Impermeable atomic membranes from graphene sheets.
We demonstrate that a monolayer graphene membrane is impermeable to standard gases including helium. By applying a pressure difference across the membrane, we measure both the elastic constants and the mass of a single layer of graphene. This pressurized graphene membrane is the world's thinnest balloon and provides a unique separation barrier between 2 distinct regions that is only one atom thick.
Bunch
J Scott
JS
Cornell Center for Materials Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Verbridge
Scott S
SS
Alden
Jonathan S
JS
van der Zande
Arend M
AM
Parpia
Jeevak M
JM
Craighead
Harold G
HG
McEuen
Paul L
PL
D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force
D006108:Graphite