Dr. Rahul Nair and Nobel laureate Sir Andre Geim and their team from the University of Manchester have developed a process to tightly link graphene molecules in graphene oxide, making a sheet of the material impermeable to gas, liquids and even corrosive chemicals. The airtight material could be potentially used in paint, offering a non-corrosive, ultra-strong coating that could be used for various industrial applications.

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Graphene oxide, which is a graphene with additional oxygen atoms in the structure, is a form of the substance that could have a remarkable effect on the pharmaceutical, electrical and chemical industries.

The research team had previously demonstrated that multiple layers of graphene oxide are vacuum tight under dry conditions. If exposed to water or water vapor, on the other hand, the collection of graphene films become molecular filters, letting small molecules through the material. The results of the previous experiment could provide breakthroughs in water purification techniques.

The contracting property is attributed to the chemical structure of graphene oxide sheets that are composed of millions upon millions of minute flakes randomly stacked one on top of another, but leave nano-sized spaces in between. Smaller molecules, like water, are drawn to the nanocapilliaries and are able to pull in smaller molecules and atoms along.

The researcher's process of making the graphene oxide tighter eliminates the spaces in between the flakes, preventing the passage of water and even gasses through the material. The team had even illustrated the newly developed, tightly-packed substance by coating it on copper plates and glassware. The coated materials, which would have previously corroded with acids, was able to retain its shape after being used as containers for the corrosive substances.

Dr Nair said "Graphene paint has a good chance of becoming a truly revolutionary product for industries that deal with any kind of protection either from air, weather elements or corrosive chemicals. Those include, for example, medical, electronics and nuclear industry or even shipbuilding, to name but the few."

TagsGraphene, Carbon, Graphene sheet, Corrosion, Rust, Paint, Oxygen, water, water pollution, Water filtration, medicine, Electricity, chemical, Chemicals