A team from the University of Calgary and Rice University has used flash joule heating (FJH) ( earlier post ) to convert low-value asphaltenes—a by-product of crude oil refining—into a high-value carbon allotrope, asphaltene-derived flash graphene (AFG). Flash graphene from asphaltenes. (A) Schematic conceptualization of sustainable valorization of asphaltene. (B) Photograph of ground asphaltene powder, the FJH jig during a flash treatment event, AFG, and a TEM image of the AFG ...