Overview
Description:
"Exploring Materials - Graphene" is a hands-on activity in which visitors use tape and graphite to make graphene and test the conductivity of graphite. They learn that graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern.
Checklist
Scientist reviewed?
Peer reviewed?
Visitor evaluation?
Permissions
Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
Standards
Physical science:
K-4: Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism
K-4: Properties of objects and materials
9-12: Interactions of energy and matter
9-12: Structure and properties of matter
Science and Technology:
K-4: Understanding about science and technology
5-8: Understanding about science and technology
9-12: Understanding about science and technology
Graphene Activity Battery
You may be noticing that your battery is running low or has died. It's been almost a year since we fabricated those circuit boards, so please take a moment to check your battery and be sure everything is in working order.
If you need to dispose of the battery, please do so in a responsible manner. http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/battery.htm
Thanks!
Storing your circuit board
Remember to remove the snap connectors and disconnect the alligator clips from the circuit board before storing this activity. Doing so will prevent accidental circuit closure while in storage. If the circuit remains closed for a long period of time, the battery will not only wear out, but will also get very hot.
Also, while using the circuit board, it's not recommended to bypass the resistor, as this will cause the LED to blow.
Taking these precautions will help prolong the life of this activity.
Suggestions for getting the Exploring Materials- Graphene activi
By KC on March 22, 2012
We’ve heard that some NanoDays 2012 kit recipients are having trouble getting the Graphene activity to work. If you can’t get the bulb to light, here are a few solutions you might try:
-Try printing the graphene cards on regular, uncoated printer paper (or plain office paper)
The file for the graphene card can be found in the Resources tab
-Try pushing really hard on the pencil
-Try using mechanical pencils (the kind with refillable lead)
-Try touching the alligator clips about an inch apart instead of at the ends of the rectangle
-Try viewing the LED bulb from directly above
-Try replacing the 9v battery
Let visitors know that they need to make a very dark line on the paper for this activity to work. It is ok if the LED bulb is dim. A dim light is not as much of a “wow factor,” but it’s still an indication that electricity is being conducted. We hope that one of these solutions will help you with this activity, and we’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section of this blog post –let us know what worked and what didn’t. Good luck with your final preparations!