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Graphene versus black phosphorus

Everyone loves graphene.

I mean, what's not to love?

It has become the darling new material of the 21st century, thanks to its seemingly amazing physical, thermal and electrical properties.

So super-strong that it makes steel look like silly-putty and so super-light that aluminium becomes the Mama Cass of metals by comparison, graphene looks set to significantly change the face of modern technology in many areas.

Its electrical and thermal conductivity makes copper look like asbestos by comparison and its super-flexibility means that along with its strength it has an incredible "toughness".

Already we've seen battery and capacitor technologies being dramatically improved by the use of graphene with promises that this is only the beginning.

However, almost before this wonder-material form of carbon has gotten off the starting blocks, there's a new kid in town looking to kick graphene's arse.

I'm talking about black phosphorus.

Graphene, for all its apparent super-powers, is looking as if it might be usurped by black phosphorus (BP) because of one important trait that BP offers.

BP has what is called a "tunable" bandgap.

Although graphene is great -- we've found no practical way to turn it into a semiconductor, something which is pretty essential if we really want to get graphene-based computing systems up and running -- thus taking advantage of its conductivity and other wonderful attributes. This is because graphene has a zero bandgap, which means we can't alter its resistance to the flow of electricity very easily.

BP however, has a bandgap that can be altered, thus allowing its conductivity to be altered in a way that lends itself to the creation of amplifying elements and logic gates.

Researchers have now created a form of BP called phosphorene, an allotrope of phosphorus which can be doped with potassium to create a new form of semiconductor.

Where did I get all this information?

From this article on the science daily website.

Readers should be aware that the Science Daily website is really more of a repository of press releases than a researched scientific journal so the veracity of the claims being made is not assured. I've noticed that SD is often used by researchers who are looking to drum up a spark of interest, just before they go out to try and solicit investors to throw money at their ideas.

Is this the case with BP?

I don't know. However, I am a little worried by the lack of general information on the other properties of BP. What are the benefits over traditional silicon semiconductors for instance? What are the other physical properties of BP?

Is this story a bit of pre-investment hype from Keun Su Kim and his team -- or is it a genuine breakthrough that could change the face of electronic devices in years to come?

I have no bleeding idea, but I thought I'd share it with you and let you decide.

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