IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v5y2014i1d10.1038_ncomms4720.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unusual ultra-low-frequency fluctuations in freestanding graphene

Author

Listed:
  • P. Xu

    (University of Arkansas)

  • M. Neek-Amal

    (Departement Fysica, Universiteit Antwerpen
    Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University)

  • S. D. Barber

    (University of Arkansas)

  • J. K. Schoelz

    (University of Arkansas)

  • M. L. Ackerman

    (University of Arkansas)

  • P. M. Thibado

    (University of Arkansas)

  • A. Sadeghi

    (Departement Physik, Universat Basel)

  • F. M. Peeters

    (Departement Fysica, Universiteit Antwerpen)

Abstract

Intrinsic ripples in freestanding graphene have been exceedingly difficult to study. Individual ripple geometry was recently imaged using scanning tunnelling microscopy, but these measurements are limited to static configurations. Thermally-activated flexural phonon modes should generate dynamic changes in curvature. Here we show how to track the vertical movement of a one-square-angstrom region of freestanding graphene using scanning tunnelling microscopy, thereby allowing measurement of the out-of-plane time trajectory and fluctuations over long time periods. We also present a model from elasticity theory to explain the very-low-frequency oscillations. Unexpectedly, we sometimes detect a sudden colossal jump, which we interpret as due to mirror buckling. This innovative technique provides a much needed atomic-scale probe for the time-dependent behaviours of intrinsic ripples. The discovery of this novel progenitor represents a fundamental advance in the use of scanning tunnelling microscopy, which together with the application of a thermal load provides a low-frequency nano-resonator.

Suggested Citation

  • P. Xu & M. Neek-Amal & S. D. Barber & J. K. Schoelz & M. L. Ackerman & P. M. Thibado & A. Sadeghi & F. M. Peeters, 2014. "Unusual ultra-low-frequency fluctuations in freestanding graphene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4720
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4720
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms4720
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/ncomms4720?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yue Kai & Wenlong Xu & Bailin Zheng & Nan Yang & Kai Zhang & P. M. Thibado, 2019. "Origin of Non-Gaussian Velocity Distribution Found in Freestanding Graphene Membranes," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-7, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4720. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.