  It has been a great challenge to achieve the direct light manipulation of
matter on a bulk scale. In this work, the direct light propulsion of matter was
observed on a macroscopic scale for the first time using a bulk graphene based
material. The unique structure and properties of graphene and the morphology of
the bulk graphene material make it capable of not only absorbing light at
various wavelengths but also emitting energetic electrons efficiently enough to
drive the bulk material following Newtonian mechanics. Thus, the unique
photonic and electronic properties of individual graphene sheets are manifested
in the response of the bulk state. These results offer an exciting opportunity
to bring about bulk scale light manipulation with the potential to realize
long-sought proposals in areas such as the solar sail and space transportation
driven directly by sunlight.
