VOA慢速英语2015 21世纪的新材料—石墨烯

Graphene: The Material of the 21st Century 21世纪的新材料—石墨烯

Graphene is a type of graphite mineral. Experts often call it 'The Material of the 21st Century' because of its special properties. Some U.S. companies are already using graphene for new technology products.

Graphene is often described as a one-atom-thick layer of carbon. The material has some extraordinary properties. It is 100 times stronger than steel of the same thickness. The nearly transparent¹ material also carries heat and electricity very well.

Dan Scheffer is vice-president of the manufacturing company, Vorbeck Materials.

"This material has so many potential applications that you don't know where to start to look in the beginning."

Mr. Scheffer says 100 percent pure graphene is difficult to make. But he adds manufacturers can make graphene of lesser² purity that still has many of the features of the pure version. Mr. Scheffer says his company produces a layer of graphene that is 80 percent pure.

Graphene can be mixed into ink for printers. Stretchable parts can be printed for products such as antennas⁴ for radio frequency identification circuits.

Louise Brooks⁵ is the manager of the product development team at Vorbeck Materials. She says graphene can even be used on wearable electronic clothing. She says the clothing can be washed and dried in a machine without damaging the graphene.

The new material can also be used to make very sensitive microphones. Ray Sauro is a chemical engineer at Vorbeck Materials. He says a graphene membrane⁶ less than one micron thick can pick up vibrations⁷ that no other kind of membrane can.

"And, it has a working range of less than one hertz to 200,000 hertz. The human ear for example can hear from about 15 hertz to 20,000 hertz.  So, way beyond anything you can hear."

The microphone picks up the sound from light that reflects off a vibrating graphene membrane. This prevents any radio or magnetic interference.

Mr. Sauro says graphene membranes⁸ can resist vibrations and heat. He adds that the membranes are not costly⁹ to manufacture.  Mr. Sauro imagines the automotive industry will be able to use graphene products in vehicles to collect information about engine health.  He says such products would not cost more than $300. 

Words in This Story

antenna³ – n. a device (such as a wire or a metal rod) for sending or receiving radio or television signals

circuit – n. the complete path that an electric current travels along

hertz – n. a unit used for measuring the frequency of sound waves

membrane – n.  a thin sheet or layer

microphone – n. a device used to record sound

1 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

2 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

3 antenna   

n.触角，触须；天线

参考例句：

• The workman fixed the antenna to the roof of the house.工人把天线固定在房顶上。
• In our village, there is an antenna on every roof for receiving TV signals.在我们村里，每家房顶上都有天线接收电视信号。

4 antennas   

[生] 触角，触须（antenna的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Marconi tied several antennas to kites. 马可尼在风筝上系了几根天线。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Radio astronomy today is armed with the largest antennas in the world. 射电天文学拥有世界上最大的天线。

5 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 membrane   

n.薄膜，膜皮，羊皮纸

参考例句：

• A vibrating membrane in the ear helps to convey sounds to the brain.耳膜的振动帮助声音传送到大脑。
• A plastic membrane serves as selective diffusion barrier.一层塑料薄膜起着选择性渗透屏障的作用。

7 vibrations   

n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动

参考例句：

• We could feel the vibrations from the trucks passing outside. 我们可以感到外面卡车经过时的颤动。
• I am drawn to that girl; I get good vibrations from her. 我被那女孩吸引住了，她使我产生良好的感觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 membranes   

n.（动物或植物体内的）薄膜( membrane的名词复数 )；隔膜；（可起防水、防风等作用的）膜状物

参考例句：

• The waste material is placed in cells with permeable membranes. 废液置于有渗透膜的槽中。 来自辞典例句
• The sarcoplasmic reticulum is a system of intracellular membranes. 肌浆网属于细胞内膜系统。 来自辞典例句

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。