Setting standards

Graphene has been hailed as the ‘wonder material’ of the current generation.  Despite being as thin as an atom, it is tougher than diamond and stronger than steel and can conduct electricity better than copper. Its impressive qualities could transform every aspect of our lives, from mobile phones that can be rolled up to medical devices that connect directly to neurons.

Since its discovery in Manchester a decade ago, almost 12,000 patents and patent applications have been filed for the material. Now, companies are beginning to put it to commercial use. Head NV last year introduced a graphene-infused tennis racket. Meanwhile, Apple, Saab and Lockheed Martin all have plans under way to develop graphene membranes and circuits in the near future.

But excitement for its applications has so far been tempered by a big flaw; there are no standards for the material. ‘Standards are particularly important for novel, revolutionary materials such as graphene,’ said Alexander Tzalenchuk, a National Physical Laboratory (NPL) fellow. ‘There is a lot of hype surrounding it and it is very easy to undermine confidence.’