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Caption:
The SEM micrograph shows an isolated and wrinkled hexagonal graphene grain supported on copper. Graphene is a 2-D material with mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties that exceed conventional engineering materials.
Ben Davis
Ryan Hines
Advisor: Matt Maschmann
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Laboratory website: http://engineers.missouri.edu/maschmannm/
Technique: Transmission Electron Microscopy
Description:
This grain of graphene was synthesized using chemical vapor deposition on a copper foil substrate. The hexagonal shape of the graphene grain is indicative of the graphene hexagonal crystal lattice structure, while the striped pattern arises due to adhesion and wrinkling with the underlying substrate. To fully capitalize on the potentially transformative physical properties of graphene, we are examining methodologies to locally machine carbon nanomaterials such as graphene with the spatial resolution consistent with that of scanning electron microscopes (~2 nm). This image was taken prior to machining; however, a small rhombus-shaped test hole may be seen near the bottom right face of the graphene crystal. Through innovative nanomanufacturing, we hope to design highly efficient nanoscale transistors and devices with areal densities greater than current integrated circuits.
Funding Source: This work is funded by the University of Missouri Alumni Association Richard Wallace Faculty Incentive Grant.
