Direct imaging of light-element impurities in graphene reveals triple-coordinated oxygen

Christoph Hofer (), Viera Skákalová, Tobias Görlich, Mukesh Tripathi, Andreas Mittelberger, Clemens Mangler, Mohammad Reza Ahmadpour Monazam, Toma Susi, Jani Kotakoski and Jannik C. Meyer
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Christoph Hofer: University of Vienna
Viera Skákalová: University of Vienna
Tobias Görlich: University of Vienna
Mukesh Tripathi: University of Vienna
Andreas Mittelberger: University of Vienna
Clemens Mangler: University of Vienna
Mohammad Reza Ahmadpour Monazam: University of Vienna
Toma Susi: University of Vienna
Jani Kotakoski: University of Vienna
Jannik C. Meyer: University of Vienna

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Along with hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen are the arguably most important elements for organic chemistry. Due to their rich variety of possible bonding configurations, they can form a staggering number of compounds. Here, we present a detailed analysis of nitrogen and oxygen bonding configurations in a defective carbon (graphene) lattice. Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and single-atom electron energy loss spectroscopy, we directly imaged oxygen atoms in graphene oxide, as well as nitrogen atoms implanted into graphene. The collected data allows us to compare nitrogen and oxygen bonding configurations, showing clear differences between the two elements. As expected, nitrogen forms either two or three bonds with neighboring carbon atoms, with three bonds being the preferred configuration. Oxygen, by contrast, tends to bind with only two carbon atoms. Remarkably, however, triple-coordinated oxygen with three carbon neighbors is also observed, a configuration that is exceedingly rare in organic compounds.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12537-3

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