Brown University Researchers Investigate Potential for Graphene as an Insect Repellent
In an NIH funded study, Brown University’s Superfund Research Center examines how graphene-based film can protect people from mosquito bites. The results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Graphene was originally discovered in 2004. It is a tight, honeycomb lattice of carbon that is invisible to the naked eye. It is harder than diamonds, stronger than steel, and more conductive than copper. Since its discovery, graphene has been used for a variety of barrier and filtration purposes but never as an insect repellent
In the Brown study, mosquitos did not land on the dry graphene film, suggesting that the film interferes with mosquitos’ ability to sense skin and sweat. Watching videos of the mosquitos, researchers noticed that in addition to landing on the graphene less frequently than on bare skin, when mosquitos did land on the graphene they were unable to bite through the barrier. This study is the first to explore graphene-based materials as a form of insect-bite protection. This discovery is important because mosquitos pose a public health threat by carrying infectious diseases, but the current chemical methods of repellent pose threats to the environment and human health.
“These findings could lead to new protective methods against mosquitos, without the environmental or human health effects of other chemical-based repellants.”