An Introduction to Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes

This book introduces the reader to the science of graphene and carbon nanotubes. The reader will gain the basic scientific knowledge to critically evaluate the claims made in the literature and in the public arena about the physical properties and potential for applications of graphene and carbon nanotubes. In addition, the book uses these simple systems as excellent models to demonstrate important concepts in solid state physics and materials chemistry to the reader. The book is co-authored by one of the leaders in public engagement at the National Graphene Institute at Manchester University, which was founded in honour of the Nobel Laureate Sir Andre Geim.

John Proctor specializes in high pressure science and technology, particularly the studies of nanomaterials, hydrides and hard / superhard materials. He studied for his Ph.D. (High-pressure Raman spectroscopy of single-walled carbon nanotubes 10, 11 ) at?the University of Manchester from 2004 – 2007, then spent 4 years working as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions at the University of Edinburgh. Here, the author focussed on the synthesis of novel hydrides 6,7,9 and on producing the first ever study of graphene at high pressure. This study has accumulated over 50 citations from a range of disciplines, including one citation in a patent application. John Proctor also spent 18 months performing experiments funded by the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment performing phase diagram studies at multimegabar pressures 2,5. The author was appointed to his first permanent academic position at the University of Hull in 2011 at the age of 29 and moved to his present position at the University of Salford (UoS) in 2013. Since his appointment at the University of Hull in 2011 John Proctor has established an independent research program and a high national and international profile in the field. The author has given invited talks at international conferences and co-organised an international conference in 2014 (14th International Symposium on Metal-Hydrogen systems, Manchester, July 2014). He is secretary of the recently-formed Shockwave and Extreme Conditions group in the UK Institute of Physics. John Proctor also undertakes work related to public engagement with science.

Aravind Vijayaraghavan is one of the leaders in public engagement at Manchester, including roles as the PE coordinator for the National Graphene Institute, the NOWNANO Doctoral Training Centre and the School of Computer Science. He serves on the management board of the NOWNANO DTC, and plays a lead role in industrial engagement in securing partners for the National Graphene Institute. He is a member of the NTI/1 nanotechnology committee of the British Standards Institute and the IEC TC113 committee as the UK expert on graphene. He was co-organizer of the 2013 Recent Appointees in Materials Science conference. He is a referee for leading publications such as Nature journals, Nano Letters , ACS Nano, etc. He serves on grant evaluation panels for EPSRC, and in the past for the NSF (USA). In 2013 Aravind Vijayaraghavan was awarded an Accelerated Increment Award for sustained exceptional contribution to public engagement, and the 2013 Joshua Philips Award for Innovation in Science Communication.

Cristina Liliana Simionescu is working for her PhD thesis entitled Chemical modification of graphene at high pressure and high temperature and works as a demonstrator the Joule Physics Laboratory.