GRAPHENE CAN SNIFF OUT CHEMICALS IN THE AIR

AND DISEASE ENZYMES IN BLOOD.

A TECHNICIAN LOADS A CAPSULE CONTAINING A COPPER FOIL SHEET

INTO A FURNACE.

HE SCREWS A CAP ON THE END OF THE CAPSULE

AND SHUTS THE FURNACE.

HE ACTIVATES A SYSTEM

THAT USES ARGON GAS TO DRIVE OUT OXYGEN.

A REACTION OCCURS THAT DEPOSITS GRAPHENE ONTO THE FOIL.

GRAPHENE CAN'T BE SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE.

ANOTHER TECHNICIAN DEPOSITS LIQUID PLASTIC

ONTO THE TRANSPARENT GRAPHENE ON THE COPPER FOIL.

HE LOCKS THE FOIL IN A MACHINE CALLED A SPIN COATER.

IT SPINS AT 3,000 R.P.M.

THIS SPREADS THE PLASTIC

EVENLY ACROSS THE GRAPHENE FILM ON THE FOIL.

IT ALSO ACCELERATES THE PLASTIC'S CURING PROCESS.

HE THEN SEPARATES THE PLASTIC-COATED GRAPHENE

FROM THE COPPER FOIL.

USING THE TWEEZERS, HE PICKS UP A SMALL PIECE

OF THE PLASTIC, GRAPHENE, AND COPPER SANDWICH

AND PLUNGES IT IN THE WATER.

THE TWEEZERS APPLY AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE THROUGH THE COPPER,

CAUSING BUBBLES TO FORM IN THE WATER.

THESE BUBBLES LIFT THE GRAPHENE

AND PLASTIC FILM AWAY FROM THE COPPER.

THE GRAPHENE NOW CLINGS ONLY TO THE PLASTIC BACKING.

HE SCOOPS THE PLASTIC-BACKED GRAPHENE SQUARE

OUT OF THE WATER USING A LARGE PIECE OF PLASTIC.

TO REMOVE CONTAMINANTS,

HE IMMERSES THE SQUARE IN THE SERIES OF SOLUTIONS.

IN THE LAST SOLUTION,

HE SLIDES THE SQUARE OFF THE CARRIER.

AND THE SQUARE FLOATS FREELY.

HE PICKS UP THE SILICON CHIP WITH TWEEZERS

AND USES IT TO RETRIEVE THE FLOATING GRAPHENE

AND PLASTIC SQUARE.

HE SUSPENDS THEM ABOVE GOLD PELLETS

IN A MACHINE KNOWN AS THE EVAPORATOR.

A VACUUM PULLS THE GOLD TOWARD THE STENCILS

AS IT EVAPORATES.

THE GOLD AND EXPOSED GRAPHENE

ADHERE TO ONE ANOTHER AS THEY COOL AND SOLIDIFY.

HE TRANSFERS THE CHIP TO A PLASMA ETCHER.

HE ACTIVATES THE CHIP,

AND PLASMA GAS FLOODS THE CHAMBER.

THE GAS STRIPS OFF ANY GRAPHENE THAT'S NOT PROTECTED BY GOLD.

ONLY THE GOLD CONTACTS

AND GOLD-COVERED GRAPHENE RUNNERS REMAIN ON THE CHIP.

SOLVENT DISSOLVES THE PLASTIC BACKING

ON THE GRAPHENE RUNNERS,

TAKING THE PROTECTIVE GOLD WITH IT, LEAVING ONLY GRAPHENE.