Unveiling the Truth: Is There Really Graphene in Graphene Heating Films?
There are generally two common misconceptions about graphene heating films:
- “Graphene is so expensive, how could it be used in heating films?”
- “Graphene consists of a single layer of carbon atoms, and if you add more layers, it’s no longer graphene. So how can it be used in heating films?”
Today, we’ll dive into whether graphene heating films truly contain graphene, and if they do, how they’re made.
Before that, let’s start by defining graphene. As the name suggests, graphene is closely related to graphite, but don’t get them mixed up. Although both are made of carbon atoms, their properties are vastly different. Just as carbon can form both diamonds and common graphite depending on the structure, the arrangement of the atoms drastically changes the material’s physical properties.
Without diving into all of graphene’s remarkable traits, let’s focus on its basic structure: a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional structure. This “single layer” of carbon is key, and it’s where many critics question graphene products, arguing that adding layers would strip away graphene’s unique properties. However, the production techniques for graphene have significantly advanced over the years, and it is now possible to produce pure graphene membranes, although the costs remain high.
That said, pure graphene membranes are neither practical nor affordable for large-scale production of heating films. These membranes are typically transparent due to graphene’s high light transmittance and are mainly used for scientific research rather than industrial production and commercialization.
To clarify: graphene heating films are not made from pure graphene, but from graphene composites. So, for those concerned that multiple layers of carbon atoms negate graphene’s superior properties, it’s important to understand the development of the graphene industry. Otherwise, such claims just provoke unnecessary ridicule.
As this explanation has shown, pure graphene is expensive! High-purity graphene can cost as much as 1,200 yuan per gram, but graphene heating films are made from graphene composites, not pure graphene. Moreover, the issue of losing graphene’s properties when adding layers is addressed by using composites in industrial applications. If you’re wondering how this is done, that’s where research and technology come into play!