Carbon is a unique element in Mendeleev’s periodic table. It is a component of countless inorganic compounds as well as the main component of organic compounds. Carbon itself can form various allotropic forms: diamond, graphite, fullerene, nanotubes, etc. Its uniqueness is also determined by the fact that all allotropic forms have different properties. Most interesting is graphite, or more precisely its component – a graphene layer one atom thick.
Graphene combines a number of properties, attracting thousands of scientists around the world for research in various fields (physics, chemistry, biology). No material on Earth, except for graphene, can boast a simultaneous combination of high electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, strength, flexibility, elasticity, chemical resistance, and high optical absorption coefficient. However, it should always be remembered that the listed properties are inherent to ideal single-layer graphene. When graphene is attributed as an outstanding benchmark and “the very best,” it means that there is no material in the world with the same thickness (i.e., one atom or 3.35 angstroms) with comparable properties. This applies to other properties of this material as well. When conducting certain experiments confirming the uniqueness of the properties, it is worth considering the “uniqueness” of graphene and adjusting for size and scale.
Ideal graphene combines unique properties:
– the thinnest material in the world – one atom thick;
– the strongest material in the world – elasticity modulus over 1 TPa;
– has high electrical conductivity – charge mobility exceeds 1,000,000 cm2/V∙s;
– has high thermal conductivity of up to 5000 W/m∙K;
– optically transparent in a wide range from UV to far-IR;
– flexible and elastic;
– chemically inert.
You can read more about obtaining graphene here:
https://www.interelectronix.com/de/arten-und-herstellungsverfahren-von-graphene.html
Applications of graphene:
– Solar energy,
– Water treatment, water filtration, seawater desalination,
– Electronics (LCD monitors, LEDs, transistors, microcircuits, touch panels, smart windows or phones, etc.), in batteries and power sources. Graphene battery enables a car to cover 1000 km without recharging, with a charging time of no more than 16 seconds.
– Medicine,
– Creating super composites,
– Construction (adding graphene to concrete for the purpose of producing nanoconcrete. Adding graphene to concrete enhances compressive, tensile, and flexural strength),
– Cleaning water from radioactive contamination. Graphene oxide quickly removes radioactive substances from contaminated water. Graphene oxide flakes rapidly bind to natural and artificial radioisotopes, condensing them into solids. The flakes themselves are soluble in liquids and easy to produce commercially.
You can read more about graphene at the following links:
https://graphene-flagship.eu/
https://www.weltderphysik.de/gebiet/materie/graphen/ueberblick-graphen/