Imaging atomic-level random walk of a point defect in graphene

Autor(en)

Jani Kotakoski, Clemens Mangler, Jannik C. Meyer

Abstrakt

Deviations from the perfect atomic arrangements in crystals play an important role in affecting their properties. Similarly, diffusion of such deviations is behind many microstructural changes in solids. However, observation of point defect diffusion is hindered both by the difficulties related to direct imaging of non-periodic structures and by the timescales involved in the diffusion process. Here, instead of imaging thermal diffusion, we stimulate and follow the migration of a divacancy through graphene lattice using a scanning transmission electron microscope operated at 60 kV. The beam-activated process happens on a timescale that allows us to capture a significant part of the structural transformations and trajectory of the defect. The low voltage combined with ultra-high vacuum conditions ensure that the defect remains stable over long image sequences, which allows us for the first time to directly follow the diffusion of a point defect in a crystalline material.

Organisation(en)

Physik Nanostrukturierter Materialien

Externe Organisation(en)

University of Helsinki

Journal

Nature Communications

Band

5

Anzahl der Seiten

5

ISSN

2041-1723

Publikationsdatum

05-2014

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

210006 Nanotechnologie, 103008 Experimentalphysik, 103009 Festkörperphysik

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Allgemeine Physik und Astronomie, Allgemeine Chemie, Allgemeine Biochemie, Genetik und Molekularbiologie

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/9d8aa25c-44ce-49b0-afb2-38cc5c0f799c