Jonathan Coleman and team of Trinity College Dublin in Ireland have done fabulous work by coming up with a way to mass produce the unique material graphene. Wonder material graphene could now be made with just soap and blender.

Pure graphene, the sheet of carbon just one atom thick, is considered to be next big thing in the electronics industry. Despite knowing its worth, scientists were facing difficulties in producing high-quality graphene as even the best lab techniques were able to have less than half a gram per hour.

Thomas Swan, a chemicals firm based in Consett, UK, contracted the Trinity College team. Previous research helped Coleman and team as they were aware that it is feasible to shear graphene from graphite.

The research team put graphite powder and a solvent fluid in a laboratory mixer and allowed it spin. With the help of an electron microscope, it got confirmed that graphene has been produced and that was about 5 grams per hour.

The discovery encouraged them to try different types of motors and solvents. After trying different things, they found a kitchen blender and Fairy Liquid, a UK brand of dishwashing liquid, to deliver the result.

Coleman said people may not try this at home as there is an exact procedure for the same. Exact amount of dishwashing liquid is required and it depends on the graphite powder. All these things require advanced lab equipment.

Moreover, the method does not convert entire graphite to graphene, and two materials are required to separate at the end. Coleman found the experiment to be quite encouraging and if it could be used at an industrial level then it could be a big leap in the productivity.