Graphene: Wonderstuff
Click to enlarge
Graphene is an incredibly versatile material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal array. It is stronger than steel, transparent, flexible and impermeable. It was discovered 'by accident' in 2004 during a Friday night session when researchers Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov realised that they could separate layers of carbon atoms from a lump of graphite using sellotape. In 2010 the now professors were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery.
This installation celebrates the playful way that sellotape was used in the initial isolation of graphene as well as its strength and transparency. It was constructed using 3m x 3m x 2m scaffolding poles covered with paper which had been screen-printed with the equation which describes the electical properties of graphene. It could support the weight of 3 adults.