Chemical investigations of graphene

Abstract

Carbon is one of the most interesting elements in the periodic table and it plays a unique role in nature. Carbon has the ability to form very long chains of interconnecting C-C bonds which is known as catenation. Due to catenation, carbon forM.S. the highest number of compounds compared to any other element. The capability of carbon atoM.S. to form complicated networks[1] is fundamental to organic chemistry and forM.S. the basis for the existence of life. Elemental carbon forM.S. many allotropes (Figure 1) such as diamond, graphite, fullerenes[2-4] and nanotubes.[5]