title: 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 citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles is used to demonstrate this novel capability. Our findings reveal the unique potential of graphene as an ideal support film for atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy of hard and soft nanomaterials.
authors: National Center for Electron Microscopy, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. zhlee@lbl.gov
authors: Zonghoon
authors: Z
authors: Lee
authors: Ki-Joon
authors: KJ
authors: Jeon
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Dato
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Erni
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: Richardson
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Frenklach
authors: Velimir
authors: V
authors: Radmilovic
mesh_terms: D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006108:Graphite