Graphene reknits its holes.

Zan, Recep; Ramasse, Quentin M; Bangert, Ursel; Novoselov, Konstantin S · Nano Lett · 2012

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Nanoholes, etched under an electron beam at room temperature in single-layer graphene sheets as a result of their interaction with metal impurities, are shown to heal spontaneously by filling up with either nonhexagon, graphene-like, or perfect hexagon 2D structures. Scanning transmission electron microscopy was employed to capture the healing process and study atom-by-atom the regrown structure. A combination of these nanoscale etching and reknitting processes could lead to new graphene tailoring approaches.