Size-selective nanoparticle growth on few-layer graphene films

Nano Lett. 2010 Mar 10;10(3):777-81. doi: 10.1021/nl9026605.

Abstract

We observe that gold atoms deposited by physical vapor deposition onto few-layer graphenes condense upon annealing to form nanoparticles with an average diameter that is determined by the graphene film thickness. The data are well described by a theoretical model in which the electrostatic interactions arising from charge transfer between the graphene and the gold particle limit the size of the growing nanoparticles. The model predicts a nanoparticle size distribution characterized by a mean diameter D that follows a D proportional, variant m(1/3) scaling law where m is the number of carbon layers in the few-layer graphene film.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Particle Size
  • Static Electricity
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Graphite