What is Graphene?

Aug. 3, 2024

Recent research unveiled the presence of naturally occurring few-layer graphene flakes in moon soil.

About Graphene:

  • It is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. 
  • It is the building block of Graphite (which is used, among other things, in pencil tips). 1mm of graphite contains some 3 million layers of graphene. 
  • It was first isolated in 2004. Since then, it has found hundreds of innovative applications, from sensors and electronics to energy storage and healthcare.
  • Properties:
  • It is the thinnest material known to man at one atom thick. It is one million times thinner than human hair.
  • It is also incredibly strong, about 200 times stronger than steel. 
  • It has an extremely high surface area-to-mass ratio.  Each gram of graphene has a surface area greater than 2,600 square meters.
  • It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It conducts electricity better than copper.
  • It is almost perfectly transparent since it only absorbs 2% of light. 
  • It is impermeable to gases, even those as light as hydrogen or helium.
  • It is also very flexible, which makes it suitable for applications in wearable devices and foldable electronics.