Home > Press > SuperSTEM research reveals that graphene re-knits its holes
Abstract:
Scientists at The University of Manchester and the SuperSTEM facility at STFC's Daresbury Laboratory have discovered that the ‘miracle material', graphene, undergoes a self repairing process to mend holes. This research, published in Nano Letters (link opens in a new window), could hold the key in the quest to realise graphene's huge potential for use in fields from electronics to medicine.
SuperSTEM research reveals that graphene re-knits its holes
Daresbury, UK | Posted on July 20th, 2012
Graphene, which is made of sheets of carbon just one atom thick, is a promising material for a wide range of future applications due, for instance, to its exceptional electronic properties.
The team, which included Professor Kostya Novoselov, who shared a Nobel Prize
(link opens in a new window) in Physics in 2010 for exploiting the remarkable properties of graphene, was originally looking to gain a deeper understanding into how metals interact with graphene, essential if it is to be integrated into practical electronic devices in the future.
The researchers were using a powerful electron microscope at the SuperSTEM Laboratory at Daresbury, which
allows scientists to study the properties of materials one atom at a time. They recently demonstrated that metals can initiate the formation of holes in the graphene sheet, which could be hugely detrimental to the properties of any graphene-based device.
Surprise results then showed that some of the holes that had been created during this process were actually mending themselves spontaneously using nearby loose carbon atoms to re-knit the graphene structure.
Dr Quentin Ramasse, Scientific Director at SuperSTEM said: "This was a very exciting and unexpected result. The fact that graphene can heal itself under the right conditions may be the difference between a working device and a proof of concept without any real application. We may now have a way of not only drilling through graphene in a controlled fashion to sculpt it at the atomic level, but also to grow it back in new shapes. This adds a lot of flexibility to our nanotechnology toolbox and could pave the way to future technological applications".
####
About STFC
SuperSTEM (link opens in a new window)is the EPSRC National Facility for Aberration Corrected STEM and is run by a consortium of universities, consisting of Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Oxford. Other collaboration agreements with the external partner universities Cambridge, Sheffield, Warwick and York will be commencing shortly and the facility has received £4.5M funding from EPSRC.
SuperSTEM consists of a principal site facility hosting two aberration corrected STEM instruments in a purpose-designed building at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory, along with four aberration-corrected STEM instruments located at the consortium universities and further instruments located at the partner universities.
Access to SuperSTEM is free at the point of use for EPSRC eligible UK researchers or RCUK ticket holders. Other access is subject to funding. It also welcomes applications from commercial institutions.
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Wendy Ellison
Tel: +44 (0)1925 603 232
Mob: +44 (0)7919 548 012
Copyright © STFC
If you have a comment, please
Contact us.
Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Bookmark:
View the full paper online here:
News and information
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013
Graphene
Controlling magnetic clouds in graphene June 14th, 2013
Spot-welding graphene nanoribbons atom by atom June 13th, 2013
Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries: Rice University lab combines graphene nanoribbons with tin oxide for improved anodes June 13th, 2013
Graphene and semiconductor technology together: smaller, cheaper, better June 12th, 2013
Govt.-Legislation/Regulation/Funding/Policy
Working backward: Computer-aided design of zeolite templates: Rice scientists apply drug-design lessons to production of industrial minerals June 17th, 2013
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Nanoparticle Opens the Door to Clean-Energy Alternatives June 14th, 2013
Discovery of new material state counterintuitive to laws of physics June 14th, 2013
Chip Technology
Which qubit my dear? New method to distinguish between neighbouring quantum bits June 18th, 2013
SEMATECH to Address Critical Supply Chain Challenges and Present Latest Technology Advances at SEMICON West 2013 June 17th, 2013
Imec shows multiple enhancement options for next-generation FinFETs: Leading nano-electronics R&D center addresses key challenges of Germanium finFET technology at VLSI 2013 June 14th, 2013
Imec showcases innovation in RRAM R&D at VLSI Technology Symposium June 14th, 2013
Nanomedicine
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013
Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013
European Technology Platform for Nanomedicine and Nanomed2020 European Consortium Launch the Nanomedicine Award June 17th, 2013
Nanoelectronics
Imec shows multiple enhancement options for next-generation FinFETs: Leading nano-electronics R&D center addresses key challenges of Germanium finFET technology at VLSI 2013 June 14th, 2013
Controlling magnetic clouds in graphene June 14th, 2013
Spot-welding graphene nanoribbons atom by atom June 13th, 2013
World's first large(wafer)-scale production of III-V semiconductor nanowire June 10th, 2013
Discoveries
Which qubit my dear? New method to distinguish between neighbouring quantum bits June 18th, 2013
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
Announcements
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013