A new research conducted into atomic level interactions by Rice University researchers has led them to discover a deep relation between carbon atoms and graphene, as per a recent report, which is to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Chemical vapor deposition was focused at by the team so as to study the atomic level interactions. Since, the same involves formation of graphene, which includes a furnace heated carbon source’s exposure to a metal catalyst. Graphene is a single-atom layer of pure carbon, the report finds in the meanwhile.

Besides, for the nanoreactor theory, Karl F. Hasselmann and Yakobson along with other members made use of established knowledge of crystal growth. The theory presents a comprehensive model of the way atoms move to the graphene lattice and the catalyst from the feedstock.

Individual atoms’ energies were then calculated, which led the study researchers to conclude that it depends on the catalyst used, which graphene patterns at equilibrium are formed. The team says that despite a number of researches on the formation of graphene, it was never treated as a crystal growth process.

Yakobson says, “Different directions dictate different physical properties, and as a result, graphene's shape can be a polygon or a star or a flower".