The world's thinnest ice is only one atom thick

New York researchers report on developing the world's thinnest balloon, made from a single atomic graphite. No gas molecules can penetrate the sphere enclosed by this micrograph of graphene, including helium.

It has many applications in the field of sensors, filters and material descriptors at the atomic level. Paul L. McEuen and colleagues emphasize that membranes are a fundamental component of many physical systems. , chemistry and biology, found in everything from cell to mechanical pressure sensing. Graphene material - a single graphite layer - at a higher limit: It is a stable chemical membrane, and its conductivity is only one atom thick . Researchers want to find out if such membranes are invulnerable to gas molecules and are easily incorporated into other devices.

Their data show that even the smallest gas molecules can not penetrate the graphene membrane.

This result confirms that single-atom-thick films can be combined with microstructure to produce new devices at the atomic level.

"We have envisioned many applications for these graphene-coated spheres, from light sensors, chemical sensors and super-sensitive ones to the purest filters," McEuen said .

Refer:

Bunch et al. Impermeable Atomic Membranes from Graphene Sheets. Nano Letters, 2008; 0 (0): 0 DOI: 10.1021 / nl801457b