3D graphene structure mimics elastic characteristics of cork

The Monash University study, led by Prof Dan Li, is published in Nature Communications.

Graphene is formed when graphite is broken down into layers one atom thick. In this form, it is strong, chemically stable and a good conductor of electricity. Its uses range from batteries that are able to recharge rapidly, to biological tissue scaffolds for use in organ transplant and even regeneration.

Li, from the Department of Materials Engineering, said in a statement that previous research had focused mainly on the intrinsic properties and applications of the individual sheets, while his team tackled the challenge of engineering the sheets into macroscopically useable 3D structures.

‘When the atomic graphene sheets are assembled together to form 3D structures, they normally end up with porous monoliths that are brittle and perform poorly,’ Li said.

‘It was generally thought to be highly unlikely that graphene could be engineered into a form that was elastic, which means it recovers well from stress or pressure.’