Scientists produce graphene using microorganisms

Chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) flakes is widely used for the synthesis of graphene. In this process, the critical stage of reducing GO flakes into graphene requires the exposure of the GO to hydrazine. This reduction process has fundamental limitations for large scale production; in particular because of the hydrazine vapor is highly toxic.

The method developed by the Toyohashi Tech team was inspired by a recent report showing that graphene oxide behaves as a terminal electron acceptor for bacteria, where the GO is reduced by microbial action in the process of breathing or electron transport. Notably, the Toyohashi Graphene Research Group method is a hybrid approach, where chemically derived graphene oxide flakes are reduced by readily available microorganisms extracted from a river bank near the Tempaku Campus of Toyohashi University of Technology, Aichi, Japan. Raman scattering measurements showed that the GO flakes had indeed been reduced.

The approach offers a low-cost, highly efficient, and environmentally friendly method for the mass production of high quality graphene for the electronics industry.

More information: Y. Tanizawa et al. Microorganism mediated synthesis of reduced graphene oxide films, IOP Journal of Physics: Conference Series (in press), http://iopscience. … rg/1742-6596

Provided by Toyohashi University of Technology

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A Book for Geek Dads and Mad Scientists

One of the biggest real-life geek moments of my life is intimately tied to the Geek Dad book franchise, despite the fact that, until just a few days ago, I didn't own any of the books.

At the 2010 GenCon, the writer's area contained a box with several promotional pins for the first Geek Dad book. Never one to turn down free stuff, I ended up wearing one of the pins as I went about my activities.

This convention was also the only time I ever went to the trouble of paying money and standing in line for hours to meet a media guest: Star Trek: The Next Generation's very own Wil Wheaton. Despite the coolness of meeting a childhood hero, I had an ulterior motive in meeting Mr. Wheaton. I wanted to give him a copy of my book, so I could get a picture of him with it. (I succeeded, as can be seen here and here.) When I introduced myself and said I wanted to give him a copy of my book, he saw my button, glanced over at my two children in tow, and his eyes lit up. "Are you the guy who wrote Geek Dad?"

"No," I said, feeling a bit of the wind going out of my sails. His reaction to String Theory For Dummies was still very favorable (again, you can see it here), so it was an overall good experience. (My wife heard him say to his assistant, "Put this with my personal stuff," so I think he did like it ... or at least didn't feel like throwing it away.)

Here's the thing, though: Despite having had two Father's Days, Christmases, and three birthdays pass since the first book came out in May 2010, I still don't own either of the first two books in the Geek Dad series. (I have no idea if Wil Wheaton ever acquired a copy, either.)

So when I saw that a third book, The Geek Dad Book for Aspiring Mad Scientists, was coming out, I decided that I would get it. In fact, I didn't particularly want to wait, so I exercised one of the perks of being a freelance writer and begged for a review copy.

I am pleased to now offer my review of this book and to say that it's everything I'd hoped that a Geek Dad book would be. It is the perfect gift for any parent or child who loves science. I can't wait to begin plowing through these experiments with my oldest son (and then, someday, with the younger one). The book is available for pre-order now and will come out on Tuesday.

If you like the book (or the blog), you should also check out the Geek Dad podcast, which made our recent list of physics podcasts.

View the original article here

A Book for Geek Dads and Mad Scientists

One of the biggest real-life geek moments of my life is intimately tied to the Geek Dad book franchise, despite the fact that, until just a few days ago, I didn't own any of the books.

At the 2010 GenCon, the writer's area contained a box with several promotional pins for the first Geek Dad book. Never one to turn down free stuff, I ended up wearing one of the pins as I went about my activities.

This convention was also the only time I ever went to the trouble of paying money and standing in line for hours to meet a media guest: Star Trek: The Next Generation's very own Wil Wheaton. Despite the coolness of meeting a childhood hero, I had an ulterior motive in meeting Mr. Wheaton. I wanted to give him a copy of my book, so I could get a picture of him with it. (I succeeded, as can be seen here and here.) When I introduced myself and said I wanted to give him a copy of my book, he saw my button, glanced over at my two children in tow, and his eyes lit up. "Are you the guy who wrote Geek Dad?"

"No," I said, feeling a bit of the wind going out of my sails. His reaction to String Theory For Dummies was still very favorable (again, you can see it here), so it was an overall good experience. (My wife heard him say to his assistant, "Put this with my personal stuff," so I think he did like it ... or at least didn't feel like throwing it away.)

Here's the thing, though: Despite having had two Father's Days, Christmases, and three birthdays pass since the first book came out in May 2010, I still don't own either of the first two books in the Geek Dad series. (I have no idea if Wil Wheaton ever acquired a copy, either.)

So when I saw that a third book, The Geek Dad Book for Aspiring Mad Scientists, was coming out, I decided that I would get it. In fact, I didn't particularly want to wait, so I exercised one of the perks of being a freelance writer and begged for a review copy.

I am pleased to now offer my review of this book and to say that it's everything I'd hoped that a Geek Dad book would be. It is the perfect gift for any parent or child who loves science. I can't wait to begin plowing through these experiments with my oldest son (and then, someday, with the younger one). The book is available for pre-order now and will come out on Tuesday.

If you like the book (or the blog), you should also check out the Geek Dad podcast, which made our recent list of physics podcasts.

View the original article here