Graphene: the World-Changing Material​

Created By RISC | 3 years ago

Last modified date : 2 years ago

Imagine a material clearer than glass, thinner than a hair, and stronger than steel… Sound incredible? But graphene already exists. ​

Graphene’s unique properties make it an important material for the future. Read on to discover more... ​

Graphene was discovered in 2004 by two scientists, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov. They won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 for bringing graphene to the attention of the world. ​

Graphene conceals many miracles due to its structure and properties. It is composed of carbon atoms connected by covalent bonds in a hexagonal structure, like a honeycomb in a 2-dimensional plane. Graphene is the world's thinnest material, measuring 0.34 nm thick and equal to the size of a carbon atom. It is also one million times thinner than hair. Because of its thinness, it allows up to 97% of light to pass through. It is a lightweight transparent material that can be stacked to the size of a football field with less than 1 gram of graphene. ​

Another intriguing aspect is the way the carbon atoms are linked by covalent bonds. As a result, graphene is 100-300 times stronger than steel. A sheet can withstand the weight of an elephant standing on a pencil without tearing. Sheets can be stretched or bent without deformation. ​

Graphene also has a sp² electron arrangement in its 2s orbital, which allows electrons to move freely (delocalized), resulting in better electricity and heat conductivity than copper. Graphene is not a conductor or a semiconductor material, but it has a zero-energy gap (Band Gap Semiconductor), which allows electrons to move at the speed of light. Furthermore, it is used in the production of electronic devices that operate quickly and efficiently, are non-toxic to humans, and are biodegradable. ​

Graphene interests various industries around the world as a future material due to its strength, light weight, ability to conduct electricity, and small size. Stay tuned for the next article to learn how to use graphene in various applications. ​

Story by: Supunnapang Raksawong, Materials Researcher, RISC

References:
https://www.graphene-info.com/graphene-properties
https://www.acsmaterial.com/graphene-facts