"It is tougher than diamond, but stretches like rubber. It is virtually invisible, conducts electricity and heat better than any copper wire and weighs next to nothing. Meet graphene—an astonishing new material which could revolutionize almost every part of our lives."—The Daily Mail
Imagine winning the Nobel Prize. . .with scotch tape.
Although it sounds unlikely, researchers beginning in 2004 did just that.
In fact, their groundbreaking research—using ordinary scotch tape to make one of the biggest metal breakthroughs of the century—has set in motion a storm surge of new technologies. More important, this breakthrough research has created a massive profit opportunity for early investors.
Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, Russian scientists working at Manchester University, extracted single-atom-thick graphene from bulk graphite, using regular scotch tape.
Unbeknownst to them, the scientific community had been trying to isolate this super-material, to no avail, for years. Fast-forward six years—years where hypothesis became reality in many small labs around the world—and the two Russian scientists earned themselves a Noble Prize for physics in 2010.
Today, the technology is finally getting in to full swing—something that you'll soon see in a store near you. . .
CNET declared graphene "holds the potential for profoundly transforming materials science—everything from computer chips and flexible displays to solar cells and lighter aircraft."
The Guardian and The Huffington Post report that it could "revolutionize everything from nanosurgery to homebuilding". . . and even "change the world". . .
This one material alone could prove more revolutionary than—and soon replace—plastic, Kevlar and the silicon chip. . . all in one fell swoop!
For instance, think about:
- HD TVs as thin as wallpaper
- Mobile phones that bend without breaking
- Pills that eradicate cancer
Industry breakthroughs are really starting to snowball, too.
"Korea's Samsung has invested heavily into graphene research," the BBC reports, "and the Finnish firm Nokia has just announced its plans to team up with partners—among them the two Nobel-prize winners—to explore graphene opportunities."
The potential for graphene applications is endless. It's already proving to be an amazing substitute for flat screen technology. Samsung is currently using graphene to create a virtually indestructible and flexible screen on its "Galaxy Skin" phone.
But cell phones and durable screens aren't the end of it. Battery technology could be immensely enhanced. Creating potential to make a standard-sized battery hold a charge for 10 times as long.
And you better believe the medical community is testing graphene for its potential game-changing technology, too. Indeed, we're on the cusp of something real big here.
And to be honest, for graphene to take off it only needs one of these factors to go its way—but right now the sky is the limit. There are countless breakthrough technologies that are set to hit the market, which means great things for graphene—but maybe even more for producer of graphite. Especially if you have a top-quality deposit.
You see, it takes a very pure, rare form of graphite—called "highly ordered pyrolytic graphite" (HOPG)—to affordably and "easily" produce high-quality graphene.
And up until now, almost all the graphene that's ever been produced has been made using a very difficult, very unpredictable chemical process (called chemical vapor deposition).
All of that is about to change, though. And it should quickly benefit investors on the right side of this play. . .
Byron King
The Penny Sleuth
