Graphene can make the nuclear industry cleaner and cost effective, according to researchers from the University of Manchester.
They've recently published their findings in Nature Communications, suggesting that graphene-based membranes can work as a super sieve and might be extremely effective at making nuclear power cheaper and cleaner.
When it comes to nuclear energy, it's very costly to produce heavy water but researchers suggest that graphene will be a gamer changer in this space because it has the properties that enable it to effectively separate the sub-atomic particles, helping to make the heavy water production much cheaper.
They also say that going with graphene will help with the reduction of CO2 emissions associated with the production of heavy water. They estimate that it would be reduced by at least one million tonnes every year.
It's suggested that graphene could make the process at least 100x cheaper than current methods (ex: vapour deposition).
The group of researchers who conducted the study have now fully developed a scalable prototype of membranes and have successfully demonstrated the isotope separation. They describe their recent study results as marking a crucial milestone on the journey to taking graphene to industrial application.
Graphene has quickly been making its way into a number of different market spaces and the researchers suggest that the nuclear industry is just one more space that is going to be dramatically transformed with further implementation of this technology.
Pics:
University of Manchester
Gifmania
Sources:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/graphene-could-be-used-to-clean-up-nuclear-waste-say-scientists-a6792281.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_water
https://phys.org/news/2017-05-graphene-membranes-nuclear-industry-greener.html
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/graphene-could-revolutionise-nuclear-power-13006185
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/graphene-sieves-deuterium-from-hydrogen/9308.article
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a26426/nuclear-energy-problems/
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It seems like every couple of weeks there's a story about how graphene will revolutionize Industry X.
Anyone who can combine graphene with a blockchain idea will make a lot of money.
NICE POST MY FRIEND...!
VOTE UP FROM @MALOW
It could be an advantage development with regards to energy sources but I guess renewable energy still has more advantage. Correct me Im wrong Im just saying based on the context that I've seen and read around.
not sure what you mean by advantage? whether it is better than others is just a matter of opinion. Each alternative has its own advantages or disadvantages etc. Nuclear power is still considered by many to be the prominent alternative in order to meet demand, but it still has its disadvantages.
Good point
Agreed.
I think Fukushima is making already the revolution of nuclear industry..
http://enenews.com/everyone-on-earth-has-been-irradiated-by-fukushima-shocking-new-study-reveals-true-extent-of-global-impact-scientists-are-only-just-now-confirming-far-reaching-effects-of-nuclear-disaste
Also Chernobyl was in the news while ago as it was in danger to start leaking again in the atmosphere.
So they made new cover for it: cost for that was/is 2.15 billion euros.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_New_Safe_Confinement
yes they have some PR work to do post fukushima! lol
right! i think the best PR in this case is simple: just stay quiet and censor everything you can..
Graphene is still interesting. I am planning to build prototype so you could make some kind of nano-coal-coating into paper or anything from burning wood and using ultrasound.
So maybe make your own solar panels, this way. Not so effective as the industrial, but they would be cheap. Ultra sound nozzles do cost kinda lot..
Nice :)