Graphene Properties and History

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Questions and Answers

What is one potential benefit of using graphene oxide filters in desalination?

They can remove dissolved gases from water efficiently.

They may outperform other desalination techniques significantly. (correct)

They require less energy to operate than conventional methods.

They can filter more liquid types than traditional filters.

Which characteristic of graphene films makes them suitable for use in dye-sensitized solar cells?

Their low cost of production compared to silicon.

Their ability to be produced in large quantities.

Their extreme thickness which enhances stability.

Their high conductivity and transparency. (correct)

In what way could graphene contribute to advancements in supercapacitors?

By enhancing energy storage density with its surface area. (correct)

By decreasing charge time significantly.

By functioning as a better insulator.

By reducing the weight of the supercapacitors.

What application was found to be highly effective for graphene oxide in 2010?

Killing bacteria like Escherichia coli. Signup and view all the answers

Which application is NOT mentioned as a use for graphene?

Data storage chips. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable property of electrons flowing through graphene?

They carry no mass while traveling. Signup and view all the answers

How does graphene's thermal conductivity compare to other carbon structures?

It exceeds that of diamond. Signup and view all the answers

Which application is graphene NOT currently used for as of 2014?

Commercial fertilizer. Signup and view all the answers

Why is graphene advantageous for integrated circuits?

It allows for low noise with high carrier mobility. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of light does graphene absorb that passes through it?

2.3% Signup and view all the answers

In which area is graphene being developed for potential applications?

Photovoltaics. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of graphene enhances its suitability for optoelectronic applications?

Its high optical transparency. Signup and view all the answers

How does the ballistic thermal conductance of graphene behave in different directions?

It is isotropic, being the same in all directions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the structural arrangement of carbon atoms in graphene?

Honeycomb lattice Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the mechanical properties of graphene is true?

Graphene is harder than diamond. Signup and view all the answers

What notable award did Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov receive for their work on graphene?

Nobel Prize in Physics Signup and view all the answers

How does graphene's chemical reactivity compare to other carbon forms?

Graphene is chemically the most reactive form of carbon. Signup and view all the answers

Which technique was used to calculate the strength of graphene?

Atomic Force Microscopy Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic distinguishes graphene from other solid materials in terms of its chemical properties?

Each atom in graphene is exposed for reaction on two sides. Signup and view all the answers

What is the highest temperature at which graphene burns?

350 °C Signup and view all the answers

What type of material is graphene classified as in terms of its dimensionality?

Two-dimensional Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction

Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of graphite.
It's the fundamental building block of other allotropes like graphite, charcoal, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes.
Graphene is the strongest and thinnest material known.
Graphene is an atomic-scale honeycomb lattice composed of carbon atoms.
Graphene is a 2D crystal of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice.
Each carbon atom is sp² hybridized and bonded to three neighbors.

History

A patent for graphene production was filed in 2002, titled "Nano-scaled Graphene Plates."
In 2004, Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov at the University of Manchester extracted single-atom-thick graphene crystals from bulk graphite.
Geim and Novoselov received the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for their graphene research.

Structure

Graphene is a 2-dimensional network of carbon atoms bonded together in a honeycomb pattern.
The carbon atoms are bound tightly within a plane by strong bonds forming six-membered rings.
Stacking these layers creates the well-known 3D graphite structure.
Graphene is the basic building block for all other graphitic materials, with different dimensionalities.
It can be transformed into 0D fullerenes, 1D nanotubes, or stacked into 3D graphite.

Mechanical Properties

Scientists use Atomic Force Microscopy to calculate graphene's strength.
Graphene is harder than diamond, and 300 times harder than steel.
Graphene's tensile strength surpasses 1 TPa (teraPascal).
It can be stretched up to 20% of its original length.

Chemical Properties

Graphene is the most reactive form of carbon.
Each carbon atom is exposed on two sides due to graphene's 2D structure, increasing its reactivity.
Edge carbon atoms in graphene sheets are chemically reactive.
Graphene burns at a low temperature (e.g., 350°C).
It has a high ratio of edge carbon atoms compared to other carbon materials like carbon nanotubes.
Graphene can be modified with oxygen and nitrogen containing functional groups.

Electronic Properties

Graphene is a zero-overlap semimetal with high electrical conductivity.
Electrons pass through graphene extremely fast, nearly 1/100th the speed of light.
Graphene exhibits high charge carrier mobility, with reported values reaching 200,000 cm²/Vs.

Thermal Properties

Graphene is a perfect thermal conductor.
Its thermal conductivity is significantly higher than other carbon forms like carbon nanotubes, graphite, and diamond.
The thermal conductivity of graphene is 5,000 W/m⋅K at room temperature.
Graphite (3D form of graphene) has a lower thermal conductivity of approximately 1000 W/m⋅K.
The thermal conductance of graphene is isotropic (same in all directions).

Optical Properties

Graphene, despite its one-atom thickness, is visible to the naked eye.
Graphene absorbs a significant amount (2.3%) of light passing through it due to its electronic properties.

Applications

Graphene's mechanical and optical properties make it suitable for producing lightweight, strong composite materials.
Potential for flexible displays.
Proposed for DNA sequencing (analysis).
Use in high-speed transistors for processors.
Potential for transparent conducting electrodes in optoelectronic devices (touchscreens, liquid crystal displays, organic photovoltaics, and organic light-emitting diodes.).
Possible use in graphene-based filters for desalination & alcohol production.
Potential for use in solar cells, improving photoelectrochemical energy conversion.
Possible application in energy storage devices (supercapacitors).
Potential antimicrobial applications for hygiene products and packaging.
Wide range of other potential applications including composite materials, infrared detectors, single-molecule gas detection, piezoelectric materials, energy harvesting, liquid cells for electron microscopy, thermal management materials, optical modulators, and chemical sensors.

Biomedical

Graphene could be used to analyze DNA at an exceptionally fast pace.
The method involves sending DNA through a tiny slit in a graphene sheet.

Integrated Circuits

Graphene's high carrier mobility and low noise make it a viable candidate as a channel for field-effect transistors.
100 GHz transistors can be developed on 2-inch graphene sheets.
Graphene-based integrated circuits handle frequencies up to 10 GHz.
Transistors printed on flexible plastic using graphene operate at 25 gigahertz.
Graphene enables terahertz-speed transistors.

Other Applications

Graphene nanoribbons
Infrared detectors
Single-molecule gas detection
Piezoelectric materials
Energy Harvesting
Composite Materials
Liquid Cells for Electron Microscopy
Thermal management materials
Optical Modulators
Chemical sensors

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Description

This quiz covers the essential properties, history, and structure of graphene, the strongest and thinnest material known. Discover how this single-atom thick layer of graphite has revolutionized materials science and earned researchers a Nobel Prize. Test your knowledge on its atomic structure and significance in modern technology.