What is Graphene?

About Graphene:

• It is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice.
• It is the building block of Graphite (which is used, among other things, in pencil tips). 1mm of graphite contains some 3 million layers of graphene. 
• Graphene was first isolated in 2004. Since then, graphene has found hundreds of innovative applications, from sensors and electronics to energy storage and healthcare.
• Properties:
  • It is the thinnest material known to man at one atom thick. It is one million times thinner than human hair.
  • It is also incredibly strong - about 200 times stronger than steel. 
  • Graphene has an extremely high surface area-to-mass ratio. Each gram of graphene has a surface area greater than 2,600 square meters.
  • It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It conducts electricity better than copper.
  • It is almost perfectly transparent since it onlyabsorbs 2% of light. 
  • It is impermeable to gases, even those as light as hydrogen or helium.
  • Graphene is also very flexible, which makes us dream of applications in wearable devices and foldable electronics.

Q1: What is Graphite?

Graphite, mineral consisting of carbon. Graphite is one of only two naturally occurring forms of pure carbon, the other being diamonds. Graphite occurs in a two dimensional, planar molecular structure whereas diamonds have a three dimensional crystal structure. Graphite generally occurs as flakes, which are multiple layers of graphene held together by weak bonds.

Source: Graphene, the new 'wonder material' in Earth technology, found in moon soil