graphene waferIBM Research on FlickrIBM's ground-breaking graphene integrated circuit.
We are on the brink of a revolution that will completely change the way we use every-day products like cars, clothes, light bulbs, and even water.
Leading the way is a fascinating material called graphene.
Graphene is a thin sheet of carbon atoms — the same element in diamonds and coal — and was the first two-dimensional substance ever created, meaning it's one-atom thick, or about one million times thinner than a human hair.
Despite its miniscule size, graphene has a grand portfolio of wondrous properties. For instance, it's 1,000 times stronger than steel, yet 1,000 times lighter than paper. And it's significantly more electrically conductive than silicon, the substance we use in computer circuits.
Since graphene was first discovered in 2004, hundreds of researchers around the world have begun studying its qualities, which have the potential to revolutionize the world.