Communications of the ACM
Silicene: It Could Be the New Graphene
Calculations reveal the structure of silicene nanoribbons, the flat strips of silicon atoms (white) arranged in hexagons.
A. Kara / University of Central Florida
Japanese researchers have created atom-thin sheets of silicon, called silicene, that resemble graphene and could have electronic applications.
"Silicon has the advantage of being more integratable in today's electronics," says Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology's Antoine Fleurence. The researchers grew a thin layer of silicon on a piece of zirconium diboride, which revealed a honeycomb pattern similar to that of graphene when exposed to X-rays.
Meanwhile, University of Provence's Guy Le Lay has created silicene ribbons grown on silver that could reach micrometers in length. Le Lay's research suggests that silicene may share similar electronic properties with graphene, in addition to having a similar structure. However, to be truly useful silicene must work on an insulating material so that its electronic properties can be accurately tested.
From Science News
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Abstracts Copyright © 2011 Information Inc. 
, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Comments
Anonymous
Indeed, silicene is a very important future material. Calculations
have shown that they might have interesting FET as well as storage property as well. Please see this very recent paper from our group:
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2011/CP/c0cp02580a
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