Adding a small amount of solid carbon to copper can boost its ability to conduct electricity. The key is to mix in just the right proportion with copper to make electrical wires. Engineers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) believe their new process could lead to more efficient motors and wiring harnesses in electric vehicles, among other applications.
Graphene can enhance an important property of metals called the temperature coefficient of resistance. This property explains why metal wires get hot when electric current runs through them. The PNNL engineers want to reduce this resistance while enhancing metal’s ability to conduct electricity.