Graphene: an introduction

Abstract

Graphene is a 2D wonder material that has opened up a new avenue of research into 2D material since its discovery in 2004 by Sir A K Geim and Sir K S Novoselov. It is a 2D sheet of sp2 hybridized carbon arranged in a hexagonal lattice, which makes it the strongest material on Earth with many peculiar optical, electrical and electronic properties. This chapter discusses the structure and properties of graphene and its characterization. The chapter begins by exploring the atomic and electronic structure of graphene, followed by its optical, mechanical and electronic properties, such as the quantum hall effect and the Klein paradox. In the last part of the chapter, characterization of graphene through various techniques, such as atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM), are discussed. The chapter aims to provide the fundamental understanding of the properties of graphene and its characterization.