Graphene light bulbs to go on sale this year: Next-generation efficient bulbs should last 10% longer than LEDS

  • Bulb contains a filament-shaped LED coated in ultra conductive graphene
  • Wonder material is strong, durable and thinner than a human hair
  • Bulb was developed at University of Manchester and will be sold in months
  • Claims to cut energy use by 10%, last longer and be 'competitively' priced 

By Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

It’s the wonder material that’s 200 times stronger than steel and one million times thinner than human hair, which is set to revolutionise electronics, medicine and transport.

Now graphene is set to make its commercial debut in the form of a light bulb in a ‘matter of months’.

The bulb contains a filament-shaped LED coated in the super-strong carbon and is set to go on sale late 2015.

The dimmable bulb contains a filament-shaped LED coated in the super-strong carbon, which was co-discovered by Sir Konstantin Novoselov (pictured left). Here, Chancellor George Osborne examines the bulb

The dimmable bulb contains a filament-shaped LED coated in the super-strong carbon, which was co-discovered by Sir Konstantin Novoselov (pictured left). Here, Chancellor George Osborne examines the bulb

British researchers behind the bulb claim it will last longer and be cheaper to make than conventional LEDS, as well as slash energy use by 10 per cent.

It looks like a traditional light bulb, but the graphene coating enables it to conduct electricity and heat more effectively, to facilitate the improved performance, meaning users won't have to change their bulbs as regularly.

It was designed at the University of Manchester, where graphene was discovered, and will be made by Graphene Lighting PLC, a UK-registered company that’s a spin-out from the university. 

Professor Colin Bailey, deputy vice-chancellor at the university told the BBC: ‘The graphene light bulb will use less energy. We expect it to last longer.

‘The manufacturing costs are lower and it uses more and more sustainable components.’ 

The innovative product looks like a traditional light bulb, but the graphene coating enables it to conduct electricity and heat more effectively, to facilitate the improved performance. An illustration of the structure of graphene is shown, made from a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms

The innovative product looks like a traditional light bulb, but the graphene coating enables it to conduct electricity and heat more effectively, to facilitate the improved performance. An illustration of the structure of graphene is shown, made from a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms

WHAT IS GRAPHENE?

Graphene is a single atomic layer of carbon atoms bound in a hexagonal network.

It not only promises to revolutionise semiconductor, sensor, and display technology, but could also lead to breakthroughs in fundamental quantum physics research.

It is often depicted as an atomic-scale chicken wire made of carbon atoms and their bonds.

Scientists believe it could one day be used to make transparent conducting materials, biomedical sensors and even extremely light, yet strong, aircraft of the future.

Similar to another important nanomaterial - carbon nanotubes - graphene is incredibly strong - around 200 times stronger than structural steel.

The university said in a statement: ‘It is expected that the graphene light bulbs will be on the shelves in a matter of months, at a competitive cost.’

This implies that the graphene bulbs may cost less than LED bulbs, which can be priced at around £15.

The graphene light bulb is thought to be the first commercial application of graphene to emerge from the UK’s £61 million National Graphene Institute (NGI), which was opened in Manchester last week by the Chancellor, George Osborne.

The wonder material was isolated by university researchers Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, earning them the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010.

Now more than 200 researchers are studying the material at Manchester to unlock its commercial potential.

While the material is difficult to make in large quantities, graphene could one day lead to lighter and more efficient forms of transport such as planes.

In the shorter term, it could lead to thinner, lighter, tougher and more efficient smartphones, laptops and wearables such as smartwatches, which could be charged much faster than they can now.

The graphene light bulb is thought to be the first commercial application of graphene to emerge from the UK’s £61 million National Graphene Institute (pictured), which opened in Manchester last week

The graphene light bulb is thought to be the first commercial application of graphene to emerge from the UK’s £61 million National Graphene Institute (pictured), which opened in Manchester last week

Medical researchers are also excited, because graphene could be used to make nanotechnologies, which could one day provide better cancer treatments, for example and a filter system could create safe drinking water from salt water.

Professor Bailey said: ‘This light bulb shows that graphene products are becoming a reality, just a little more than a decade after it was first isolated – a very short time in scientific terms.

‘This is just the start. Our partners are looking at a range of exciting applications, all of which started right here in Manchester.

‘It is very exciting that the NGI has launched its first product despite barely opening its doors yet.’

More than 35 companies have partnered with the university to incorporate graphene into products, such as Head, a company that makes tennis rackets.

GRAPHENE 'POM POMS' COULD MAKE BETTER BATTERIES 

Graphene is the most conductive material in the world, but because it is thin and flat it doesn’t have the surface area needed to be used in batteries.

To increase the size and shape of this so-called super-material, scientists in South Korea have used graphene's sheet-like structure to create ‘pom-poms’.

The 3D structures were made by dropping graphene oxide into hot solvent - a process that has been likened to deep-frying food.

To increase the surface area of graphene, in order to make it transfer more charge and make it more suitable for use in batteries, scientists at the Yonsei University in Seoul created graphene ‘pom-poms’ (pictured). These 3D spheres were formed by dropping graphene oxide into hot solvent

To increase the surface area of graphene, in order to make it transfer more charge and make it more suitable for use in batteries, scientists at the Yonsei University in Seoul created graphene ‘pom-poms’ (pictured). These 3D spheres were formed by dropping graphene oxide into hot solvent

Deep-fried pom-poms of graphene could ultimately make batteries in phones and tablets smaller, efficient, and more capable of storing and transferring charge.

Sang-Hoon Park and his colleagues at Yonsei University, in Seoul put flakes of graphene oxide into an ultrasonic nozzle, which used sound waves to create microdroplets.

These microdroplets were when sprayed into a mixture of organic solvent and ascorbic acid, at temperatures of 160°C (320°F).

In the solvent and acid, the graphene oxide was turned into graphene, the water in the droplets evaporated, and the resulting spheres resembled pom-poms.

As they formed, nanosheets in the graphene spilled out from the centre, creating ‘waves’ of particles.

This created so-called nanochannels, which increased the area in which charge could be transferred.

Early tests with the graphene pom-poms showed that they performed better as electrodes compared to typical sheets of graphene.

 

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