6533b7d8fe1ef96bd126b783
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Evidence for Graphene Edges Beyond Zigzag and Armchair
Sami MalolaPekka KoskinenHannu Häkkinensubject
Materials scienceCondensed matter physicsCondensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale PhysicsGrapheneFOS: Physical sciencesHoneycomb (geometry)NanotechnologyEdge (geometry)Condensed Matter PhysicsElectronic Optical and Magnetic Materialslaw.inventionPlanarZigzaglawMetastabilityMesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)High-resolution transmission electron microscopyNanoscopic scaledescription
The edges of nanoscopic objects determine most of their properties. For this reason the edges of honeycomb carbon--always considered either zigzag- or armchair-like--need special attention. In this report we provide experimental evidence confirming a previous unexpected prediction: zigzag is a metastable edge, as its planar reconstruction lowers energy and forms the most stable graphene edge. Our evidence is based on re-analyzing a recent experiment. Since the reconstructed edge, along with other unconventional edges we discuss, has distinct chemical properties, this discovery urges for care in experiments and theory--we must enter the realm beyond zigzag and armchair.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-08-03 |