Single-Layer Functionalized Graphene Sheets

We are now able to produce gram quantities of single-layer functionalized graphene sheets in our laboratory. These sheets have outstanding mechanical properties and can easily be dispersed in a range of solvents, including water.

The above figure shows the topography of a few of these sheets on top of an atomically smooth surface, determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). As the cross-section indicates, all of these sheets feature a uniform thickness of about ~1 nm, confirming that all sheets are single-layer. In addition to the graphene-like backbone of these sheets, functional groups on either side of the sheets contribute to this observed sheet thickness.