’Hot’ graphene reveals migration of carbon atoms

A carbon atom ( highlighted in orange ) migrating on the surface of graphene at elevated temperature towards a vacancy, racing against a scanning electron beam (green-yellow glow) nearing the same position. Concept: Toma Susi / Uni. Vienna, Graphic design: Ella Maru Studio) - The migration of carbon atoms on the surface of the nanomaterial graphene was recently measured for the first time. Although the atoms move too swiftly to be directly observed with an electron microscope, their effect on the stability of the material can now be determined indirectly while the material is heated on a microscopic hot plate. The study by researchers at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Vienna was published in the journal Carbon. Carbon is an element essential to all known life and exists in nature primarily as graphite or diamond. Over the past decades, material scientists have created many novel forms of carbon that include fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene.