A generic "micro-Stoney" method for the measurement of internal stress and elastic modulus of ultrathin films.

Accurate measurement of the mechanical properties of ultra-thin films with thicknesses typically below 100 nm is a challenging issue with an interest in many fields involving coating technologies, microelectronics, and MEMS. A bilayer curvature based method is developed for the simultaneous determination of the elastic mismatch strain and Young's modulus of ultra-thin films. The idea is to deposit the film or coating on very thin cantilevers in order to amplify the curvature compared to a traditional "Stoney" wafer curvature test, hence the terminology "micro-Stoney.

Tuning TiO2 nanoparticle morphology in graphene-TiO2 hybrids by graphene surface modification.

We report the hydrothermal synthesis of graphene (GNP)-TiO2 nanoparticle (NP) hybrids using COOH and NH2 functionalized GNP as a shape controller. Anatase was the only TiO2 crystalline phase nucleated on the functionalized GNP, whereas traces of rutile were detected on unfunctionalized GNP. X-Ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed C-Ti bonds on all hybrids, thus confirming heterogeneous nucleation.

Decoration of graphitic surfaces with Sn nanoparticles through surface functionalization using diazonium chemistry.

Composites of tin nanoparticles (Sn NP) and graphene are candidate materials for high capacity and mechanically stable negative electrodes in rechargeable Li ion batteries. A uniform dispersion of Sn NP with controlled size is necessary to obtain high electrochemical performance. We show that the nucleation of Sn particles on highly ordered pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) from solution can be controlled by functionalizing the HOPG surface by aryl groups prior to Sn deposition.