Professor Lee Young-hee’s team of Sungkyunkwan University found an easy way to observe the surface of a graphene particle and size distribution. The team attached graphene on a copper board and permeated oxygen or moisture into the defective part to oxidize. In this way, the problem of detecting the faulty part while doing mass synthesis got solved. This research was estimated as a groundbreaking study for graphene researchers worldwide and was published in the journal Nature.
Why is graphene such an issue? Graphene is a layer of carbon atoms. The term is the combination of graphite and the suffix ‘-ene’ which means a molecule that has a double bond of carbon. Graphene seems to be the new material which will replace silicon for its great advantages.
First of all, its conductivity is more than a hundred times better than copper. Surprisingly, it is even two times higher than the conductivity of a diamond which has been known to have the highest conductivity. Also, electrons can move through it a 100 times faster than through silicon. Its solidity is 200 times stronger than steel and also its modulus of elasticity is 120 times that of steel.
For all these characteristics, graphene is called the “nano substance of dreams.” It is expected to be used to make flexible display devices or e-paper and also wearable computers. In short, graphene is receiving attention as a fresh new material of the electronic intelligence industry.
By means of the research, common researchers are now able to study the features of graphene without expensive equipments. Also, because it is now easy to monitor the nature of graphene, productive industries are expected to have a huge financial advantage in synthesizing a mass of graphene.
As we have now moved another step towards the commercialization of graphene, the world embodied in the many science fiction films will soon be the reality.
