2D Materials: Graphane
While graphene consists of pure carbon, graphane has the same hexagonal carbon structure but with added hydrogen atoms on each carbon - a fully hydrogenated form of graphene. The added hydrogen is expected to give graphane a wide bandgap, making it an electrical insulator.
Graphane can be created by exposing graphene to hydrogen plasma for several hours, the resulting structure of which is considered stable (partially hydrogenated graphane, known as graphane-like structures, can be created similarly). However, this method does not control the degree of hydrogenation very well, and requires high temperatures. Currently, there is no easy method of producing graphane. There are several possible configurations for hydrogenated graphene, and therefore graphane is considered an allotropic material.
This two-dimensional material has been considered for such prospective applications such as hydrogen storage, electronics such as transistors (based on the degree of hydrogenation, controlling the conductivity), and superconductors. The usage of similar materials to graphane, with the hydrogen atoms partially or completely replaced by other elements, has been considered, and would expand the possible applications.
Sources: ( 1 - image 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 )
Image 1.
