2.3.13

Carbon Structures - Graphene

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Graphene

Graphene is an allotrope (form) of carbon. Graphene has the following properties:

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Conducts electricity

  • Each carbon atom has a delocalised electron.
  • Graphene is a single layer of graphite so it also conducts electricity because of the carbon atoms’ delocalised electrons.
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Light but strong

  • Graphene has a thickness of just 1 atom (1 layer).
  • This means that it is almost a 2-dimensional structure, and so graphene is very light.
  • But, the strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms mean that it is also very strong.
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What is graphene used for?

  • Graphene has lots of uses in electronics and composite materials (materials that have things added to make them more useful).
    • Graphene makes materials stronger without making them much heavier.
    • Graphene can be used in solar panels, batteries and much more.

Jump to other topics

1Atomic Structure

2Chemical Bonding

3Quantitative Chemistry

4Chemical Changes

5Energy Changes

6The Rate & Extent of Chemical Change

7Organic Chemistry

8Chemical Analysis

9Chemistry of the Atmosphere

10Using Resources

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