Neutron-damaged graphene can heal itself – a discovery by Polish scientists. This week, the GET® team, in cooperation with Poznan University of Technology and the National Centre for Nuclear Research, published on the discovery of a self-healing effect in electronic-grade graphene on silicon carbide exposed to fast-neutron radiation.
The radiation knocks out atoms from a hydrogen cushion below the graphene layer and degrades graphene’s quasi-free-standing character. Yet, a temperature trigger that fits perfectly within the operational limits of the platform can redistribute the remaining population of hydrogen atoms and restore graphene’s properties.
The damage caused to graphene by neutron radiation can be likened to the loss of protective layers observed in lizard skin. In both cases, the removal of a structural component leads to a loss of functionality. However, similar to the regenerative capacity of lizards, graphene demonstrates a remarkable ability for self-healing. This capability is evident in graphene’s ability to restore its structural integrity when heated to a specific temperature, enabling the hydrogen atoms that support its structure to reattach and recover the material’s original properties.
This finding may pave the way for magnetic field sensors with a continuous self-healing effect, expanding the boundaries of graphene applications in neutron-exposed environments.
GET® is at the forefront of materials science for affordable and clean energy. Efforts have been undertaken to design materials capable of withstanding high temperatures and neutron radiation. Such platforms will enable magnetic diagnostics in extreme environmental conditions, such as those in future thermonuclear reactors.
The Polish nuclear energy sector is gaining significant attention from policymakers as new strategic programs are being developed by the National Centre for Research and Development.
Details of this discovery have been published in Open Access form in Elsevier Applied Surface Science.
You can learn more at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386400141_Fluence_and_thermal_threshold_for_an_effective_self-healing_in_high-energy-neutron-irradiated_Al2O3QFS-graphene6H-SiC0001_system