%0 Journal Article
%A Zonghoon Lee
%A Ki-Joon Jeon
%A Albert Dato
%A Rolf Erni
%A Thomas J Richardson
%A Michael Frenklach
%A Velimir Radmilovic
%B NanoLetters
%D 2009
%G eng
%N 9
%P 3365-3369
%R 10.1021/nl901664k
%T Direct Imagining of Soft-hard Interfaces Enabled by Graphene
%V 9
%8 09/2009
%! Nano Lett.
%X <p>Direct imaging of surface molecules and the interfaces between soft and hard materials on functionalized nanoparticles is a great challenge using modern microscopy techniques. We show that graphene, a single atomic layer of sp<sup>2</sup>-bonded carbon atoms, can be employed as an ultrathin support film that enables direct imaging of molecular layers and interfaces in both conventional and atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy. An atomic-resolution imaging study of the capping layers and interfaces of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles is used to demonstrate this novel capability. Our findings reveal the unique potential of graphene as an ideal support film for atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy of hard and soft nanomaterials.</p>