Graphene ... and Progress

The top illustration to the left is what a flake of graphene looks like ... carbon atoms with shared bonds in a perfectly flat, one atom thick layer of interlocking hexagons. The blue tips are hydrogen atoms, and complete this form ... making it very stable. We've now developed a way to use the interesting properties of this material to make newer, better displays for things like TV's, cell phones, dashboard displays, etc. Click here to learn more.

The second illustration to the left shows what happens when an impurity is added to the carbon ... in this case, an atom that causes the central bond to be pentagonal instead of hexagonal. By adding impurities like this in a controlled way, the shape of the sheet can be controlled. Click here to learn more.

Why is this important? Education is the key to progress, and new tools are required for the 21st century. Watch this page for updates. Click here to see if this is serious. Click here to track the latest news in science & engineering.