Overview
- The ACS Nano paper reports graphene patches forming on bamboo-based carbon filaments after 20-second, 110-volt DC pulses in artisan bulbs modeled on 1879 designs.
- Microscopy revealed a gray-to-silver color change, and Raman spectroscopy confirmed turbostratic graphene on portions of the filament.
- The graphene would quickly turn into graphite with continued heating, which the authors say makes it unlikely Edison noticed or preserved it during lengthy tests.
- Lead author Lucas Eddy conducted the experiments in James Tour’s Rice University lab while exploring low-cost flash Joule heating methods.
- The team says the approach offers an accessible way to study graphene growth and defects, while the idea that Edison produced it remains a cautious interpretation of historical conditions.