Atomic Resolution Imaging of CrBr<sub>3</sub> Using Adhesion-Enhanced Grids.

Hamer, Matthew J; Hopkinson, David G; Clark, Nick; Zhou, Mingwei; Wang, Wendong; Zou, Yichao; Kelly, Daniel J; Bointon, Thomas H et al. · Nano Lett · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Suspended specimens of 2D crystals and their heterostructures are required for a range of studies including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical transmission experiments, and nanomechanical testing. However, investigating the properties of laterally small 2D crystal specimens, including twisted bilayers and air-sensitive materials, has been held back by the difficulty of fabricating the necessary clean suspended samples. Here we present a scalable solution that allows clean free-standing specimens to be realized with 100% yield by dry-stamping atomically thin 2D stacks onto a specially developed adhesion-enhanced support grid. Using this new capability, we demonstrate atomic resolution imaging of defect structures in atomically thin CrBr<sub>3</sub>, a novel magnetic material that degrades in ambient conditions.