| Apr 02, 2020 | |
Molding molecular matter(Nanowerk News) Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory used a focused beam of electrons to stitch platinum-silicon molecules into graphene, marking the first deliberate insertion of artificial molecules into a graphene host matrix. |
|
| The research was published in Carbon ("Electron-beam introduction of heteroatomic Pt–Si structures in graphene"). | |
 |
|
| Researchers insert a platinum-silicon molecule into a graphene lattice with a focused electron beam. (Image: Ondrej Dyck) | |
| While scientists have already used the beam of a high-resolution electron microscope to intentionally rearrange graphene’s carbon-based molecular structure, this new development greatly enhances scientists’ ability to control matter at the atomic scale. | |
| “This technique allows us to insert foreign molecules into the graphene lattice to change its physical properties,” said ORNL’s Ondrej Dyck. | |
| He explained that this process is generally applicable and could be especially useful for prototyping quantum-based devices — including solid state qubits for quantum computers — from graphene and other ultra-thin materials. |
| Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory | |
|
Subscribe to a free copy of one of our daily Nanowerk Newsletter Email Digests with a compilation of all of the day's news. |