Coal, tar and suit can add value for very different purposes than previously thought. Think of energy storage systems, thermally active coatings and electronic sensors.
This argues Professor Jeffrey Grossman of US university MIT. Grossman believes that fossil fuels should not be used so much as cheap fuel or means of filling cracks. He sees a wide range of applications that take advantage of the complex chemical composition of such fossil fuels.
Cleaner use
Burning fossil fuels releases harmful substances that contribute to global warming. In other cases, the material ends up in landfills, polluting the environment. Therefore, by using fossil fuels differently, Grossman argues that their use can become less polluting and cleaner.
In a recent study, Grossman and a research team take the test. The research shows that coal, tar and pitch can serve as the basis for a thin coating with very precisely controllable and reproducible electrical conductivity, porosity and other properties. Using a laser, the researchers managed to develop prototypes from this material. These include a semiconductor that can store electricity, a flexible pressure gauge and a transparent heating element.
Carbon-based heavy hydrocarbons
Specifically, the research focuses on alternative uses of carbon-based heavy hydrocarbons. These are substances formed millions of years ago under high pressure and heat from decaying plant material. The materials contain a rich variety of atomic compositions with different chemical and structural properties. No synthetic carbon-based nanomaterial offers similar properties, Grossman argues.
Using laser annealing, the researchers apply very thin layers of carbon-based material to a substrate. By printing layers of different carbon-based materials on top of each other, it is possible to develop functional devices. By bombarding these materials at different frequencies with laser pulses of different strengths, it is possible to determine physical, optical, electrical and magnetic properties, among other things.
From graphene to aromatic polymers
"We can create anything from graphene to a form of aromatic-rich polymers," says Ferralis, one of the researchers involved in the research. "And with properties that can range from thermal and electrical insulators to thermal and electrical conductors. We can change the porosity so that it allows us to create not only solid materials but also highly porous materials. This makes it possible to create membranes."
Ferralis hopes the discovery could lead to innovation in the field of ink for 3D printers, among other things. By adjusting the composition of the ink, it is possible to change its properties. The ink could be based on all kinds of heavy hydrocarbons, many of which are present in large stocks. For example, as residue in petroleum production or other chemical processes.
Everyday applications
The wide availability of material provides researchers with all kinds of everyday applications. Ferralis: "If we can scale up this process to bulk systems, it could be used for structural materials or, for example, insulation for houses. Things that require a large amount of material."
The discovery could potentially also be an economic boost for regions traditionally dependent on coal production. As coal-fired power plants are increasingly phased out, demand for coal is declining and these regions are being hit financially. The new use of coal could increase demand for the material.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
