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 is observed on a macroscopic scale using a bulk graphene-based material. The unique structure and properties of graphene, and the novel morphology of the bulk three-dimensional linked graphene material make it capable not only of absorbing light at various wavelengths but also of 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 bulkscale light manipulation with the potential to realize long-sought applications in areas such as the solar sail and space transportation driven directly by sunlight.U sing beams of light, scientists have been able to trap 1 , move 2 , levitate 3 and even pull 4 small objects (such as atoms and molecules, living cells and viruses, and micro/nanoscopic particles) on the microscopic scale, as well as nano/micrometre-sized graphene sheets 5-7 on a small spatial scale, typically on the order of hundreds of micrometres 8 . There have also been reports of efforts to enlarge the optical manipulation distance by harnessing strong thermal forces 9 , and also the robust manipulation of airborne micro-objects photophoretically with a bottle beam 10 . Furthermore, the rotation and motion of a millimetre-sized graphite disk by photoirradiation has been realized with the graphite levitated magnetically 11 . If these optical operations were to be achieved with large objects on a macroscopic spatial scale, significant applications such as the long-sought direct optical manipulation of macroscale objects (including the proposed solar sail and space transportation via laser or beam-powered propulsion) could be realized. To acquire the required energy and momentum for propulsion, two main mechanisms have been proposed: the use of a laser to superheat a propellant (or air), which then provides propulsion in the same manner as a conventional rocket 4,12,13 , or obtaining propulsion directly from light pressure (radiation pressure) acting on a light sail structure (as with the IKAROS spacecraft) 14,15 .It has been a great challenge to realize the intrinsic properties of single-layer graphene in the bulk state, because stacking of the graphene sheets diminishes most of its properties (electronic, photonic and even mechanical). In this Article, we show that if graphene sheets are assembled in the proper manner into the bulk state, the resulting bulk material not only can retain the intrinsic properties of the individual graphene sheets, but also allows their manifestation on a macroscopic scale. Here, we demonstrate the directly lightinduced macroscopic propulsion and rotation of a bulk graphene sponge material with dimensions on the scale of a centimetre and milligram weight. The mechanism behind this novel phenomenon ...
