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In Situ Observations of Freestanding Single‐Atom‐Thick Gold Nanoribbons Suspended in Graphene
Author(s) -
Zhao Liang,
Ta Huy Q.,
Mendes Rafael G.,
Bachmatiuk Alicja,
Rummeli Mark H.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.671
H-Index - 65
ISSN - 2196-7350
DOI - 10.1002/admi.202000436
Subject(s) - materials science , graphene , monolayer , atom (system on chip) , nanotechnology , nanoscopic scale , in situ , membrane , chemical physics , metal , irradiation , chemical engineering , metallurgy , chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , computer science , nuclear physics , engineering , embedded system
Bulk gold's attributes of relative chemical inertness, rarity, relatively low melting point and its beautiful sheen make it a prized material for humans. Recordings suggest it was the first metal employed by humans dating as far back to the late Paleolithic period ≈40 000 BC. However, at the nanoscale gold is expected to present new and exciting properties, not least in catalysis. Moreover, recent studies suggest a new family of single‐atom‐thick two‐dimensional (2D) metals exist. This work shows single‐atom‐thick freestanding gold membranes and nanoribbons can form as suspended structures in graphene pores. Electron irradiation is shown to lead to changes to the graphene pores which lead to dynamic changes of the gold membranes which transition to a nanoribbon. The freestanding single‐atom‐thick 2D gold structures are relatively stable to electron irradiation for extended periods. The work should advance the development of 2D gold monolayers significantly.