Graphene and its potential applications

1. The 2-D material That Can Change
Everything
Presented By: Zaahir Salam
M.TECH NST .

2.  The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2010 was awarded to
Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at the
University of Manchester.
Andre Geim Konstantin Novoselov

3. INTRODUCTION
Graphene can be synthesized from Graphite to
create the thinnest, strongest and most conductive
material know today.
Graphite flakes are actually made of many layers
of graphene stacked on top of each other with
weak bonds holding them together.

4.  2-dimensional  Electrons in p-orbitals
hexagonal lattice of above and below plane.
carbon  p-orbitals become
conjugated across the
plane.
 Electrons free to move
across plane in
delocalized orbitals.
 sp2 hybridized carbon
atoms  Extremely high tensile
strength.
 Among strongest
bonds in nature
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromaticity

5. Mother of all graphitic forms
0D buckyballs 1D nanotubes 3D graphite.
A. K. Geim & K. S. Novoselov. The rise of graphene. Nature Materials Vol 6 183-191 (March 2007)

6. Graphene Visualized Under Various Available Microscopes
AFM Image TEM Image SEM Image
A. K. Geim & K. S. Novoselov. The rise of graphene. Nature Materials Vol 6 183-191 (March 2007)

7. Graphene production
 Graphene sheets in solid form (e.g.
density > 1g/cc) is presently one of
the most expensive materials on
Earth.
 Researchers obtained relatively
large graphene sheets (eventually,
up to 100 micrometers in size and
visible through a magnifying glass)
by mechanical exfoliation (repeated
peeling) of 3D graphite crystals.
 Another method is to heat silicon
carbide to high temperatures
(1100°C) to reduce it to graphene.

8.  Graphene can be isolated in 1 atom thick sheets of
carbon atoms arranged in honey comb Structure.
 Length Of a Hexagon side is 0.142 nanometers.
 3 million sheets of graphene stacked on one
another are 1 millimeter thick..

9. Graphene Unique properties
 STRENGTH:
 It is 200 X more STRONGER than Structural Steel.
 Its Young's modulus is 0.5 TPa
 CONDUCTIVE:
 The resistivity of the graphene sheet is 10−6 Ω·cm, less than the
resistivity of silver, the lowest resistivity substance known at room
temperature.
 It can Conduct 1000 X density of current in copper.
 Conducts 10 X heat better than Copper.

10.  FLEXIBLE:
 Can Flex 20% without damage.
 2-D IN STRUCTURE:
 Each layer is 1 atom thick which gives unique electrical
and computing properties.
 TRANSPARENT:
 Its 97.3 % Transparent.

11. Potential Applications:
 Graphene is being currently being tested by
researchers and the following applications are
considered:
 COMPUTING:
 Graphene may be able to replace semiconductor in
computer chips and electronics.
 No need of cooling fans as it functions at room
temperature.

12.  MIT has developed at 1000+ GHZ graphene
microchip that is 300 times faster than
commercially available chips today.
 This all could mean smaller and more
powerful chips.
 CHALLENGE :
 The Graphene transistors cannot be switched
on to off. This is a challenge researchers are
currently taking ON.

13. Materials:
 Graphene can be added in small
amounts to metal and plastics to make
stronger and lighter composite
materials.
 Vehicles and airplanes could be lighter
and stronger, increasing fuel efficiency
and safety.
 By seeding plastics with just 1%
Graphene they can become conductive
while remaining transparent.

14. Energy + Optics
 Graphene Could replace indium to
make better solar cells which are
flexible, cheaper and suited for mass
production.
 Graphene could make better
touchscreens, LCD’s and LED’s.
 Graphene may revolutionize data
transfer it can make smaller optical
modulators that transfer data at
speeds upto 10X faster than current
technology.

15. References
 Graphene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapheneaccessed
on March, 29 2009
 Graphene Confirmed the World’s Stronged Known Material
http://gizmodo.com/5026404/graphene-confirmed-as-the-
worlds-strongest-known-material accessed on March, 29
2009
 Nanotechnology Reserchers go Ballistic Over Graphene
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=2340.php accessed on
March 29, 2009
 TR10: Graphene Transistors
http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?ch=specialse
ctions&sc=emerging08&id=20242 accessed on March 29, 2009
 Graphene: Charged Up http://www.natureasia.com/asia-
materials/highlight.php?id=77 accessed on March 29, 2009

16. THANK YOU