Photolithographically-patterned C-MEMS graphene by carbon diffusion through nickel.

In recent years the most studied carbon allotrope has been graphene, due to the outstanding properties that this two-dimensional material exhibits; however, it turns out to be a difficult material to produce, pattern, and transfer to a device substrate without contamination. Carbon microelectromechanical systems are a versatile technology used to create nano/micro carbon devices by pyrolyzing a patterned photoresist, making them highly attractive for industrial applications. Furthermore, recent works have reported that pyrolytic carbon material can be graphitized by the diffusion of carbon atoms through a transition metal layer.

Assembly and thermal stability of thin EP-PTCDI films on Ag(111).

We report a multi-technique study of the adsorption kinetics and self-assembly characteristics of EP-PTCDI grown on Ag(111) at UHV conditions and room temperature. Changes in the valence band characteristics for the mono and the multilayer film and the stability as a function of the annealing temperature are discussed. The results show that the molecules start to adsorb on the step edges forming ordered islands that grow to fully cover a monolayer.