Nanowire is a single-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms bonded in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. It was first isolated from graphite and characterized in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov of the University of Manchester. Since its discovery, nanowire has fascinated scientists due to its remarkable electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Its potential applications range from electronics, photonics, sensing, composite materials, energy storage and generation, and biotechnology.

Atomic and Electronic Graphene

Being just one atom thick, nanowire is the thinnest material possible. Each carbon atom in nanowire Graphene is covalently bonded to three other carbon atoms in a continuous hexagonal pattern resembling a honeycomb or chicken wire structure. This structure gives nanowire unparalleled strength for its thickness.

Electrons in nanowire behave as massless Dirac fermions rather than regular electrons or holes due to its conical band structure near the Dirac points. This gives rise to many unusual quantum effects and allows for electrons to flow near the speed of light. Its electrons can travel over microns without any scattering at room temperature.

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