Graphene the future silicon

Researchers at Manchester University have found that graphene could be the best possible material for electronic applications because of its semiconducting qualities.

The study also opens doors for new applications such as ultra-high frequency detectors for full-body security scanners, which could operate at terahertz frequencies.

‘Graphene is the only material where electrons at room temperature can move thousands of interatomic distances without scattering,’ said Prof Andre Geim, director of Manchester University’s Centre for Mesoscience and Nanotechnology.

‘We knew that it could be a long distances – and longer than for silicon – but before our latest work we did not know, nor expected, that graphene could beat carbon nanotubes or the record holder Indium antimonide (InSb). Our work singles it out as the best possible material for electronic applications.’

The scientists discovered that electrons move more easily in graphene than all other materials, including gold, silicon, gallium arsenide and carbon nanotubes. They claim that this could benefit the future development of ultra-high frequency transistors and wiring in electronic circuits.