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At its core, graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice, derived from graphite—the flaky substance commonly found in pencil lead. Unlike its cousin, the diamond, which is incredibly strong, graphite is brittle. However, upon isolating graphene from graphite, it takes on a host of remarkable properties that set it apart.
Andrei Geim and his student Konstantin Novoselov played pivotal roles in the discovery of graphene while they worked on isolating the thinnest possible sample from a graphite crystal. Their groundbreaking work in understanding graphene's behavior in electric fields earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010, marking a significant milestone in scientific research.