Physics department
Recently a conceptually new class of materials – two dimensional atomic crystals – was discovered in our laboratory [1,2]. Such crystals can be seen as individual atomic planes “pulled out” of bulk crystals and were previously presumed not to exist in the free state. Despite being only one atom thick and unprotected from the immediate environment, these materials are extremely stable and demonstrate very high crystallographic quality.
In this project we focus on graphene, a freestanding monolayer of graphite where carbon atoms are densely packed in a honeycomb lattice, being:
- ultimately thin (only one layer of atoms)
- exceptionally strong (carbon bonds are the strongest chemical bonds known)
- extremely good conductor (graphene is tipped for the new generation of ballistic transistors) and
- inert – graphene is considered to be an ideal substrate for studying macromolecules with TEM and LEEPS microscopy.
We prepare free-hanging graphene membrane of different shapes and sizes, which are served as strong and conductive support for an object under investigation. The possibility of changing the electrical potential and the curvature of the membranes should also help in achieving the ultimate resolution of TEM and LEEPSM techniques.
1. K.S. Novoselov, D. Jiang, F. Schedin, T.J. Booth, V.V. Khotkevich, S.M. Morozov & A.K. Geim. Two Dimensional Atomic Crystals, PNAS 102, 10451-10453 (2005).
2. K.S. Novoselov, A.K. Geim, S.V. Morozov, D. Jiang, Y. Zhang, S.V. Dubonos, I.V. Grigorieva, A.A. Firsov. Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films, Science 306, 666-669 (2004).
For further reading on graphene see:
Mesoscopic Physics Group of University of Manchester
Graphene Industries
Manchester Graphene Membranes