What is graphene?

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms which, owing to the specificity of inter-atomic bonds, demonstrates unique properties.
Graphene materials are found in two main forms: large-size graphene and flake graphene. Depending on the target application, it is necessary to choose proper graphene parameters.

Czym jest grafen

Flake graphene

  • Production method

A chemical or mechanical synthesis from a graphite precursor consisting in the disintegration of a graphite structure into single graphene flakes.

 

  • Graphene form

Flake graphene has a form of a dry powder, different types of dispersions and pastes.
It is possible to prepare the product directly according to the customer’s needs, which involves nonstandard dispersions (e.g. in other solvents) and chemical functionalisation (controlled change of graphene properties).

Standard products:
- Powdered graphene,
- Graphene dispersions in various concentrations.

 

  • Parameters

- Flake size,
- Oxidation degree (GO, rGO),
- Proper area,
- Concentration.

 

Large-size graphene

  • Production method

The growth of a single graphene layer on the metallic base in the following process:
- Metallurgical (HSMG® graphene),
- Chemical deposition from the gas phase (CVD graphene).

 

  • Graphene form

Graphene layer applied to any surfaces. Standard bases:
- PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate),
- Quartz glass,
- Si/SiO2. silicon wafers.

 

  • Parameters

- Surface size and continuity,
- Grain size and crystallisation method,
- Surface resistivity,
- Number of graphene layers.

 

Czym jest grafen

Graphene properties

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms which, owing to the specificity of inter-atomic bonds, demonstrates unique properties.
Graphene materials are found in two main forms: large-size graphene and flake graphene. Depending on the target application, it is necessary to choose proper graphene parameters.

Minimal thickness

Graphene structure is classified as the 2D crystalline allotrope variation of carbon. Due to the thickness of one atom - the theoretical thickness of the layer is 0.335 nm.

Minimal mass

A single carbon layer has extremely low mass – only 0.77 mg/m22

Optical properties

A single graphene layer absorbs approximately 2.3% of white light.

High electric conductivity

Graphene is a semiconductor with a zero forbidden gap. The theoretical limit of electrons mobility in graphene is 200,000 cm2-1.s-1. The ballistic transport of carriers (without dispersions) is possible for sub-micrometric distances.

Exceptional mechanical resistance

Owing to the strength of carbon-carbon bonds, graphene stands out for its exceptional resistance to stretching 130 GPa (for reference purposes, the same parameter for a steel layer is 0.376 GPa). Furthermore, a graphene layer is characteristic for certain elasticity, preserving its original shape after tensioning.

Thermal conductivity

A graphene layer demonstrates anisotropic thermal conductivity. Heat transfer is more than 100-times higher for a direction along the graphene layer than perpendicularly to the layer.

Commercial use of graphene

 

Graphene may be used both for improving the properties of the already existing products and it may be used for creating new, innovative technologies. The applications are created in the following industry branches:

Construction, sensors, touch screens, electronics, composites, space industry, filtration membranes, energy storage, sports equipment... and many, many other!

 

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