Graphene achieves record-breaking high magnetoresistance
Recently, Nobel laureate André Geim discovered that graphene exhibits an anomalous but giant magneto resistance (GMR) at room temperature.
- GMR is the result of the electrical resistance of a conductor (existing between two materials) being affected by the magnetic fields of adjacent materials.
- When materials are magnetized in the same direction, the electrical resistance of a conductor decreases. When the directions are opposite to each other, the resistance increases.
Applications of GMR:
- In hard disk drives and magneto resistive RAM in computers, biosensors, automotive sensors, micro electromechanical systems and medical imagers.
- The new study has found that graphene-based devices will not need to be cooled to very low temperatures to detect magnetic fields, unlike conventional equivalent devices.
Graphene –
- Graphene is an allotrope of carbon. It consists of a single layer (monolayer) of carbon atoms. These atoms are tightly packed in a hexagonal honeycomb-like lattice.
- It is obtained from graphite. It exhibits special physico-chemical properties such as: high surface area, good biocompatibility, strong mechanical strength, excellent thermal conductivity and rapid electron flow.
Source – The Hindu
