Graphene: a unique 2D material in simple words

Graphene as a multi-functional material with excellent optical, electronic, photonic and mechanical properties is one of the materials which drawn the most attention of scientist globally within the last decade. To name some, the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 was given to two pioneering scientists who explore the extraordinary properties of Graphene and one of the two giant European founded projects of the century (Graphene flagship) is devoted to this material.

Graphene is indeed a crystalline allotrope of carbon (the fourth most abundant element on the earth by mass) in which the carbon element are arranged in a hexagonal plane. Special arrangements of atoms in these two-dimensional materials provide some unique properties which have not been seen in other materials. For instance, electron transport through graphene is extremely high. Although a monolayer of graphene is few angstroms thick it can absorb up to 3% of the light.

Its high electrical conductivity and optical transparency make it an outstanding alternative candidate for the next generation of transparent conductors. It is worth noting that not only the optoelectronic properties of graphene is unprecedented, but its bendability and mechanical stability also show great promise for future flexible electronics and transistors.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages and properties, the materials and production cost of graphene is very low. Indeed, one can simply fabricate a monolayer of graphene by the “scotch tape method” of a pencil at home! To do so, you need to write with a pencil on tape and then, fold and peel the tape several times. What would be left at the very end over the tape is graphene!

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