Andrei Heim, one of the founders of graphene and a professor at the University of Manchester in the UK, recently told the public at the 2016 China International Graphene Innovation Conference that he still spent 90% of his time after winning the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics. The laboratory conducts basic research. The innovative thinking expressed in his speech is refreshing and open-minded.

Open a new world of 2D materials

For a long time, people don't know much about the crystals of two-dimensional structure. The two-dimensional crystal exists in a planar form as if the three-dimensional crystal is thinned to an atomic layer thickness. Traditional theory holds that quasi-two-dimensional crystal structures cannot be found in nature because of their thermodynamic instability. Until 2004, Andrei Heim and his colleague Konstantin Novoselov successfully separated the single-layer graphite sheet, graphene, from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. It is proved that the two-dimensional material can be used at room temperature. Stable under normal pressure.

It can be said that the discovery of graphene opens the door to the world of two-dimensional materials. Heim pointed out: "Graphite is not a unique two-dimensional material, and there are many two-dimensional materials with special properties that may perform better in some applications. In addition to graphene, there are many materials similar to graphene. ."

For example, phosphoenene is a monolithic material composed of ordered phosphorus atoms that are stripped from black phosphorus. Some of its features can be applied to multiple areas. Moreover, the nonlinear optical properties of black phosphorus have been proven by many organizations to produce ultrafast lasers. It is expected to become the "second graphene" in the near future.

Silylene is a material that has only a single layer of atomic thickness and can grow on the surface of silver. It has some material properties similar to graphene, but at the same time there are some more excellent features, including a lower symmetry group and stronger. Spin-orbit coupling. Researchers are exploring that it may be better suited to integrate with silicon-based electronics and become a competitor to graphene.

Lego stitching on the atomic layer

For graphene, researchers can do a variety of stitching on their atomic layers, as if children are playing tall blocks. For example, graphene is stacked one on another in a stacking manner to form three-dimensional graphite; graphene is curled into a cylindrical shape to become a one-dimensional carbon nanotube; graphene is made into a spherical or ellipsoidal shape to obtain a zero-dimensional rich Leyne. Thus, graphene can be used as a structural basis for forming other carbon materials.

Heim pointed out: "The artificial integration of graphene with other materials takes a few weeks to design a complex structure of atoms, which will make graphene more 'magic' and on the basis of these different characteristics of these substances. In-depth research. This type of research can be called graphene 3.0."

For example, the study of preparing nanocomposite materials based on graphene expands the application of graphene. At present, there are three main methods for the composite of graphene: one is to perform surface modification or element doping to form a stable dispersion system in different solvents; the other is to load inorganic nanoparticles such as metal or metal oxide. Composite materials will be widely used in catalysis, biosensing, batteries, supercapacitors, etc.; graphene and high polymer composites can exhibit superior performance in mechanical properties, photovoltaic cells, supercapacitors and other aspects.

Of course, the research on graphene composites still faces many problems and challenges, such as the interaction mechanism between graphene and inorganic nanoparticles, the compatibility with high polymers, the expansion and deepening of composite applications, etc. the study.

Amazing discovery in discards

In the preparation of graphene, people tend to focus on graphene, and the Heim team has not let go of the materials that are usually discarded after peeling off single-layer graphene.

Heim said: "Amplifying the remaining graphite block crystal is a two-dimensional vacuum zone with many structural shapes like ultra-fine capillaries, about 15 nanometers. When we tested the water transport, we were surprised to find that the water flow With this ultra-narrow capillary, it is almost unobstructed and free of friction, reaching a flow rate of 1 m/s, and the tube wall is very smooth and the water has a long sliding distance."

The Heim team explained that this is a new nanoscale system whose capillary channel precision is unimaginable. What's more, these ultra-microcapillary tubes can be used to prepare a variety of materials, not only to control the capillary size, but also to modify the performance of the capillary wall. These materials are expected to be used in new filtration, desalination and gas separation technologies in the future.

Heim added: "Many scientific discoveries in graphene basic research are surprising, and it is very cool to make newly discovered materials useful, and there are countless possibilities for research and development to be explored. Research has deeply affected us."

Undoubtedly, the discovery of graphene provides researchers with a research object full of charm and imagination space, and following the "father of graphene" to learn how to do basic research, it can be said to constantly refresh the field of innovation. I believe that in the near future, “all-rounder” graphene will bring about disruptive changes in many fields.

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