A breakthrough in sustainable heating is emerging from Italy. Researchers at BeDimensional, a spin-off of the Graphene Labs at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), have developed a graphene-based paint that transforms interior surfaces into heating elements. This inventive solution offers a sleek, minimalist alternative to bulky radiators.

The key lies in graphene’s remarkable properties. As a one-atom-thick layer of carbon, graphene is extraordinarily strong, flexible, transparent, and highly conductive - both electrically and thermally. By integrating graphene into a paint formulation, the team has created a thin film that, when painted onto walls or ceilings and connected to copper electrodes, heats up via the Joule effect.