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Carbon flatland

Graphene’s two dimensions offer new physics, novel electronics

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Some physicists spend their days exploring the three dimensions of space, the four dimensions of spacetime or even the 11 dimensions of something called M-theory. Other researchers are content with just two.

In this false-color microscopy image, a patchwork “quilt” of graphene displays colorful patches where the usual six-member carbon rings grow imperfectly and at different orientations. ~~ Muller lab/Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science

CARBON SIBLINGS The single layer of honeycombed carbon atoms that make up graphene forms the basis of two other carbon materials of scientific interest: ball-shaped fullerenes and curled-up nanotubes. ~~ top two images: E. Feliciano; bottom image: 3drenderings/shutterstock