Graphene – said by many to be the lightest, thinnest yet hardest material in the world may soon be used to create the perfect wearable device.

Academics from the University of Manchester reported that graphene communication devices would not only be lightweight and unbreakable, but have the ability to be printed directly onto the skin as well as clothing.

Graphene, is ultra conductive and ultra-flexible material that is next in line to provide the creation of phones or health-monitoring devices that are Internet-ready. Not only is the material sleek and durable but, with the structure of graphene, these devices could also have chargers integrated into them, making it the ultimate “smart skin” application.

Many dubbed the university as “The Home of Graphene” due to their vast research in the graphene field.

“The breadth of research taking place at the University and the National Graphene Institute (NGI) demonstrates that the potential for graphene applications is only limited by time and imagination,” says the

But many suspect that phones are only the beginning. Grapene could also significantly impact the medical industry.

“The potential applications for this research are huge – whether it be for health monitoring, mobile communications or applications attached to skin for monitoring or messaging,” Dr. Zhirun Hu of the University of Manchester’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

With a printed graphene Radio Frequency Identification Device tag on the arm, a medical patient would enable the staff to monitor data as regards the patient’s heartbeat and body temperature by wireless means, significantly simplifying patient care.

Unlike silver nanoparticles and conductive polymers, which are either far too costly or not conductive enough to achieve the desired effect, graphene is cheap and ultra-conductive.

Graphene is a single layer of pure carbon atoms, arranged in a six-sided lattice pattern. It is over 200 times stronger than steel – the strongest material known to science.