Scientists have learned how to control the structure of graphene

A team of physicists from the University of Arizona has discovered how to change the crystal structure of graphene using an electric field.
This discovery was an important step towards the possible use of graphene in microprocessors that will be smaller and faster than modern components that are based on silicon.
Graphene consists of extremely thin sheets of graphite. If it is placed under a powerful electron microscope , it becomes apparent sheet structure of graphene in the form of cross-linked carbon atoms resembling chicken wire . By manipulating the electric field of the material is converted into the metal fraction and behaves like a semiconductor .

Graphene is a material having one of the finest structures in the world . 300,000 graphene layers constitute only the thickness of a human hair . Scientists and engineers are interested in it because of its possible use in microelectronic devices , hoping to move from silicon device to graphene . The trick is to control the flow of electrons through the material , which would be a prerequisite for its application in electronic circuits .
Brian Leroy , associate professor of physics at Arizona State University , as well as other employees , eliminated this obstacle to this goal by showing that the electric field is capable of controlling the crystalline structure of the material , which consists of three layers of graphene .
Most materials require high temperatures or the enormous pressure that would have changed their crystal structure . Graphene favorably with most famous modern materials.
" It is extremely rare for a material phenomenon - change its crystalline structure just under the influence of an electric field. Due to different configurations stacking graphene layers on both sides of the domain wall , one side of the material behaves like a metal, while the other side behaves as semiconductor. Now we have a mechanism of transformation of the metal material in the semiconductor and vice versa , to control the flow of electrons. creating a three-layer graphene is extremely unique system that can be used to create new devices. "- Leroy said .

At that time, as there is still more research before graphene can find application in industrial scale, experts now believe that it is for this material Future Electronics twenty-first century. Although not everyone agrees with this statement. Recall recently, scientists have found that graphene is dangerous to health.