Yes, "it" is graphene—the "king of new materials"! As the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive and thermally efficient新型 nanomaterial discovered so far, scientists even predict that graphene will "revolutionize the 21st century."

　　Solar cells can be rolled up to charge devices, computers are being carried around people’s wrists like bands, tiny bio-devices deliver targeted drugs straight to tumor cells and eliminate them, and even clothing can now automatically adjust its temperature based on external conditions…

　　Yes, "it" is graphene—the "king of new materials"! As the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive and thermally efficient新型 nanomaterial discovered so far, scientists even predict that graphene will "revolutionize the 21st century."

　　Even more surprising: China has already taken the lead in this field!

　　Recently, the People's Daily revealed a major announcement: Professor Gao Chao's team from the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University has developed a new aluminum-graphene battery. This innovative battery can operate efficiently in environments ranging from -40°C to 120°C.

Graphene battery boasts incredibly impressive performance and functionality.

Graphene is a two-dimensional material—a single-atom-thick, planar film composed of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal, honeycomb lattice via sp² hybridized orbitals. Currently, it remains the thinnest yet strongest nanomaterial on Earth, and it also boasts the lowest electrical resistivity of any material known to date.

Currently, graphene—often dubbed "black gold" due to its exceptional electrical conductivity and mechanical properties—is now priced nearly ten times higher than gold on the Chinese market, exceeding 2,000 yuan per gram. Meanwhile, so-called graphene batteries are a new-generation energy storage technology developed by leveraging graphene's unique ability to facilitate rapid, large-scale movement of lithium ions between its surface and the electrode materials.

The newly developed aluminum-graphene battery created by Zhejiang University boasts both groundbreaking functionality and performance—its capabilities are nothing short of astonishing, even rivaling those of aerospace-grade materials!

1
It takes just a few seconds to complete charging.
It can be fully charged in just a few seconds, retains full power even after 250,000 charge-discharge cycles, and demonstrates exceptional features such as heat resistance, frost resistance, and excellent performance that remains unaffected by repeated bending.

2
Two batteries connected in series can power a set of LED lights.
The positive electrode of the graphene battery is a graphene film, while the negative electrode is made of metallic aluminum. By connecting two such batteries in series, you can light up a set of LED lights.

3
Retains 91% of its capacity after 250,000 charge-discharge cycles
After testing, the graphene-based cathode achieved a specific capacity of 120 mAh/g (milliampere-hours per gram) and retained 91% of its initial capacity even after 250,000 charge-discharge cycles.

4
Fast charging can fully charge in as little as 1.1 seconds.
Of course, it boasts excellent rate performance—fast charging allows the device to fully recharge in as little as 1.1 seconds—while still maintaining a reversible specific capacity of 111 mAh/g.

5
Both heat-resistant and frost-proof
This battery can operate in environments ranging from -40°C to 120°C, making it both heat-resistant and capable of withstanding extreme cold. At -30°C, the new battery maintains its performance without degradation after 1,000 charge-discharge cycles. Meanwhile, in a 100°C environment, it can endure a stable 45,000 cycles.

6
Retains full capacity after 10,000 bends
This new type of battery is flexible—after being bent 10,000 times, its capacity remains fully intact. Even when the cell is exposed to flames, it neither catches fire nor explodes.

"This aluminum-graphene 'super' battery boasts rate performance and cycle life that far surpass those of other batteries, while also delivering a higher energy density compared to supercapacitors—and matching their impressive rate performance and long-lasting durability," said Gao Chao, professor in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University.

By this calculation, if a smartphone were equipped with this type of battery, it could last nearly 70 years—even if charged as many as 10 times a day.

Last year, Huawei's Central Research Institute announced to the world in Japan: a major breakthrough has been achieved in lithium-ion battery technology—with the debut of the world's first super-graphene-based battery!

Once this technology is further refined and commercialized, the world will face a massive transformation.

In the future, electric vehicles will no longer need to rely on simply piling up batteries to achieve longer driving ranges—instead, new energy vehicles will enter a golden era of growth, driven by graphene-based batteries.

Graphene, which will completely revolutionize our lives

It is precisely because of graphene's remarkable and exceptional properties that, over the years, research on graphene has delved deeply into every aspect of our lives, fundamentally transforming nearly every dimension of how we live.

Faster and cheaper computers: As early as 2011, IBM researchers announced a major breakthrough—they had designed and built a graphene-based integrated circuit that matched the performance of silicon technology. Shortly after this announcement, IBM revealed it would invest $3 billion to develop ways to create faster, more affordable computers powered by graphene.
 
Graphene modulators can download a movie in just one second: In 2013, Chinese-American scientists in the U.S. also developed a cutting-edge graphene-based modulator using nanomaterials. Each graphene modulator transmits data about a thousand times faster than copper wires. And when 10 graphene modulators are combined, their combined speed reaches petabit levels—fast enough to virtually download an HD movie in under a second.

Affordable, high-quality light bulbs: According to a 2015 BBC report, the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester in the UK has developed a groundbreaking graphene-based light bulb that boasts a more durable structure than LED bulbs—and at a significantly lower price.
 
Graphene Wearable Phone: In 2015, Chongqing Moxi Technology Co. and Jialepai Technology Co. jointly launched the world’s first mass-produced graphene phone, the SETTLER α. This innovative device features a 5.2-inch graphene-based flexible screen and weighs just over 200 grams—light enough to be bent and worn comfortably on the wrist like a watch.

Graphene, prized for its strength—said to be 200 times greater than that of traditional steel—is also considered an ideal material for manufacturing cars, particularly for use in lightweight, high-performance sports car bodies.

During the 2016 edition of Europe's largest science festival, the Science in the City festival, automotive company Briggs unveiled a car with a body made entirely of graphene—aptly named the BAC Mono—at the UK National Graphene Institute.

Solar Cells: In August of this year, Jing Kong (transliteration), a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, developed a flexible, transparent solar cell using graphene. This innovative solar cell doesn’t require separate installation—it can be integrated directly into the screens of phones and computers, potentially slashing the manufacturing costs of these electronic devices.

Precisely because graphene boasts unparalleled performance and advantages, many countries have prioritized its research and development as their top technological focus. Today, over 200 institutions and more than 1,000 researchers worldwide are actively engaged in graphene innovation—each striving to seize the market's early lead and vie for leadership in shaping the future!

The battle for dominance in this field has already heated up!

China's technology is now leading the world.

Today, China is steadily catching up in the three game-changing technologies—artificial intelligence, genetic science, and materials science—and is poised to leapfrog ahead, potentially taking the global lead!

Currently, the graphene industry has been incorporated into the nation's strategic planning.

　　Data shows that in 2016, China’s graphene industry market surpassed 4 billion yuan in size, and by 2018, it is expected to grow to 10 billion yuan. By 2020, the industrial-scale application of graphene is projected to achieve a breakthrough, reaching the hundred-billion-yuan level. As of March 2016, China held the world’s largest share of graphene-related patents—accounting for 56% of the global total—placing it firmly in first position, followed by South Korea, the United States, and Japan.

　　To seize the initiative and leapfrog ahead in the fourth industrial revolution, China is giving it its all—exactly what the U.S., Japan, and South Korea feared has finally arrived!

　　In today's world, whether a country is strong ultimately depends on technology.

　　Yet when I look back on the path we’ve traveled, I see a vast expanse of lush green mountains stretching endlessly. After enduring countless harsh winters, China’s science and technology have blossomed—each branch now adorned with vibrant, fragrant plum flowers. In the blink of an eye, we’ve begun to leave behind even the long-standing technological powerhouses of the West. Embracing offense as our defense, advancing as our retreat, breaking boundaries to stage a stunning comeback, and delivering precision strikes that redefine the game—these strategies will be the ultimate playbook for maintaining stability, ensuring sustainable growth, and thriving in this dynamic new era!