TUHH-scientist Mecklenburg: "The faster we get the zinc out, the more porous the tube's walls get and the lighter is the material. There is considerable scope." Schuchard adds: "The great thing is that we are able to affect the characteristics of the Aerographite; the template form and the separation process are constantly being adjusted in Kiel and Hamburg."

Due to its unique material characteristics, possible areas of application for Aerographite are electrodes of Li-ion batteries.

Matthias Mecklenburg, Arnim Schuchardt, Yogendra Kumar Mishra, Sören Kaps, Rainer Adelung, Andriy Lotnyk, Lorenz Kienle, Karl Schulte: Aerographite: Ultra Lightweight, Flexible Nanowall, Carbon Microtube Material with Outstanding Mechanical Performance, In: Advanced Materials, Volume 24, Issue 26, July 10, 2012, Pages 3486-3490, DOI:10.1002/adma.201200491: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201200491

Cover, all images,©Stefanie Maack,©CAU / KU / TUHH

The reactor is heated up to more than 760° C (1,400° F). Gaseous zinc and steam leak out. At the image: in the dark areas there is still zinc oxide recognisable. What remains is a graphite shell (light areas). © KU

Image: An Aerographite in the making. It offers enormous potentials – e.g. for the production of batteries. © TUHH