Issue 16, 2016

Moving graphene devices from lab to market: advanced graphene-coated nanoprobes

Abstract

After more than a decade working with graphene there is still a preoccupying lack of commercial devices based on this wonder material. Here we report the use of high-quality solution-processed graphene sheets to fabricate ultra-sharp probes with superior performance. Nanoprobes are versatile tools used in many fields of science, but they can wear fast after some experiments, reducing the quality and increasing the cost of the research. As the market of nanoprobes is huge, providing a solution for this problem should be a priority for the nanotechnology industry. Our graphene-coated nanoprobes not only show enhanced lifetime, but also additional unique properties of graphene, such as hydrophobicity. Moreover, we have functionalized the surface of graphene to provide piezoelectric capability, and have fabricated a nano relay. The simplicity and low cost of this method, which can be used to coat any kind of sharp tip, make it suitable for the industry, allowing production on demand.

Graphical abstract: Moving graphene devices from lab to market: advanced graphene-coated nanoprobes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
10 Sep 2015
Accepted
06 Nov 2015
First published
09 Nov 2015

Nanoscale, 2016,8, 8466-8473

Author version available

Moving graphene devices from lab to market: advanced graphene-coated nanoprobes

F. Hui, P. Vajha, Y. Shi, Y. Ji, H. Duan, A. Padovani, L. Larcher, X. R. Li, J. J. Xu and M. Lanza, Nanoscale, 2016, 8, 8466 DOI: 10.1039/C5NR06235G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements