Room-Temperature Quantum Hall Effect in Graphene

The quantum Hall effect (QHE), one example of a quantum phenomenon that occur on a truly macroscopic scale, has been attracting intense interest since its discovery in 1980 and has helped elucidate many important aspects of quantum physics. It has also led to the establishment of a new metrological standard, the resistance quantum. Disappointingly, however, the QHE could only have been observed at liquid-helium temperatures. Here, we show that in graphene - a single atomic layer of carbon - the QHE can reliably be measured even at room temperature, which is not only surprising and inspirational but also promises QHE resistance standards becoming available to a broader community, outside a few national institutions.