2009
DOI: 10.1021/nl901664k
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Direct Imaging of Soft−Hard Interfaces Enabled by Graphene

Abstract: Direct imaging of surface molecules and the interfaces between soft and hard materials on functionalized nanoparticles is a great challenge using modern microscopy techniques. We show that graphene, a single atomic layer of sp(2)-bonded carbon atoms, can be employed as an ultrathin support film that enables direct imaging of molecular layers and interfaces in both conventional and atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy. An atomic-resolution imaging study of the capping layers and interfaces of citr… Show more

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Cited by 134 publications
(159 citation statements)
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“…Indeed, graphene has been thoroughly investigated for use as an electron-transparent material, for example, as a sample substrate in transmission electron microscopy, 7,8 as a gate in metal-oxidesemiconductor field-effect transistors with vacuum channels, 9 and as a gate in field-emission electron guns. 10 For these applications, the transparency of graphene for electrons has been investigated.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Indeed, graphene has been thoroughly investigated for use as an electron-transparent material, for example, as a sample substrate in transmission electron microscopy, 7,8 as a gate in metal-oxidesemiconductor field-effect transistors with vacuum channels, 9 and as a gate in field-emission electron guns. 10 For these applications, the transparency of graphene for electrons has been investigated.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The outer graphene layers isolate the studied defects from external species that would otherwise react with the dangling bonds, inhibit sputtering of carbon atoms, and provide an ideal protective coating against radiation damage due to the exceptionally high electrical and thermal conductivity of graphene, its chemical stability, transparency and crystallinity 43,44 . Recently graphene encapsulation has been used successfully in TEM to observe growth of nanocrystals 43 and study softhard interfaces 44 , as well as to study radiation-sensitive monolayers of MoS 2 sandwiched between two layers of graphene 45,46 . Separating the contrast originating from protective graphene layers and from the encapsulated material in refs.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In the case of turbostratic (non-aligned) stacking of the layers, the ideal honeycomb lattice of the outer layers can be removed from the micrographs by Fourier filtering in digital postprocessing, similar to refs. [43][44][45] , but identification and positioning of the defects is not always possible. In the case of perfect ABA stacking of the layers, the Fourier filtering approach is not feasible.…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…McBride et al [17] indicated that conventional TEM imaging of ultra-small NPs can be limited by particle diameters of greater than 3 nm due to the contrast from amorphous carbon support films. For such reasons, graphene membranes (being a single layer of carbon atoms) have garnered attention as the "ultimate" support for TEM imaging of nanoparticles [14,17,18]. Barring a major fabrication breakthrough, more conventional TEM films -e.g., amorphous carbon, silicon, or SiN -will likely remain ubiquitous due to cost, ease of use, durability, and versatility.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%