Synthesis and development of graphene-inorganic semiconductor nanocomposites

Over the past decade, graphene research has attracted increasing interest from researchers in physics, materials science, chemistry, etc. Graphene consists of an unusual single-layer honeycomb lattice of C atoms, which differs from all other materials of this element. More specifically, the C atoms of graphene are sp2-bonded and densely packed in a crystal lattice. This closely resembles the basic building block found in graphitic materials of different dimensionalities. (1) It has been demonstrated that graphene exhibits some special characteristics, such as a high electron mobility of up to 230 000 cm2 V–1 s–1 at low temperatures, (2) an exceptional thermal conductivity approaching 5000 W mK–1, (3) and superior mechanical properties with a large Young’s modulus, exceeding 1.0 TPa, (4, 5) the latter being comparable to those of single-walled nanotubes and even diamonds.