New research carried out by scientists at the University of Manchester (UK) has shown that graphene , the thinnest and most impermeable material on Earth and one of the strongest, can be traversed by protons.
The study authors note that this discovery increases graphene's potential to develop much more efficient and non-polluting fuel cells.
The research published by the journal Nature is headed by Andre Geim, one of the two scientists who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 precisely for his work on graphene. This material consists of a flat sheet of carbon with a thickness of a single atom . Thanks to its unique properties, it has been used in a wide variety of practical applications.
The researchers argue that one day the technology could also allow graphene membranes to pick up hydrogen from the atmosphere. Later, combined with fuel cells, they would serve to produce an unlimited supply of electricity.
