Graphene

A modern material with unique physical

and electrical properties that could
reshape our future.

Divyam Paliwal
15152011
BTech(ECE)
8th Semester
Outline:
• Introduction to graphene.
• History.
• Physical properties.
• Electrical properties.
• Other properties.
• How graphene is created.
• Graphene’s current uses.
▫ Batteries
▫ Capacitors
▫ Transistors
• Graphene’s future.
• Challenges surrounding graphene.
• Summary/Conclusion
• Key concepts.
• References.
Introduction to Graphene

• The first 2-dimensional material ever

discovered.
• One-atom thick of carbon atoms arranged in a
hexagonal lattice.
• Found in graphite, coal, and created in other
fashions.
• Hard to manufacture in large quantities, just
about all graphene produced is used for R&D
within companies and universities.
• The strongest, lightest, and most conductive
material known to man.
Graphene’s short history:
• Discovered by Andre Geim and Konstantin
Novoselov in 2004, however this is apparently
debatable.
• First conceived in 1946. But they didn’t believe it
could be created at room temperature.
• Graphene as we know it was theoretically
mentioned as recent as 1984 to describe the
layers of graphite.
• The term “Graphene” was used mainly In
working with Carbon Nano-tubes.
Amazing Physical Properties:
• The strongest material
ever measured. Up to
150X stronger than the
equivalent weight of steel.
• Pliable as rubber and has
the ability to stretch up to
120% of its length then
recover its original shape.
• Extremely light weight, its
said that a single sheet of
Graphene covering a
whole football field would
weigh less than 1g.
Electrical Properties
• Graphene is classified as a zero-overlap semi-
metal, which means that either holes or
electrons are charge carriers.
• Very high electrical conductivity when exposed
to an electric field.
• In a vacuum, it had a mobility that was up to
250X that of Si. Out conducts copper by a
thousand times.
• Effective mass at the Dirac point is zero for both
electrons and holes.
Other Properties:
• Only known substance that is completely
impermeable to gas.
• Graphene oxide reportedly has the ability to
attract radioactive material.
• Safer creation of “Quantum Dots”. Reduces the
price from $1million a kg to $100 a ton.
• Also has some optical properties that are being
tested as we speak.
• Graphene has the ability to transmit up to 98%
of light.
How graphene is created:
Mechanical Exfoliation
• Typically involves scotch
tape.
• Stick the tape to a
graphite block.
• Use another piece of tape
and stick the two sticky
sides together. Repeat
this process 20-100x
• Press the piece of tape
with the graphene on a
substrate.
Chemical exfoliation
• The block graphite is
submerged into a solvent.
• An ultrasound is used to
cause a splitting effect
within the graphite
structure.
• Prolonged exposure
causes little platelets to be
formed.
• Enriched by a centrifuge.
CE via graphene oxide
• Uses the same process
as chemical
exfoliation but
graphene is oxidized.
• After the CE process,
it is then deposited on
substrate and reduced
to parent graphene in
some fashion.
Chemical Vapour Deposition
• The most common practice in
creating graphene today.
• Typically a copper substrate is
exposed to a low pressure,
1000˚C annealing process.
• Methane and Hydrogen gas
flows through the furnace.
• Carbon atoms from Methane
deposite on the copper,
creating a continuous
graphene sheet.
Silicon Carbide
• A small amount of silicon
carbide is placed in a box
with a hole in it.
• The box is sealed in a
vacuum or argon gas and
heated to 1500˚C.
• Si molecules evaporate
from the surface leaving a
layer of graphene.
Graphene’s current uses:

• In early 2014 I.B.M announced that it had built

the first integrated circuit for wireless devices.
• Today a tennis racquet with a graphene layer has
been manufactured.
• Graphene is an ingredient to conductive inks for
printing circuitry.
• Samsung is reportedly releasing a screen that
employs Graphene to deliver current to the
display.
Optical Electronics
• Believed to mainly be
used in touchscreens,
OLED, and LCD.
• Graphene matches
Indium-Tin Oxide
performance in its
basic state.
Energy storage
• Graphene is being
experimented in both
supercapacitor and
battery construction.
Energy storage cont.
• Graphene based
supercapacitors have
potential to replace small
batteries.
• Uses the chemical
exfoliation discussed
earlier.
• Was able to light LED’s
with a two minute charge
for around twelve hours.
Graphene & Transistors
• Clocked at 427 Ghz.
• Create a false band
gap by employing
“Negative” resistance.
• Another type of FET
uses dual gate
construction.
Graphene’s future
• Biomedical
Engineering
• Optical Electronics
• Ultra-Filtration
• Composite Materials
• Photo-Voltaic cells
• Energy Storage
• Radioactive Clean-up
Challenges Surrounding Graphene

• Graphene has no bandwidth, which means it

cannot be shut off.
• A very hydrophobic material
• Very expensive and hard to manufacture for
most companies.
• When deployed it seemed that the results
weren’t duplicated.
• Graphene is hard to produce in large usable
sheets. Small flakes are what we use to test
usually.
Conclusion
• Graphene has many obstacles to work around
before it can be implemented into today’s
technology.
• Researchers are suggesting that it’s a matter of
months rather than years for the next graphene
break through.
• Graphene has so many amazing properties, so
expect it to impact many types of technologies.
Key Concepts
• The first 2-D material ever discovered, only
measuring 1-atom thick.
• Lightest material ever discovered.
• Strongest material ever discovered per unit
weight.
• Best electrical/thermal conductivity discovered
at room temperature.
• Currently does not possess a band-gap like a Si
gate does.
Thank You
(Grazie Ragrazie)