Jun 29, 2017 | By Benedict
A 3D printed graphene aerogel developed by three materials engineers has been named the “least dense 3D printed structure” by Guinness World Records. The structure is so light it can be placed on top of a cotton ball or flower petals without falling.
The 3D printed graphene aerogel weighs 0.5 milligrams per cubic centimeter
Here’s an obvious observation: the Guinness World Records titles for the largest solid 3D printed item and the tallest 3D printed human are probably more visually impressive than the “least dense 3D printed structure.” Hell, it’s hard to take your eyes off that two-meter sculpture of a waving Jon Bentley. But this newly crowned 3D printed graphene aerogel, developed by three expert engineers from various universities, could be the most significant 3D printing milestone of the lot.
Light enough to balance on a cotton ball or a flower petal, the world’s least dense 3D printed structure is a marvel of materials engineering. Weighing just 0.5 milligrams per cubic centimeter, the material will be featured in the Guinness World Records 2018 Edition. It was developed by Chi Zhou, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering at University at Buffalo; Dong Lin, Kansas State University (KSU) assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering; and Qiangqiang Zhang, an associate professor at Lanzhou University in China.
“Graphene is a revolutionary material and it makes sense that its aerogel form would be just as important," Lin said. "Our 3D printed graphene aerogel has important properties that give the material many applications for better electronics, batteries, or semiconductors.”
Chi Zhou holds the 3D printer that produced the record-breaking aerogel
According to those involved with the development of the graphene aerogel, the 3D printing process behind the material is just as impressive as the product itself. People have been trying to 3D print graphene—a super-strong and atomically thin form of carbon—for several years, and the method employed by the award-winning researchers might be one of the most effective yet. The group says it is the third in the world to successfully print the material.
To 3D print their graphene aerogel, the researchers used a modified inkjet printer with two nozzles. They 3D printed droplets of a graphene oxide and water mixture in a freezer on a cold plate at -20°C. This produced a 3D ice structure consisting of graphene and frozen water, helping the graphene keep its shape.
After 3D printing the structure, the researchers placed the 3D material in a freeze dryer, which removes the ice by means of a high vacuum and low temperature. A 3D graphene aerogel is left behind, a material that maintains its shape at room temperature.
“With this 3D printing method, we can control the shape of the graphene aerogel and ideally we can control the electric and mechanical properties for the aerogels, too,” Lin said.
The extremely lightweight 3D printed aerogel could be used to make flexible batteries, semiconductors, and even insulation for buildings.
“We didn’t plan on setting a record, but it’s certainly a nice recognition of our work,” Zhou admitted. “I think this helps show the enormous potential that graphene aerogel has in our daily lives.”
Posted in 3D Printing Materials
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