Controlling Edge Morphology in Graphene Layers Using Electron Irradiation: From Sharp Atomic Edges to Coalesced Layers Forming Loops Articles uri icon

authors

  • CRUZ-SILVA, E.
  • BOTELLO-MENDEZ, ANDRES
  • BARNETT, Z.M.
  • JIA, X.
  • Dresselhaus, M S
  • TERRONES, HUMBERTO
  • TERRONES MALDONADO, MAURICIO
  • SUMPTER, B. G.
  • MEUNIER, V.

publication date

  • July 2010

start page

  • 45501

issue

  • 4

volume

  • 105

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0031-9007

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1079-7114

abstract

  • Recent experimental reports indicate that Joule heating can atomically sharpen the edges of chemical vapor deposition grown graphitic nanoribbons. The absence or presence of loops between adjacent layers in
    the annealed materials is the topic of a growing debate that this
    Letter aims to put to rest. We offer a rationale explaining why loops do
    form if Joule heating is used alone, and why adjacent nanoribbon layers
    do not coalesce when Joule heating is applied after high-energy
    electrons first irradiate the sample. Our work, based on large-scale
    quantum molecular dynamics and electronic-transport calculations, shows
    that vacancies on adjacent graphene sheets, created by electron
    irradiation, inhibit the formation of edge loops.