NU 2009-099
Inventors
Laura Cote
Jiaxing Huang*
Franklin Kim
Jaemyung Kim
Short Description
Method for visualizing graphene without special substrates
Abstract
Graphene based sheets have stimulated great interest due to their superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. A general visualization method has been developed that allows quick observation of these single atomic layers which can greatly facilitate sample evaluation and manipulation, and provide immediate feedback to improve synthesis and processing strategies. Thus, graphene based sheets can be made highly visible under a fluorescence microscope by quenching the emission from a dye coating, which can be conveniently removed afterwards by rinsing without disrupting the sheets. Graphene, graphene oxide, or reduced graphene oxide sheets can be readily observed by eye with good contrast for layer counting. The fluorescence quenching mechanism eliminates the need for special substrates. Direct observation of suspended sheets in solution was also demonstrated. With photomasks, fluorescence quenching microscopy also allows in-situ photo lithography on individual graphene based sheets to be carried out on a common fluorescence microscope. The fluorescence quenching microscopy offers unprecedented imaging flexibility and should become a general tool for characterizing graphene based materials.
Applications
Advantages
Publications
Kim J, Cote LJ, Kim F and Huang J (2010) Visualizing Graphene Based Sheets by Fluorescence Quenching Microscopy. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 132: 260-267.
Kim J, Kim F and Huang J (2010) Seeing Graphene Based Sheets. Materials Today. 13: 28-38.
IP Status
Issued US Patent No. 8,426,120