How safe is graphene?

Graphene is considered one of the most interesting and versatile materials of our time. The application possibilities inspire both research and industry. But are products containing graphene also safe for humans and the environment? A comprehensive review, developed as part of the European graphene flagship project with the participation of Empa researchers, investigated this question. Graphene, a single layer of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms, is regarded as the miracle material of the future: it is flexible, transparent, strong, can assume different electrical properties and has the highest thermal conductivity of all known materials. This makes it extremely interesting for countless possible applications. Europe has recognized this as well: The large-scale research programme "Graphene Flagship" has been running for five years and is dedicated to this material. It is the largest research initiative that Europe has launched to date - this shows the enormous importance of graphene. But despite all the euphoria: As with any new technology, the potential downsides have to be taken into account early on. In the past, these were often investigated too late. For example, asbestos, once appreciated for its fire retardant properties, was used in the early 20th century to manufacture numerous products - but health hazards were only gradually discovered. In 1970, asbestos fibres were officially classified as carcinogenic. An important part of the graphene flagship is therefore dedicated to the question: Are graphene-based materials safe for humans and the environment?