial models many layers of foils are used to store maximum energy.

GRAPHITE

Graphite is a crystalline allotrope of carbon founded in igneous and metamorphic rocks. In this carbon atoms are bonded in a shape of hexagon in multiple planar sheets. Graphite is widely used in different sector of industries.

graphite

Graphite has a wide range of applications. Even the pencil with which we write is composed of graphite.

Being a good conductor of electricity and heat it is extensively used in electronic industries, it is also used for making electrodes and lubricants.

Despite of the fact that it is a nonmetal graphite is a good conductor of heat and electricity.

Also graphite can be used to synthesize artificial diamonds by subjecting it to a great pressure and heat. This experiment is under research to improve results.

graphite 

Graphite is formed by multiple layers and sheets of graphite.

Thus we come to know that carbon and it’s isotopes play an important role in various sector of industries. This post explained two important isotopes of carbon but there are many to be explained in detail in some future post . Please do comment and suggest me a topic for my next post.

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