Silicene

We introduce silicene, the Si-based analog of graphene, an emerging two-dimensional topological insulator, and its realization by epitaxial growth on the favored silver (111) substrate. We describe the structural, electronic and vibronic properties of monolayer silicene, and the growth and electronic properties of multilayer silicene. We next address the hydrogenation and oxidation of these new silicon allotropes. We further report the fabrication of the first field-effect transistors made with a silicene channel. Finally, we discuss exotic forms of silicon at zero and one dimension, namely benzene-like nanodots and pentasilicene-like nanoribbons, before drawing enticing perspectives.