Irish researchers use whiskey to successfully “exfoliate” graphene

In Ireland, Tech Central reports that Scientific Foundation Ireland’s Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research has discovered a way to use whiskey to “exfoliate” one-atom thick graphene, which is seen as a potential “gamechanger” for electronics as graphene is one of the most durable materials in the world.

“Whiskey is uniquely suited for stabilising our nanomaterials because of the maturation process it must undergo. Before a spirit can be called a whiskey, it needs to be aged in a barrel for a minimum of three years and over the three years, the majority of the flavour compounds are added to the whiskey,” Tech Central reported Prof Jonathan Coleman, Amber co-lead Investigator on the project and principal investigator in Amber and Trinity’s School of Physics as saying.

“Other clear spirits like vodka are ostensibly just water and ethanol (flavourings are added according to the brand) so they lack the broad compound profile inherent to whiskey. These compounds are what help to stabilise our nanomaterials.”