Defining the Graphene Family Tree
Journal Carbon publishes
a recommended nomenclature for 2D carbon forms
Oxford, UK, October 16, 2013
There has been an intense research interest in all
two-dimensional (2D) forms of carbon since Geim and Novoselov's discovery of
graphene in 2004. But as the number of such publications rise, so does the
level of inconsistency in naming the material of interest. The isolated,
single-atom-thick sheet universally referred to as "graphene" may have a clear
definition, but when referring to related 2D sheet-like or flake-like carbon
forms, many authors have simply defined their own terms to describe their product.
This has led to confusion within the literature,
where terms are multiply-defined, or incorrectly used. The Editorial Board of Carbon has therefore published
the first recommended nomenclature for 2D carbon forms.
The editorial team spent eight months working on
setting the definitions. They believe that agreeing on a rational scientific
nomenclature could enable more rapid development in the field, and with a
"higher degree of common understanding". Editor-in-Chief of Carbon, Professor Robert Hurt (Institute
for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation, School of Engineering, Brown University,
USA) succinctly summarizes the need for this work with the phrase: "Precise
names promote precise ideas."
A series of basic guiding principles to define
the terms was used in the study, where possible making use of established
definitions, and clarifying rather than replacing existing terms. The
study also recognizes that researchers will want to continue using the word
"graphene" in publications, and so have recommended "graphene materials" as the
overarching phrase to describe 2D carbons. In this way, the publication offers
itself as a practical guide for naming such materials, for carbon scientists in
all fields and at all stages in their careers.
One proposal is that all definitions of graphene materials
should go beyond crystallography, and should include morphological descriptors
for shape and size – namely the thickness (layer number), lateral dimensions
and in-plane shape of these carbon layers.
To move graphene materials beyond the early
discovery phase and into applications, internationally-recognized definitions
of each carbon form will be needed. In the 1990s, the lack of agreed
definitions for nanofibers, nanorods and nanotubes led to several International
Standards on the topic, which, when published, brought consistency to the
field.
"This
study is a great way to open the discussion on graphene terminology, and
welcomes any formal standardization efforts for 2D carbons in the future," concludes
Prof Hurt c "We would be delighted if the community at large saw sufficient
value in the recommendations to use them more broadly."
# # #
Notes
for Editors
This
article is "All in the graphene
family – A recommended nomenclature for two-dimensional carbon materials" by Alberto
Bianco, Hui-Ming Cheng, Toshiaki Enoki, Yury Gogotsi, Robert H. Hurt, Nikhil
Koratkar, Takashi Kyotani, Marc Monthioux, Chong Rae Park, Juan M.D. Tascon and
Jin Zhang. It appears in Carbon, Volume 65, December
2013, Pages 1-6 (2013) published by Elsevier. The article is available for free at www.materialstoday.com . An interview with Carbon Editor-in-Chief, Prof Robert
Hurt, is available here.
About Carbon
An
International Journal Founded in Conjunction with the American Carbon Society
The
journal Carbon is an international
multidisciplinary forum for communicating scientific advances in the field of
carbon materials and carbon nanomaterials. The journal reports significant new
findings related to the formation, structure, properties, behaviors, and
technological applications of carbons, which are a broad class of ordered or
disordered solid phases composed primarily of elemental carbon. These materials
can be either synthetic or of natural origin, and include, but are not limited
to, graphene and graphene-oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers and filaments,
graphite, porous carbons, pyrolytic carbon, glassy carbon, carbon black,
diamond and diamond-like carbon, fullerenes, and chars. Papers on composites
will be considered if the carbon component is a major focus of the paper's
scientific content. Papers on organic substances may be considered if they are
precursors for such carbon materials. Relevant application areas for carbon materials
include, but are not limited to, electronic and photonic devices, structural
and thermal applications, smart materials and systems, energy storage and
conversion, catalysis, environmental protection, and biology and medicine.
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Elsevier
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