A team from Australia has developed an eco-friendly and inexpensive method to transform peanut shells into graphene, a basic material for electronics.

A team of researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia has created an innovative and environmentally friendly method to transform peanut shells into graphene, an essential material for electronic devices and energy storage systems. This discovery promises to reduce costs and improve the sustainability of electronic products. The process involves heating the shells to 500 degrees Celsius to obtain a carbon-rich charcoal, followed by a rapid exposure to temperatures of about 3,000 degrees, which rearranges the carbon atoms into a single-layer graphene. This method does not use chemicals or fossil fuel-based additives and allows for the production of one kilogram of graphene at an energy cost of just 1.3 US dollars, in about ten minutes. Researchers intend to expand this method to also use other organic waste, such as coffee grounds or banana peels, for the purpose of sustainable commercial graphene production in the next three to four years.