Game, set and match to graphene

Our partners Research impact and institutes 7th July 2017

With Wimbledon in full swing, it’s yet to be decided who’ll meet on Centre Court for the final – but it’s clear that centre stage belongs to graphene.

Many of this year’s players at the world-famous event will be carrying racquets that have been reinforced with the advanced material – including Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. In fact, tennis racquets are among the sporting equipment most suited for enhancement by graphene, as the material is just a single atom thick – one million times thinner than a human hair.

Graphene might be small, but there’s nothing weak about it. The material is stronger than steel, but because it’s so tiny it’s also flexible and lightweight. All of this means it’s perfect for reinforcing tennis racquets.

By integrating graphene into the tennis racquet’s frame, it creates the optimal weight distribution. This allows players to swing the racquet faster and hit the ball with more power. The unique attributes of graphene mean that while it’s stronger, it’s also lighter. Strength and speed make for a powerful combination when you’re on court.

Good sport

Professor Robert Young from The University of Manchester says: “Graphene, first isolated in Manchester, is a very light and strong material that makes it ideal for use in a wide range of sporting goods.”

And it doesn’t stop there. Professor Young notes they the material is also being used to improve skis and hockey sticks. Even cycling is getting a graphene boost, with both cycle frames and tyres that use graphene to enhance the carbon fibre and racing tyres respectively currently in development.

We may soon be seeing graphene across all sporting fields. For example, it could be used to create a stronger shell for sports cars. If successful, it may not be long before we’re seeing graphene-enhanced Formula One cars racing round the track.

The problem solver

It’s hard to believe that it’s little more than ten years since graphene was isolated by University of Manchester professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, who went on to be awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery.

Since then, the potential applications and developments of the 2D material have ranged from the energy sector to fashion (see the photo of our graphene dress for an example). It may even hold the key to providing clean drinking water for the global population.

In April, researchers at The University of Manchester announced that there is the potential to use graphene to create a sieve that can remove the salt from seawater, thereby making it safe to drink. With UN figures suggesting that more than one in ten people will encounter water scarcity by 2025, this development is particularly timely.

Whether his graphene racquet will help Murray keep hold of his World Number 1 title remains to be seen, but don’t be surprised if you hear graphene getting a shout-out on the commentary of more of your favourite sports soon.

Words – Hayley Cox