Potential Graphene Applications:

Solar cells:

Solar cells rely on semiconductors to absorb sunlight. Semiconductors are made of an element like silicon and have two layers of electrons. Graphene would allow for cells that are exponentially thinner and lighter than those that rely on silicon.

Water Filtration:

Graphene will be used to desalinate saltwater to make it drinkable. Graphene could also be immensely helpful in purifying water of toxins. Seawater passing through precision pores in the graphene lattice allows water molecules through while filtering salt atoms.

Electronics:

Graphene can be used as a coating to improve current touch screens for phones and tablets. Graphene has a high carrier mobility and low noise, allowing it to be used as the channel in a field-effect transistor. Portable electronics and wearables will both utilize the many properties of graphene in the near future.

Biomedical:

Graphene will be useful in biomedical research. Small machines and sensors can be made with graphene and are capable of moving easily through the human body, analyzing tissue, and delivering drugs to specific regions. It can also used to monitor various things such as glucose levels, hemoglobin levels, cholesterol, and even DNA sequencing.

Energy Storage:

Graphene is considered a very promising material for use in batteries and supercapacitors. Graphene could dramatically increase the lifespan of a traditional lithium ion battery. It has the ability to conduct heat and electricity which lend to the development of faster battery charges. It can also be used to enhance fuel cells.

Manufacturing:

Graphene-based composites will reduce the weight of automobile and airplane parts, meaning less fuel consumed and GHGs emitted. The conductivity and flexibility of graphene also makes it a promising additive for thermoforming plastics and graphene paints. Graphene technology will reduce waste during the building process and the material can be recycled.

Weatherproofing and packaging:

Graphene can be applied/sprayed to brick and stone to weatherproof houses. It can be added to food packaging to stop the transfer of water and oxygen molecules, which causes food to spoil.

Sensors:

Every atom in graphene is exposed to its environment allowing it to sense changes in its surroundings. Graphene now allows for the creation of micrometer-size sensors capable of detecting individual events on a molecular level.