Graphene - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

1)   Scientists have developed a new battery material based in _______ with charging speed 5 times faster than lithium-ion batteries.

a. Graphene
b. Carbon
c. Nitrate
d. Chromium
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Graphene

Explanation:
Scientists have developed a new graphene-based battery material with charging speed five times faster than today's lithium-ion batteries.

The breakthrough by researchers at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) in South Korea provides promise for the next generation mobile batteries and electric vehicles.

Standard lithium batteries require charging time of at least an hour to fully charge, even with quick charging technology, so numerous attempts to explore new innovative materials have been started.

Among the materials looked at, graphene, a material with high strength and conductivity, has widely become the primary source of interest.

In theory, a battery based on the "graphene ball" material requires only 12 minutes to fully charge, researchers said.

This "graphene ball" was utilised for both the anode protective layer and cathode materials.

This ensured an increase of charging capacity, decrease of charging time as well as stable temperatures.

Researchers used graphene and mass synthesised it into a 3D form using silica (SiO2).

Their research enables mass synthesis of graphene at an affordable price as the markets for mobile devices and electric vehicles is growing rapidly.

Graphene: Know More

  • Graphene is an allotrope (form) of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in an hexagonal lattice.
  • It is the basic structural element of many other allotropes of carbon, such as graphite, charcoal, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes.
  • Graphene has many unusual properties.
  • It is the strongest material ever tested,efficiently conducts heat and electricity and is nearly transparent.
  • Graphene shows a large and nonlinear diamagnetism, which is greater than that of graphite, and can be levitated by neodymium magnets.


2)   Scientists have developed the world's lightest high performance mechanical watch called ________

a. RM 50-03
b. RM 50-04
c. RM 50-05
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: RM 50-03

Explanation:
Developing the world’s lightest high-performance mechanical watch RM 50-03, scientists used ‘wonder material’ graphene.

The RM 50-03 watch weighs just 40 gms.

The superlight watch was made using a unique grapheme composite known as Graph TPT.

It is incorporating graphene to manufacture a strong but lightweight new case to house the delicate watch mechanism.

It was jointly developed by the University of Manchester (UK), Richard Mille and McLaren F1.

Graph TPT weighs less than previous similar materials used in watchmaking.

Graphene is the world’s first 2D material at just one-atom thick.

It was first isolated in 2004 and has the potential to revolutionise applications including high-performance composites for the aerospace and automotive industries.

It is also used for flexible, bendable tablets, mobile phones and next-generation energy storage.