Physical principles
Graphene's appeal is based on several fundamental physical principles that give this material its exceptional and promising properties for a wide range of applications, including:
Carbon sheet structure:
Graphene is a crystalline structure composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a regular hexagonal structure. It is this two-dimensional structure that gives graphene its unique properties.
Electronic conductivity:
Electrons in graphene move at a relatively high speed, giving the material exceptional electronic conductivity. This property is crucial for electronic and energy storage applications.
Overlapping conduction and valence bands :
Unlike many semiconductors, graphene has an overlapping conduction band and valence band. This means there is no energy "gap" between the two, contributing to its high conductivity.
Quantum electronics:
Due to its two-dimensional structure, graphene can exhibit quantum properties, such as the anomalous quantum Hall effect, making it a promising material for quantum and spintronics (future of information technology) applications.
Mechanical strength:
Despite its thinness, graphene is incredibly strong and elastic due to its hexagonal sheet structure and robust carbon-carbon bonds. This gives it exceptional mechanical strength.
Transparency and optical conductivity:
Graphene is transparent to visible light, making it an excellent candidate for applications in touch screens, optical sensors and solar cells.
Heat dissipation:
Graphene has high thermal conductivity, enabling it to be highly efficient at dissipating heat, which is crucial for electronics and cooling applications.
Molecule adsorption:
Graphene can adsorb molecules onto its surface, ideal for gas detection, sensor and water purification applications.
Flexibility:
Graphene is extremely flexible yet tough, making it ideal for flexible electronics applications and lightweight composite materials.
