Alessandro Cresti,IMEP-LaHC UGA, "2D materials: Theory and applications"

Since the discovery of graphene in 2004, this two-dimensional
atomic-thick material has attracted much attention for fundamental and
applied research thanks to its exceptional mechanical and electronic
properties. Shortly after, a plethora of different 2D materials were
predicted and fabricated, thus opening up a Pandora box of new physics
and applications. After a brief historical introduction on graphene and
a review of its fabrication techniques, I will illustrate its main
electronic properties at low energy, as the linear band dispersion, the
strict relation with the Dirac equation for massless particles and the
role of spin-orbit coupling. Then, I will discuss some selected classes
of other 2D materials, in particular X-enes and transition metal
dichalcogenides. Their properties will be contrasted with those of
graphene. Finally, I will give an overview of the most promising
potential and real applications of 2D materials.