On Harvey Mudd College Week: To solve big problems, we may need to look small.
Albert Dato, associate professor of engineering, explains why.
Albert Dato is an Associate Professor of Engineering at Harvey Mudd College (HMC). His undergraduate research program at HMC focuses on the synthesis and applications of advanced materials that can address challenges in climate, energy, and the environment. His work on polymer-matrix nanocomposites is supported by a National Science Foundation CAREER award. Under the mentorship of Prof. Michael Frenklach, he received his Ph.D. in Applied Science & Technology in 2009 from the University of California, Berkeley, which is where he discovered the substrate-free gas-phase synthesis of graphene. After receiving his Ph.D., he founded one of the first companies to bring graphene to market. He also worked in the Silicon Valley as a process development engineer at Novellus Systems Inc. and as a scientist at Air Liquide Electronics US LP. His decision to join the faculty of HMC in 2014 was driven by his deep desires to (1) teach undergraduates, (2) mentor students in scientific research, and (3) increase diversity in science and engineering.
Can Tiny Carbon Flakes Solve Big Environmental Problems
Imagine surfaces that harvest water directly from air, or materials that alleviate climate change by capturing carbon dioxide emissions, or energy storage devices that enable electric cars to travel farther on a single charge. Many potential technologies that can benefit the planet could be achieved with atomically thin flakes of carbon called graphene.
However, manufacturing graphene usually involves breaking down graphite. Mining for graphite emits carbon and can harm ecosystems. Furthermore, processes that turn graphite into graphene can generate hazardous waste and require large quantities of water. For graphene to be a solution to major environmental issues, the tiny material must be produced in environmentally friendly ways.
Undergraduate students in my laboratory are discovering solutions to problems in our planet through research on a form of graphene that is created through a sustainable process. Gas-phase-synthesized graphene, or GSG for short, is produced by sending pure drinking alcohol into an atmospheric plasma reactor that can be powered using renewable energy.
Our studies have revealed many intriguing properties of GSG, such as its high strength, remarkable electrical conductivity, and unparalleled water repellency. Incorporating GSG into polymers has resulted in strong and lightweight composites. Slippery surfaces that could be used for atmospheric water harvesting have been created by covering surfaces with GSG. A research collaboration with a national laboratory has shown that GSG can significantly increase the energy storage capacity of 3D printed electrode materials, as well as improve membranes for capturing carbon dioxide.
Therefore, technologies that harness the unique properties of tiny GSG flakes could solve big problems in climate, energy, and the environment.
Read More:
[C&En] – A simple route to water-repellent graphene
[Mudd] – A Lighter, Stronger Polymer
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