Two recent experiments in the EU's “Graphene Flagship Program” further promote the development of graphene to potential cutting-edge technologies

Due to its unique properties, graphene has long been recognized as a disruptive material that can revolutionize the state of the art and technology applications. The EU “Graphene Flagship Program” is the largest multi-party collaborative research program in Europe's history, aiming to shape the future of graphene technology. With funding from the European Union, the Graphene Flagship Program has been in operation for 10 years and has been developing potential technologies for the application of graphene and related layered materials to the future. Recently, the researchers responsible for the program have demonstrated the great potential and feasibility of graphene in the future space field through two experiments. These two experiments were carried out by the European Union in cooperation with ESA and other research institutions. The experiment verified the application of graphene materials in light propulsion and thermal management under zero gravity conditions, and obtained very encouraging results.

The unique electrical, thermal, optical, strength and weight properties of graphene make it an ideal choice for aerospace and satellite applications. In a series of experiments conducted at the end of last year, researchers at the Graphene Flagship Program focused on the feasibility of using graphene materials to improve space propulsion technology and to improve the performance of thermal management systems and circulating heat pipes.

In the first solar sail experiment, the research team at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands used the 146-meter drop tower of the German Bremen Applied Space Technology and Microgravity Center (ZARM) under microgravity conditions (1 millionth of the Earth's gravity) a) Study the use of graphene in light sails. The researchers first designed a free-floating graphene film, which was then exposed to the laser's radiation pressure for observation and measured the amount of thrust generated. To overcome the initial technical difficulties, the research team repeated five experiments. In the experiment, the capsule containing the graphene film was maintained in a vacuum weight loss state for about 10 seconds by means of a lower ejection.

The second experiment investigated the use of graphene to increase the heat transfer efficiency of the circulating heat pipe (a widely used cooling system in satellites), prolong its service life and enhance its autonomy. A metal core with a porous metal coating contained in a conventional pipe conducts heat into the liquid to cool the entire system. In the new experiment, the researchers replaced the porous metal coating with two new graphene materials. After parabolic microgravity and overweight flight tests, it was found that the heat conductivity of the heat pipe improved by graphene was significantly improved. Each flight test lasted for 3 hours, and the graphene-modified aircraft had to perform 30 parabolic climbs during the experiment, and each climb was maintained for about 25 seconds.

Both of these experimental results validate the versatility of graphene. Currently, researchers are further studying the effects of radiation pressure on graphene sails and developing graphene heat pipes for commercial applications.

The graphene carbon layer is only a single atom thick, and the two-dimensional hexagonal lattice structure makes it both thin and strong (the strength is about 200 times that of steel). In addition, graphene also has excellent electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties and is almost transparent. All of these characteristics make graphene a star material for scientists and engineers to pursue research, in pursuit of newer electronics that are faster, thinner, stronger and more flexible.

In order to explore the application potential of graphene and make radical changes in many industries, and promote economic growth and employment, the “graphene flagship plan” covers the entire value chain system from materials to devices and systems for 10 years. A consortium of academic and industry experts consisting of approximately 150 partner institutions from 23 countries coordinates and controls the program's normal operations in all areas of research. The European Commission supports the program either directly or in the form of research results from EU-funded projects such as the GRAPHENECORE 1 project.

Over time, the results of the Graphene Flagship Program will continue to contribute to the development of graphene-specific applications. In addition, another major mission of the Graphene Flagship Program is to provide students and young researchers with a platform for research and training and access to cutting-edge scientific research opportunities. (Electronic First Institute, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Li Tiecheng)

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