From Graphene To Borophene Electronics

The discovery of graphene in 2004 by two researchers, Prof. Andre Geim and Prof. Kostya Novoselov at the University of Manchester (UK), created quite an excitement.

- Dr S.S. Verma

This pioneering work won the duo Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.

However, there are some inherited limitations of graphene as a wonder material, forcing scientists to look for an alternative. In this quest, they have discovered a new two-dimensional (2D) material called ‘borophene’ that is thought to exhibit electronic properties better than graphene. This article dwells on the journey from graphene to borophene.

Graphene

Graphene is a one-atom thin sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal format or a flat mono layer of carbon atoms that are tightly packed into a 2D honeycomb lattice. Owing to exceptional strength, flexibility and conductance, it is expected to shape almost all aspects of future technologies.

Researchers around the world have found that graphene has promise for applications in electronics ranging from displays to random-access memory. Noted for the speed at which electrons pass through it, graphene has already proved to be a miracle electronic material with properties suitable for design of strong, fast, flexible and transparent electronic devices, printed graphene in paper electronics, and car batteries.

Its limitations

With applications touching humans in every quartet of life, graphene seems to have limitless capabilities, though with the traditional challenge of its production cost. In 2013, a graphene flake the size of one micrometre cost more than $1000. Obviously, this is why graphene is one of the most expensive materials on Earth.