Recent years have witnessed many breakthroughs in research on graphene (the first two-dimensional atomic crystal) as well as a significant advance in the mass production of this material. This one-atom-thick fabric of carbon uniquely combines extreme mechanical strength, exceptionally high electronic and thermal conductivities, impermeability to gases, as well as many other supreme properties, all of which make it highly attractive for numerous applications. Here we review recent progress in graphene research and in the development of production methods, and critically analyse the feasibility of various graphene applications.

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A roadmap for graphene

Owing to its high carrier mobility, conductivity, flexibility and optical transparency, graphene is a versatile material in micro- and macroelectronics. However, the low density of electrochemically active defects in graphene synthesized by chemical vapour deposition limits its application in biosensing. Here, we show that graphene doped with gold and combined with a gold mesh has improved electrochemical activity over bare graphene, sufficient to form a wearable patch for sweat-based diabetes monitoring and feedback therapy. The stretchable device features a serpentine bilayer of gold mesh and gold-doped graphene that forms an efficient electrochemical interface for the stable transfer of electrical signals. The patch consists of a heater, temperature, humidity, glucose and pH sensors and polymeric microneedles that can be thermally activated to deliver drugs transcutaneously. We show that the patch can be thermally actuated to deliver Metformin and reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic mice.

A graphene-based electrochemical device with thermoresponsive microneedles for diabetes monitoring and therapy

The limitations of the bulk semiconductors currently used in electronic devices-rigidity, heavy weight and high costs--have recently shifted the research efforts to two-dimensional atomic crystals such as graphene and atomically thin transition-metal dichalcogenides. These materials have the potential to be produced at low cost and in large areas, while maintaining high material quality. These properties, as well as their flexibility, make two-dimensional atomic crystals attractive for applications such as solar cells or display panels. The basic building blocks of optoelectronic devices are p-n junction diodes, but they have not yet been demonstrated in a two-dimensional material. Here, we report a p-n junction diode based on an electrostatically doped tungsten diselenide (WSe2) monolayer. We present applications as a photovoltaic solar cell, a photodiode and a light-emitting diode, and obtain light-power conversion and electroluminescence efficiencies of ∼ 0.5% and ∼ 0.1%, respectively. Given recent advances in the large-scale production of two-dimensional crystals, we expect them to profoundly impact future developments in solar, lighting and display technologies.

Solar-energy conversion and light emission in an atomic monolayer p-n diode

The isolation of a growing number of two-dimensional (2D) materials has inspired worldwide efforts to integrate distinct 2D materials into van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. Given that any passivated, dangling-bond-free surface will interact with another through vdW forces, the vdW heterostructure concept can be extended to include the integration of 2D materials with non-2D materials that adhere primarily through non-covalent interactions. We present a succinct and critical survey of emerging mixed-dimensional (2D + nD, where n is 0, 1 or 3) heterostructure devices. By comparing and contrasting with all-2D vdW heterostructures as well as with competing conventional technologies, we highlight the challenges and opportunities for mixed-dimensional vdW heterostructures.

Mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures

Bright organic/inorganic hybrid perov-skite light-emitting diodes (PrLEDs) are realized by using CH3 NH3 PbBr3 as an emitting layer and self-organized buffer hole-injection layer (Buf-HIL). The PrLEDs show high luminance, current efficiency, and EQE of 417 cd m(-2) , 0.577 cd A(-1) , and 0.125%, respectively. Buf-HIL can facilitate hole injection into CH3 NH3 PbBr3 as well as block exciton quenching.

Multicolored Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes

Although graphene films have a strong potential to replace indium tin oxide anodes in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), to date, the luminous efficiency of OLEDs with graphene anodes has been limited by a lack of efficient methods to improve the low work function and reduce the sheet resistance of graphene films to the levels required for electrodes1,2,3,4. Here, we fabricate flexible OLEDs by modifying the graphene anode to have a high work function and low sheet resistance, and thus achieve extremely high luminous efficiencies (37.2 lm W–1 in fluorescent OLEDs, 102.7 lm W–1 in phosphorescent OLEDs), which are significantly higher than those of optimized devices with an indium tin oxide anode (24.1 lm W–1 in fluorescent OLEDs, 85.6 lm W–1 in phosphorescent OLEDs). We also fabricate flexible white OLED lighting devices using the graphene anode. These results demonstrate the great potential of graphene anodes for use in a wide variety of high-performance flexible organic optoelectronics. By replacing conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes with high-work-function, low-sheet-resistance graphene anodes, researchers demonstrate flexible fluorescent organic LEDs with extremely high luminous efficiencies of 37.2 lm W–1 for fluorescent devices and 102.7 lm W–1 for phosphorescent devices. These values are significantly higher than those of optimized organic LEDs based on ITO anodes.

http://phome.postech.ac.kr/user/pnel/publication/95.%20T.-H.%20Han,%20Y.%20Lee,%20M.-R.%20Choi,%20S.-H.%20Woo,%20S.-H.%20Bae,%20B.%20H.%20Hong,%20J.-H.%20Ahn,%20T.-W.%20Lee,%20Nature.%20Photon.,%206,%20105-110%20(2012).pdf

Extremely efficient flexible organic light-emitting diodes with modified graphene anode

It is a great challenge to develop solution-processed, polymeric hole-injection layers (HILs) that perform better than small molecular layers for realizing high-performance small-molecule organic light-emitting diodes (SM-OLEDs). We have greatly improved the injection efficiency and the current efficiency of SM-OLEDs by introducing conducting polymer compositions composed of polyaniline doped with polystyrene sulfonate and perfluorinated ionomer (PFI) as the HIL. During single spin-coating of conducting polymer compositions, the PFI layer was self-organized at the surface and greatly increased the film work function. It enhanced hole-injection efficiency and current efficiency by introducing a nearly ohmic contact and improving electron blocking. Our results demonstrate that solution-processed polyaniline HILs with tunable work functions are good candidates for reducing process costs and improving OLED performance.

http://phome.postech.ac.kr/user/pnel/publication/88.%20M.-R.%20Choi%20et%20al.,%20ChemSusChem,%204,%20363-368%20(2011).pdf

Polyaniline-based conducting polymer compositions with a high work function for hole-injection layers in organic light-emitting diodes: formation of ohmic contacts.

We employed a low-cost solution-processed ultrathin insulating polymeric layer of poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS), with a high glass transition temperature (Tg ∼ 185 °C), as an interfacial layer between the polymer:fullerene photoactive layer and the Al negative electrode for enhancing device power conversion efficiency (PCE) of polymer bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic cells and investigated the roles of the interfacial nanolayer by ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy and capacitance–voltage measurement. The thin polymeric layer forms a dipole layer and causes the vacuum level of the adjacent negative electrode to shift upward, which resulted in an increase of the built-in potential. As a result, the open-circuit voltage and PCE of the device using a PHS nanolayer were remarkably improved. We finally achieved a very high PCE of 6.5% with the PHS/Al negative electrode which is even much better than that of the device using an Al electrode (5.0%). The solution-processed inexpensive PHS layer with a high Tg can be an attractive alternative to conventional vacuum-deposited low-work-function metal and insulating metal fluoride interfacial layers.

http://phome.postech.ac.kr/user/pnel/publication/102.%20K.-G.%20Lim,%20M.-R.%20Choi,%20H.-B.%20Kim,%20J.%20H.%20Park%20and%20T.-W.%20Lee%20(published%20online).pdf

Mi Ri Choi

Papers

Extremely efficient flexible organic light-emitting diodes with modified graphene anode

Polyaniline-based conducting polymer compositions with a high work function for hole-injection layers in organic light-emitting diodes: formation of ohmic contacts.

High-efficiency polymer photovoltaic cells using a solution-processable insulating interfacial nanolayer: the role of the insulating nanolayer

Antibacterial effects of vinegar N6 and UV-C light-emitting diodes against Shiga toxin-producing and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in fresh beef