Launch of the Graphene-Aurora Program
Context:
During a gathering hosted at Maker Village Kochi, Kerala, Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), officially introduced the ‘Graphene-Aurora program’.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government Policies and Intervention)
Overview of the Graphene-Aurora Program:
- Definition: Graphene is constructed from a singular layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, resulting in a two-dimensional structure. Its extraordinary qualities, encompassing exceptional strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity, are widely acknowledged.
- Objective: The program aims to foster and nurture the emerging ecosystem of Graphene technology and innovation. It will offer guidance, development, implementation, and assistance to SMEs and start-ups, enabling them to effectively commercialize graphene technologies for widespread adoption. The establishment of a commercialization ecosystem for graphene, as a burgeoning technology, is anticipated to position India at the forefront of the global new material market.
Key Notables:
- Graphene is derived from graphite and exclusively comprises carbon.
- It holds international recognition as the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive material, excelling in both electrical and heat conductivity.
- It outperforms copper in the world of electricity conduction.
- Its strength surpasses that of steel by 200 times, while weighing a mere one-sixth of steel.
- Its exceptional transparency allows it to absorb only 2% of light, showcasing near-perfect translucency.
- It shows impermeability even to lightweight gases like hydrogen and helium.
