On Graphene Hydrate

Using first-principles calculations, we show that the formation of carbohydrate directly from carbon and water is energetically favored when graphene membrane is subjected to aqueous environment with difference in chemical potential across the two sides. The resultant carbohydrate is two-dimensional, where the hydrogen atoms are exclusively attached on one side of graphene while the hydroxyl groups on the other side form a herringbone reconstruction that optimizes hydrogen bonding. We show that graphene undergos semi-metal-insulator transition upon hydration which is readily detectable from the significant shift in the vibration spectrum. The hydrate form of graphene suggests new applications for graphene in electronics, either deposited on a substrate or in solution.