5 materials that could change the world

Silicene

Graphene's hardly got its foot on the ladder, yet scientists have already discovered something better: silicene. This is a version of silicon that can be made into a sheet just one atom thick. Silicene, made by condensing a silicon vapour onto a silver plate, may be better than graphene for smaller and cheaper electronic devices because it can be integrated more easily into silicon chip production lines.