Band Gap Closing in a Synthetic Hall Tube of Neutral Fermions.

We report the experimental realization of a synthetic three-leg Hall tube with ultracold fermionic atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. The legs of the synthetic tube are composed of three hyperfine spin states of the atoms, and the cyclic interleg links are generated by two-photon Raman transitions between the spin states, resulting in a uniform gauge flux ϕ penetrating each side plaquette of the tube. Using quench dynamics, we investigate the band structure of the Hall tube system for a commensurate flux ϕ=2π/3. Momentum-resolved analysis of the quench dynamics reveals a critical point of band gap closing as one of the interleg coupling strengths is varied, which is consistent with a topological phase transition predicted for the Hall tube system.

Realization of a Cross-Linked Chiral Ladder with Neutral Fermions in a 1D Optical Lattice by Orbital-Momentum Coupling.

We report the experimental realization of a cross-linked chiral ladder with ultracold fermionic atoms in a 1D optical lattice. In the ladder, the legs are formed by the orbital states of the optical lattice and the complex interleg links are generated by the orbital-changing Raman transitions that are driven by a moving lattice potential superimposed onto the optical lattice. The effective magnetic flux per ladder plaquette is tuned by the spatial periodicity of the moving lattice, and the chiral currents are observed from the asymmetric momentum distributions of the orbitals. The effect of the complex cross-links is demonstrated in quench dynamics by measuring the momentum dependence of the interorbital coupling strength. We discuss the topological phase transition of the chiral ladder system for the variations of the complex cross-links.

High-Density Single-Layer Coating of Gold Nanoparticles onto Multiple Substrates by Using an Intrinsically Disordered Protein of α-Synuclein for Nanoapplications.

Functional graffiti of nanoparticles onto target surface is an important issue in the development of nanodevices. A general strategy has been introduced here to decorate chemically diverse substrates with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the form of a close-packed single layer by using an omni-adhesive protein of α-synuclein (αS) as conjugated with the particles. Since the adsorption was highly sensitive to pH, the amino acid sequence of αS exposed from the conjugates and its conformationally disordered state capable of exhibiting structural plasticity are considered to be responsible for the single-layer coating over diverse surfaces. Merited by the simple solution-based adsorption procedure, the particles have been imprinted to various geometric shapes in 2-D and physically inaccessible surfaces of 3-D objects. The αS-encapsulated AuNPs to form a high-density single-layer coat has been employed in the development of nonvolatile memory, fule-cell, solar-cell, and cell-culture platform, where the outlying αS has played versatile roles such as a dielectric layer for charge retention, a sacrificial layer to expose AuNPs for chemical catalysis, a reaction center for silicification, and biointerface for cell attachment, respectively. Multiple utilizations of the αS-based hybrid NPs, therefore, could offer great versatility to fabricate a variety of NP-integrated advanced materials which would serve as an indispensable component for widespread applications of high-performance nanodevices.

Mapping of Bernal and non-Bernal stacking domains in bilayer graphene using infrared nanoscopy.

Bilayer graphene (BLG) shows great potential as a new material for opto-electronic devices because its bandgap can be controlled by varying the stacking orders, as well as by applying an external electric field. An imaging technique that can visualize and characterize various stacking domains in BLG may greatly help in fully utilizing such properties of BLG. Here we demonstrate that infrared (IR) scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (sSNOM) can visualize Bernal and non-Bernal stacking domains of BLG, based on the stacking-specific inter- and intra-band optical conductivities. The method enables nanometric mapping of stacking domains in BLG on dielectric substrates, augmenting current limitations of Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy techniques for the structural characterization of BLG.

Strain Relaxation of Graphene Layers by Cu Surface Roughening.

The surface morphology of copper (Cu) often changes after the synthesis of graphene by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on a Cu foil, which affects the electrical properties of graphene, as the Cu step bunches induce the periodic ripples on graphene that significantly disturb electrical conduction. However, the origin of the Cu surface reconstruction has not been completely understood yet. Here, we show that the compressive strain on graphene induced by the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient with Cu surface can be released by forming periodic Cu step bunching that depends on graphene layers. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and the Raman analysis show the noticeably longer and higher step bunching of Cu surface under multilayer graphene and the weaker biaxial compressive strain on multilayer graphene compared to monolayer. We found that the surface areas of Cu step bunches under multilayer and monolayer graphene are increased by ∼1.41% and ∼0.77% compared to a flat surface, respectively, indicating that the compressive strain on multilayer graphene can be more effectively released by forming the Cu step bunching with larger area and longer periodicity. We believe that our finding on the strain relaxation of graphene layers by Cu step bunching formation would provide a crucial idea to enhance the electrical performance of graphene electrodes by controlling the ripple density of graphene.

Correction: Graphene-catalyzed photoreduction of dye molecules revealed by graphene enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Correction for 'Graphene-catalyzed photoreduction of dye molecules revealed by graphene enhanced Raman spectroscopy' by Bora Lee et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2016, 18, 3413-3415.

Exfoliation and Raman Spectroscopic Fingerprint of Few-Layer NiPS3 Van der Waals Crystals.

The range of mechanically cleavable Van der Waals crystals covers materials with diverse physical and chemical properties. However, very few of these materials exhibit magnetism or magnetic order, and thus the provision of cleavable magnetic compounds would supply invaluable building blocks for the design of heterostructures assembled from Van der Waals crystals. Here we report the first successful isolation of monolayer and few-layer samples of the compound nickel phosphorus trisulfide (NiPS3) by mechanical exfoliation. This material belongs to the class of transition metal phosphorus trisulfides (MPS3), several of which exhibit antiferromagnetic order at low temperature, and which have not been reported in the form of ultrathin sheets so far. We establish layer numbers by optical bright field microscopy and atomic force microscopy, and perform a detailed Raman spectroscopic characterization of bilayer and thicker NiPS3 flakes. Raman spectral features are strong functions of excitation wavelength and sample thickness, highlighting the important role of interlayer coupling. Furthermore, our observations provide a spectral fingerprint for distinct layer numbers, allowing us to establish a sensitive and convenient means for layer number determination.

Graphene-catalyzed photoreduction of dye molecules revealed by graphene enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

The unique electrical and optical properties of graphene have enabled its application in various photocatalysis reactions. However, graphene needs to be combined with photosensitizing co-catalysts such as TiO2 due to its negligible visible light absorption. Here, we report that the single layer graphene by itself is capable of catalyzing the photoreduction of dye molecules, which has been revealed by graphene-enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies. The proposed mechanism involves the electron transfer from graphene to temporarily empty HOMO states of photoexcited dye molecules, which can be interpreted as ultrafast hole transfer from dyes to graphene. We also confirm that graphene-encapsulated nitrobenzene dyes show less photoreduction, implying that the ambient hydrogen molecules are the important source of photoreduction into aniline dyes. The photocatalytic reactivity of graphene would find numerous energy and environmental applications in the future.

Low-Temperature, Dry Transfer-Printing of a Patterned Graphene Monolayer.

Graphene has recently attracted much interest as a material for flexible, transparent electrodes or active layers in electronic and photonic devices. However, realization of such graphene-based devices is limited due to difficulties in obtaining patterned graphene monolayers on top of materials that are degraded when exposed to a high-temperature or wet process. We demonstrate a low-temperature, dry process capable of transfer-printing a patterned graphene monolayer grown on Cu foil onto a target substrate using an elastomeric stamp. A challenge in realizing this is to obtain a high-quality graphene layer on a hydrophobic stamp made of poly(dimethylsiloxane), which is overcome by introducing two crucial modifications to the conventional wet-transfer method - the use of a support layer composed of Au and the decrease in surface tension of the liquid bath. Using this technique, patterns of a graphene monolayer were transfer-printed on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate and MoO3, both of which are easily degraded when exposed to an aqueous or aggressive patterning process. We discuss the range of application of this technique, which is currently limited by oligomer contaminants, and possible means to expand it by eliminating the contamination problem.

Graphene-based nanomaterials for versatile imaging studies.

Over the last decade, interest in graphene has surged because of its unprecedented physical, chemical, electrical, and mechanical properties. In recent years, researchers' interests have gradually shifted to other notable properties of graphene - its environmentally-friendly nature with outstanding optical properties. Thus, graphene is considered to be a promising and attractive candidate for various biomedical applications such as NIR-responsive cancer therapy and fluorescence bio-imaging. To that end, appropriate preparation and novel approaches to utilize graphene-based materials such as graphene oxides (GOs), reduced graphene oxides (rGOs), and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) in biology and medical science are gaining growing interest. In this review, we highlight recent applications of graphene-based materials as novel prospects for versatile imaging studies with a brief perspective on their future applications.

Growth dynamics and gas transport mechanism of nanobubbles in graphene liquid cells.

Formation, evolution and vanishing of bubbles are common phenomena in nature, which can be easily observed in boiling or falling water, carbonated drinks, gas-forming electrochemical reactions and so on. However, the morphology and the growth dynamics of the bubbles at nanoscale have not been fully investigated owing to the lack of proper imaging tools that can visualize nanoscale objects in the liquid phase. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the nanobubbles in water encapsulated by graphene membrane can be visualized by in-situ ultra-high vacuum transmission electron microscopy. Our microscopic results indicate two distinct growth mechanisms of merging nanobubbles and the existence of a critical radius of nanobubbles that determines the unusually long stability of nanobubbles. Interestingly, the gas transport through ultrathin water membranes at nanobubble interface is free from dissolution, which is clearly different from conventional gas transport that includes condensation, transmission and evaporation.

One-step synthesis of N-doped graphene quantum sheets from monolayer graphene by nitrogen plasma.

High-quality N-doped graphene quantum sheets are successfully fabricated from as-grown monolayer graphene on Cu using nitrogen plasma, which can be transferred as a film-like layer or easily dispersed in an organic solvent for further optoelectronic or photoelectrochemical applications.

Vapor-phase molecular doping of graphene for high-performance transparent electrodes.

Doping is an essential process to engineer the conductivity and work-function of graphene for higher performance optoelectronic devices, which includes substitutional atomic doping by reactive gases, electrical/electrochemical doping by gate bias, and chemical doping by acids or reducing/oxidizing agents. Among these, the chemical doping has been widely used due to its simple process and high doping strength. However, it also has an instability problem in that the molecular dopants tend to gradually evaporate from the surface of graphene, leading to substantial decrease in doping effect with time. In particular, the instability problem is more serious for n-doped graphene because of undesirable reaction between dopants and oxygen or water in air. Here we report a simple method to tune the electrical properties of CVD graphene through n-doping by vaporized molecules at 70 °C, where the dopants in vapor phase are mildly adsorbed on graphene surface without direct contact with solution. To investigate the dependence on functional groups and molecular weights, we selected a series of ethylene amines as a model system, including ethylene diamine (EDA), diethylene triamine (DETA), and triethylene tetramine (TETA) with increasing number of amine groups showing different vapor pressures. We confirmed that the vapor-phase doping provides not only very high carrier concentration but also good long-term stability in air, which is particularly important for practical applications.