ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Research

Graphene in clothes can stop mosquitoes, study finds

Another remarkable application for graphene.

Fermin KoopbyFermin Koop
August 28, 2019
in Materials, Research
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Scientists devise new, cheaper way to manufacture graphene
Flash memory chip built from atom-thick components
Graphene elastomer is more sensitive than human skin
Graphene transistors made using DNA assembly

Highly flexible and used to build solar cells, graphene is often praised for its mechanical and electrical properties. A team of researchers has now discovered that graphene is also a powerful mosquito repellent, opening the door to anti-mosquito graphene-lined clothing.

Credit: Flickr

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that graphene blocked the chemical signals that draw mosquitoes to other living beings in the first place. It’s not only an effective barrier but also changes the mosquitoes’ behavior.

“With the graphene, the mosquitoes weren’t even landing on the skin patch — they just didn’t seem to care,” said Cintia Castillho, who is the study’s lead author. “We had assumed that graphene would be a physical barrier to biting, through puncture resistance, but when we saw these experiments, we started to think that it was also a chemical barrier.”

Graphene is a 2D material made from a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice. It’s lightweight but 100 times stronger than steel and has been used in everything from wearable blood sugar monitoring patches, bike tires with adaptable grip, and even mind-bending optical illusions.

When coating a thin piece of fabric with the two-dimensional hexagonal lattice, researchers found that mosquitoes couldn’t generate enough force for their proboscis — the needle-like mouthparts that penetrate the skin — to get through. Oddly enough, researchers also observed that graphene blocks the chemical signals that attract mosquitoes in the first place.

The material used in this study was an effective mosquito deterrent only when it was perfectly dry. When it got wet, its force field properties were significantly diminished. To get around this, the researchers found that another form of graphene oxide with a reduced oxygen content was effective against mosquitoes when wet or dry.

Nevertheless, changing the ingredients also meant the material was no longer breathable. So, the next step for the research team is to find a way to stabilize the regular graphene oxide protective layer so that it’s resilient against all conditions—wet or dry—while actually being comfortable to wear.

“Our preferred embodiment of this technology would be to find a way to stabilize GO mechanically so that remains strong when wet. This next step would give us the full benefits of breathability and bite protection,” said Robert Hurt, a professor in Brown’s School of Engineering and senior author of the paper.

Tags: graphenemosquitoes

ShareTweetShare
Fermin Koop

Fermin Koop

Fermin Koop is a reporter from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He holds an MSc from Reading University (UK) on Environment and Development and is specialized in environment and climate change news.

Related Posts

Chemistry

Scientists make diamonds from scratch in only 15 minutes

byTibi Puiu
12 months ago
The graphene tattoo patch that can treat cardiac arrhythmia.
Biology

This graphene tattoo shows promise as a treatment for cardiac arrhythmia

byRupendra Brahambhatt
2 years ago
Animals

Scientists create fake skin which means people don’t need to get bitten in mosquito studies

byFermin Koop
2 years ago
Anatomy News

Researchers develop scaffold implant that mimics the spinal cord

byRupendra Brahambhatt
3 years ago

Recent news

This Startup Is Using Ancient DNA to Recreate Perfumes from Extinct Flowers

May 21, 2025

Jupiter Was Twice Its Size and Had a Magnetic Field 50 Times Stronger After the Solar System Formed

May 21, 2025

How One Man and a Legendary Canoe Rescued the Dying Art of Polynesian Navigation

May 21, 2025 - Updated on May 22, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.