Graphenlage

Graphenlage, or graphene lattice, refers to the two-dimensional hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms in graphene. Graphene is a single atomic layer composed of carbon atoms bonded in an sp2 configuration, forming a honeycomb network. The lattice can be viewed as two interpenetrating triangular sublattices, commonly labeled A and B, with equivalent lattice sites.

Nearest-neighbor C–C bond length is about 1.42 angstroms, and the lattice constant is about 2.46 angstroms. The primitive lattice vectors span the plane with a 60-degree angle. In finite sheets, the lattice terminates at edges that can be classified as armchair or zigzag, affecting edge electronic states.

The electronic structure of the Graphenlage hosts Dirac points at the K and K' corners of the Brillouin zone. Near these points, the energy dispersion is approximately linear, and charge carriers behave as massless Dirac fermions, giving high mobility and unusual quantum effects.

Mechanical and thermal properties: Graphenlage exhibits exceptional in-plane stiffness, with a Young's modulus around 1 TPa, and high thermal conductivity. Real materials show the influence of defects, grain boundaries, and strain, which can modify electronic, optical, and mechanical behavior.

Synthesis and applications: Graphene sheets are produced by mechanical exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition, or epitaxial growth on substrates such as silicon carbide. The Graphenlage serves as the basis for research in nanoelectronics, sensors, composites, and flexible devices.