Impermeable atomic membranes from graphene sheets.

Bunch, J Scott; Verbridge, Scott S; Alden, Jonathan S; van der Zande, Arend M; Parpia, Jeevak M; Craighead, Harold G; McEuen, Paul L · Nano Lett · 2008

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We demonstrate that a monolayer graphene membrane is impermeable to standard gases including helium. By applying a pressure difference across the membrane, we measure both the elastic constants and the mass of a single layer of graphene. This pressurized graphene membrane is the world's thinnest balloon and provides a unique separation barrier between 2 distinct regions that is only one atom thick.

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