Graphene breakthrough gives scientists hope for energy revolution

A device that uses the atmosphere to generate clean electricity could one day be a reality after British scientists discovered a critical weak spot in the toughest membrane on the planet.

In a discovery that could revolutionise fuel cell technology, the researchers found that graphene - the world's thinnest, strongest and most impermeable material - can allow protons to pass through it.

The researchers, led by Nobel prize winner and graphene discoverer Andre Geim of Manchester University, said the finding also raised the possibility that, in future, graphene membranes could be used to "sieve" hydrogen gas from the atmosphere to generate electricity.

"We are very excited about this result because it opens a whole new area of promising applications for graphene in clean energy harvesting and hydrogen-based technologies," co-researcher Marcelo Lozada-Hidalgo said.

Graphene, just one atom thick and 200 times stronger than steel, was first isolated in 2004 by Geim and fellow researchers, who were awarded a Nobel Prize in 2010 for their work.

It is renowned for being impermeable to all gases and liquids - giving it the potential for a range of uses like corrosion-proof coatings, impermeable packaging and even super-thin condoms.