Ole Miss Engineering At Forefront of Advancing Revolutionary New Material

Assistant Professor Dr. Hunain Alkhateb explains various aspects of graphene research to University of Mississippi Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter.

There is a revolutionary new material lurking in research labs across the world that could literally change the way people live. It’s called graphene, and The University of Mississippi is at the forefront.

Graphene has been hailed “the most exciting material of the 21st century” (ref: Time Magazine video HERE), and scientists everywhere are just beginning to scratch the surface of its potential.

Researchers in The University of Mississippi Nano Infrastructure Research Group (NIRG) in the School of Engineering are engaged with world scientists in research and development of this wonder material, finding important uses for defense, aerospace and civil environments. During the past three years, they have established a niche prominence on the national nanotechnology science scene.

This success led University of Mississippi Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter, Provost Morris Stocks, Vice Chancellor Alice Clark and Vice Chancellor Josh Gladden to take a first-hand look recently at the work being done by the NIRG at the School of Engineering’s labs at the Jackson Avenue Center.

One of the team’s most innovative uses of graphene has been to develop a surprisingly strong but flexible composite material called “graphene paper.” While made in a paper-like manufacturing process, it is far from paper. It is actually a proprietary combination of graphene and elastomeric polymers which, when blended through a revolutionary process, create something that can even help protect rail cars and space stations from large-scale bullets or flying objects.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ostaz, Brevard Family Chair Professor of Civil Engineering and lead researcher at the University of Mississippi.

One of the hurdles slowing rapid development of graphene is that the raw material costs about $200 per pound. According to Dr. Ahmed Al-Ostaz, Brevard Family Chair Professor of Civil Engineering and lead researcher, the University has developed a means to “produce” graphene in the lab. Graphene is not only the thinnest known material, but according to Dr. Al-Ostaz, “it would take three million sheets to equal the width of a pencil tip.”

“Large sheets of graphene can also be made uniquely through chemical vapor deposition (CVD), but it is extremely expensive,” Al-Ostaz said. “A hybrid nanomaterial of graphene has also been produced in our lab.”

“We want the University to remain at the forefront, educating the next workforce of graphene scientists on how this great material can benefit our national interests,” Al-Ostaz said.

Dr. Hunain Alsaid Alkhateb, an assistant professor in the UM School of Engineering, says these projects have resulted in more than 100 journal and conference publications with total funding of more than $9 million. The funding is supporting the work of more than 40 post-doctoral research associates, graduate and undergraduate research assistance.

Al Ostaz said, “There is a lot of interesting research going on at the University of Mississippi, and there are a lot of people with ideas to advance graphene into the marketplace. Hopefully, our work will lead to applications that can help improve the economy of the state.”

Materials emerging from this research could be used to “shrink-wrap” tank cars containing highly toxic chemicals and make them resistant to a flying object’s penetration. Though it sounds futuristic, if there is the slightest penetration by an object, the UM material’s properties allow the hole to in effect, close itself immediately.

New Media Lab LLC, publisher of HottyToddy.com, hopes to become a leader in facilitating the development and application of this technology and has established a global portal http://www.grapheneentrepreneur.com to track and share developments.

“Graphene could equal the discovery of electricity,” said Ed Meek, president of New Media Lab LLC. “The potential of this product is almost beyond imagination and we intend to be a player on the world stage,” he said. “It is one atom thick, stronger than steel, highly conductive, pliable and has the potential to impact every technology in the world, including its use as a replacement for silicon.”

Allison Buchanan is CEO of New Media Lab LLC, parent company of Graphene Entrepreneur and HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at allison.buchanan@newmedialabllc.com

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