Graphene and 2-dimensional Materials

The new field of 2-dimensional (2-d) materials has seen exponential growth since the isolation of graphene, a single atomic layer of carbon atoms, at University of Manchester in 2004. What is a 2-d material, and how is it different to 3-dimensional materials that we encounter every day? How does the 2-d nature affect the material’s properties, for instance, how do electrons living in a 2-d world behave? How would we harness the unique properties of 2-d materials and put them to use in real-world applications? We will answer these questions and more in this course on Graphene and other 2-d materials.

The course will describe how a number of key aspects of the broader field of nanomaterials are applied to study 2-d materials, including methods of production such as chemical vapour deposition, characterisation techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy, and the production of nano-electronic and nano-composite structures.

Week 1: Introduction

• What is graphene? Atomic structure and graphene
• History of graphene
• Why is graphene a 2-d material?
• Imaging the structure of graphene
• Properties of graphene overview

Week 2: Production of graphene and 2-d materials

• Comparison of production methods
• Scotch-tape method (micromechanical cleavage)
• Chemical vapour deposition
• Solution-exfoliation 1 – graphene and other 2-d materials
• Solution-exfoliation 2 – graphene oxide
• Decomposition of silicon carbide
• Production of graphene nano-ribbons

Week 3: Electronic properties and devices

• Electronic structure of graphene
• First graphene device
• Further graphene devices and evidence of 2-dimensional nature
• Electronic properties of bilayer graphene
• Switching graphene OFF

Week 4: Raman spectroscopy

• Principles of Raman spectroscopy
• Raman spectrum of graphene
• Analysis of graphene Raman spectra
• Raman spectra of other 2-D materials

Week 5: Chemical properties and sensors

• X-ray photoemission spectroscopy
• Optical absorption spectroscopy
• Functionalising graphene
• Hydrogels and aerogels
• Liquid cystals
• Gas and chemical sensors

Week 6: Mechanical properties and applications

• Measuring mechanical properties
• Graphene resonators
• Electromechanical devices
• Graphene bubbles
• Graphene composites

Week 7: Graphene membranes

• GO and rGO membranes
• Membranes for separation
• Membranes as barriers
• Porous membranes
• Supercapacitor electrodes

Week 8: Biomedical devices and 2-d heterostructures

• Biocompatibility and biodistribution
• Scaffolds for tissue engineering
• Drug and gene delivery
• Cancer therapy
• Introduction to 2-d heterostructures
• 2D heterostructure devices