Thread Content
According to Sinochem New Network, an international standard for graphene oxide, developed under the leadership of Professor Gao Chao, a Distinguished Professor and doctoral supervisor at the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University, has been released by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This marks the emergence of a unified \"technical language\" for graphene oxide on a global scale. This is also the first time that China has taken the lead in formulating international standards in the field of high-end graphene materials. Graphene possesses mechanical strength comparable to that of steel, as well as thermal and electrical conductivity; it can also enable the conversion between light, heat, and electricity. These unique properties make it stand out as the \"king of new materials\". However, as graphene moved from the laboratory to industrial application, market disorders emerged as a result. “Information asymmetry makes it difficult for consumers to distinguish between genuine and fake products, and some sellers take advantage of this to promote misleading concepts and pass off inferior goods as high-quality ones. ”Gao Chao said that some products mislead consumers through \"word games,\" some forge testing certificates, and there are even fake concepts such as \"white graphene\" that go against physical laws in order to make money. Behind this chaos, the core issue lies in the lack of unified international standards. At the upstream stage of the industrial chain, graphene oxide produced by different manufacturers varies significantly in key parameters such as sheet size, degree of oxidation, and defect density. This results in uneven performance of the products at the downstream stage, with products that have the same name but different actual properties, thereby severely hindering the healthy and orderly development of the industry. To overcome this challenge in the industry, three years ago, the Gao Chao team officially launched efforts to develop international standards. After repeated discussions, multiple rounds of refinement, and evaluations by international experts, the standard was finally published in February of this year. It is reported that for the first time, this standard establishes unified global definitions for key aspects such as the material definition and basic properties of graphene oxide. It specifies the critical technical parameters and testing methods for such products, setting clear rules for the development of this industry and serving as a foundation for promoting standardized growth in the sector. “Previously, it was foreign countries that set the standards, and we followed them; this time, China has its own say in the global graphene industry. ”Gao Chao said. It is worth noting that, driven by standards, graphene oxide is accelerating its transition from research laboratories to practical applications in everyday life, and a positive cycle of close integration among industry, academia, and research is gradually taking shape. Among them, the well-known brand Carbin Koneer Cool Heat has collaborated with a team from Zhejiang University for many years to apply graphene technology to the textile industry. Utilizing the far-infrared absorption and emission properties of graphene, they have developed graphene fiber products that offer both warmth retention and breathability, including items such as thermal underwear, underwear, socks, insoles, and bed sheets. “With international standards as a safeguard, we will further deepen our cooperation with the Zhejiang University team in the future, so as to integrate graphene technology with Xinjiang cotton, enabling cotton farmers to not only grow high-quality crops but also sell them at favorable prices. It also lays the foundation for Xinjiang cotton technology fabric products to expand their market overseas. ”Han Hongbo, founder of the Carbin Koneer Cool Heat brand, said that with the implementation of relevant standards, the graphene industry will enter a golden period of standardized development, and more scientific and technological achievements will become available to ordinary people.