Rice University images show how graphene wrinkles affect flow

Credit: Mario Norton · science.psu.edu The exceptionally thin structure of graphene, just one atom thick, is key to a newly observed effect that could reshape electronics. Physicists and engineers report that tiny wrinkles in graphene can alter its electrical properties through flexoelectricity, a phenomenon where uneven bending generates an electric dipole. Vincent Meunier, P. Breneman Chair and Professor at Penn State, explains that scientists may one day control electricity in atomically thin materials by changing their shape, potentially leading to more responsive sensors and ultrathin devices. “One of my driving forces is to try to identify interesting ideas…