After the graffiti, the grafano

2009/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Materialak
• Fisika
• Energia

The revolution of recent years in the science of materials has been graphene, a monoatomic layer composed of only carbon. It is a great conductor of electric semiconductor and heat, ideal for the manufacture of electrical nanostructures. Now, physicists at the University of Manchester have developed a new material from graphene, by adding hydrogen atoms to the carbon layer they have created the grafano. By intercaling hydrogen between the carbons, the material becomes insulating, so the combination of graphene and graphane could lead to nanotransistors. On the other hand, graphane can be a source of hydrogen when heated, as it releases molecules of hydrogen.