Graphene has been in the news lately.\u00a0 Given that graphene has superior electrical mobility compared to silicon and is some 200 times stronger than steel, it is understandable that there is an interest.\u00a0 Recently, researchers at UC Riverside [1] have developed a means of creating magnetism in graphene while keeping its electrical properties.\u00a0 The key to the process was to use a laser molecular beam epitaxy to grow a mono-layer of graphene on an insulating sheet of yttrium iron garnet (YIG).\u00a0 The resulting graphene incorporated impurities of the YIG into its structure to create the magnetic effect without disrupting the electrical properties of the graphene.\u00a0 Applications yet to be determined, but a new \u201cspin\u201d on graphene.<\/p>\n
One issue with graphene is that the majority of processes require multiple steps at very high temperatures.\u00a0 Caltech researchers have developed a process where they grow electronic grade graphene using lower temperatures in a shorter time. [2] They claim that this process will produce larger size amounts of graphene (in the centime ranges) than the conventional high temperature techniques, which produce graphene in the millimeter range.\u00a0 As with a lot of scientific breakthroughs, a couple of fortunate \u201caccidents\u201d created the larger size graphene.\u00a0 Investigating the produced material resulted in a better understanding of the process and led to the ability to also create \u201ccustom\u201d graphene with \u201cdifferent\u201d properties.<\/p>\n
Researchers at Rice University have found that the symmetry of the structure on which graphene is grown has a critical impact on its resultant shape. The edges of the graphene are important to its resultant electrical properties, which affects its usefulness. [3] The atoms for a specific arrangement that is a function of the underlying structure.\u00a0 Materials that are formed on one type of grain structure will have the same shape.\u00a0 The researchers indicated that the differences can be envisioned a cutting a cube in different was.\u00a0 It is possible to end up with a square, a rectangle, or even a triangle.<\/p>\n
An issue with graphene in the current manufactured form is that there are small imperfections in the lattice.\u00a0 This condition inhibits the usage of large-scale graphene.\u00a0 However, researchers at Northwestern, the University of Minnesota, and Penn State have shown the possibility of using the imperfections in graphene as a means of improved water filters and fuel cells. [4] Their theoretical modeling shows improved flow through the lattice areas that have the missing carbon atoms.<\/p>\n
Researcher continue to explore other material and other applications.\u00a0 Researchers at the University of Minnesota are working on Black phosphorous. [5] They have shown that phosphorous that is 20 atoms thick has improvements in efficiencies over graphene.\u00a0 Depending on the number of atomic layers, the material can be tuned to different optical wavelengths.\u00a0 The potential for optical computing and optical interconnects is significant.<\/p>\n
It is important to remember that all of these developments at the atomic scale began in earnest with the discovery of the buckeyball (C60<\/sub>).\u00a0 As researchers have learned how to develop materials in the nanometer region, it should not be surprising that other applications are being developed.\u00a0 Sub-micron carbon spheres have been produced. The possibility of this material being employed as an oil additive to reduce engine friction should not come as a surprise.\u00a0 Research is opening new doors for application that were impossible only a few years ago.<\/p>\n References:<\/strong><\/p>\n [1] http:\/\/www.edn.com\/electronics-blogs\/tech-edge\/4438843\/Magnetized-graphene-could–change-the-course-of-human-civilization-?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20150311&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20150311&elq=79e323ad8ccd4929ac06288c37e7ed80&elqCampaignId=22030&elqaid=24735&elqat=1&elqTrackId=fa969d31243c4a5baa51c1ca08afc498<\/a><\/p>\n [2] http:\/\/www.rdmag.com\/news\/2015\/03\/cool-process-make-better-graphene?et_cid=4469906&et_rid=658352741&type=cta<\/a><\/p>\n [3] http:\/\/semiengineering.com\/system-bits-march-17\/<\/a>\u00a0 & http:\/\/www.rdmag.com\/news\/2015\/03\/symmetry-matters-graphene-growth?et_cid=4466707&et_rid=658352741&type=cta<\/a><\/p>\n