Imaging and dynamics of light atoms and molecules on graphene

Jannik C. Meyer (), C. O. Girit, M. F. Crommie and A. Zettl ()
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Jannik C. Meyer: University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
C. O. Girit: University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
M. F. Crommie: University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
A. Zettl: University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

Nature, 2008, vol. 454, issue 7202, 319-322

Abstract: Imaging atoms: 'Invisible' graphene brings electron microscopy to single carbons and hydrogens Scanning tunnelling microscopes made it possible to image atomic-scale features on a solid-state surface. But they have limitations in terms of sample conductivity, cleanliness and data acquisition rate. An older technology, the transmission electron microscope (TEM), meanwhile evolved to be able to image individual heavy atoms. But lighter atoms remained beyond its range because of their low contrast. Enter graphene, the one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms packed in a dense two-dimensional honeycomb lattice. Meyer et al. show that atoms as small as carbon and even hydrogen adsorbed onto graphene can be imaged using standard TEM technology. Ultrathin graphene is an ideal support, either invisible or, if the lattice is resolved at high resolution, its contribution to the imaging signal is easily removed. This approach brings atomic resolution to biomolecules as well as to graphene itself. The cover shows hydrogen atoms (purple) on a graphene sheet (red), with a carbon atom (yellow tipped) near left centre. Yellow peaks are amorphous carbon.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature07094

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