Graphene light bulbs are not a thing of the future anymore since scientists have already started working with the fullerene after learning that it is capable of emitting light at the atomic level.

Of course the mass production of graphene light bulb has yet to materialize, but as early as now scientists are already seeing many opportunities for graphene once it comes out in the market.

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According to National Geographic, scientists are already preparing to release graphene-coated LED in the later part of this year. The biggest selling point of this technology is its longevity and minimal energy consumption.

Compared to typical LED that is currently out in the market, the graphene-coated ones can last longer while at the same time utilize less energy, as per a University of Manchester research. 

Research scientist Young Duck Kim said they used graphene because this fullerene of carbon atoms has the capacity to emit light while increasing heat.

Thus far, what the scientists have created is a graphene light bulb, which is believed to be the stepping stone toward the production of graphene LED. 

In Kim's study, published on the journal Nature Nanotechnology, they created a light source out of graphene by attaching small strips of the fullerene to metal electrodes and suspending the strips atop the substrate. 

When they passed a current into the filaments, the setup lit up. Study co-author Hone, Wang Fon-Jen Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia Engineering, said that what they have basically created is the world's "thinnest light bulb!"

Scientists noticed that graphene can reach temperatures beyond the 2500 degrees Celsius mark. With this, graphene can release visible light despite being atomically thin, Phys.org reports.

Given the interesting discovery and invention, it won't be long until scientists can find more ways to use graphene in the light-manufacturing industry.

"We are just starting to dream about other uses for these structures, for example as micro-hotplates that can be heated to thousands of degrees in a fraction of second to study high-temperature chemical reactions or catalysis," said Professor Hone. 

According to the Independent, graphene is a fullerene that's composed of carbon atoms in a lattice formation. It was discovered by two Russian scientists working at the University of Manchester.

TagsLight Bulb, Graphene, Light, Invention, nanotechnology, Science