Direct imaging of soft-hard interfaces enabled by graphene.
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.
Lee
Zonghoon
Z
National Center for Electron Microscopy, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. zhlee@lbl.gov
Jeon
Ki-Joon
KJ
Dato
Albert
A
Erni
Rolf
R
Richardson
Thomas J
TJ
Frenklach
Michael
M
Radmilovic
Velimir
V
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
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006108:Graphite