Scientists ‘cut’ graphene shapes for nanomachine construction

Scientists have found a way to make all kinds of shapes from layers of nanoscale graphene. This form of ‘kirigami’, the cut variant of origami, should make it easier to make all kinds of nanomachines with graphene.

The researchers work at Cornell University in the United States and have published their findings in the authoritative scientific journal Nature. With their experiments they showed that it is possible to cut shapes in layers of graphene that are only 10 micrometers thick. According to the scientists, their methods make it possible to cut graphene into shapes as if it were paper.

A laser is used to shape graphene into the desired shape. With this, the researchers at Cornell University are doing what they call ‘kirigami’; that’s origami, but by cutting instead of folding. In one of the demonstrations they showed that they could cut a spring from a layer of graphene. This also showed why graphene has interesting properties: the material was first completely ‘crumpled’, but then simply bounced back. The example shows how strong graphene is, according to one of the researchers.

The aim of such research is to find a way to build nanomachines based on graphene. Cornell University’s methodology should make it easier to build such devices. It is not yet clear when the kirigami can be used at the nanoscale in practice. The scientists did receive a scholarship from the US Department of Defense to do more research.

http://www.cornell.edu/video/graphene-spring/embed