Scientists have hailed a ‘crucial milestone’ for graphene after revealing the wonder material could be used to clean up the nuclear industry.
Research carried out by the University of Manchester has shown graphene-based membranes could make the production of ‘heavy water’ more efficient, leading to greener and cheaper nuclear power.
Heavy water – also known as deuterium oxide – is a key component within nuclear reactors.
It’s now hoped that graphene could be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with producing the liquid by up to a million tonnes per year.
Writing in leading science journal Nature Communications, a team from the university said they could demonstrate scaled prototypes of graphene membranes capable of producing heavy water. The complex process involves separating hydrogen isotopes.
Because of graphene’s unique material properties it has the potential to effectively separate sub-atomic particles, making the process more efficient and cost-effective, researchers said.
