Germanene Reformation from Oxidized Germanene on Ag(111)/Ge(111) by Vacuum Annealing.

For group 14 mono-elemental 2D materials, such as silicene, germanene, and stanene, oxidation is a severe problem that alters or degrades their physical properties. This study shows that the oxidized germanene on Ag(111)/Ge(111) can be reformed to germanene by simple heating ≈500 °C in a vacuum. The key reaction in reforming germanene is the desorption of GeO and GeO during heating ≈350 °C.

Efficient Hydrogen Isotope Separation by Tunneling Effect Using Graphene-Based Heterogeneous Electrocatalysts in Electrochemical Hydrogen Isotope Pumping.

The fabrication of a hydrogen isotope enrichment system is essential for the development of industrial, medical, life science, and nuclear fusion fields, and therefore, efficient enrichment techniques with a high separation factor and economic feasibility are still being explored. Herein, we report a hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) separation ability with polymer electrolyte membrane electrochemical hydrogen pumping (PEM-ECHP) using a heterogeneous electrode consisting of palladium and graphene layers (PdGr). By mass spectroscopic analysis, we demonstrate significant bias voltage dependence of the H/D separation factor with a maximum of ∼25 at 0.

Controlled growth of boron-doped epitaxial graphene by thermal decomposition of a BC thin film.

We show that boron-doped epitaxial graphene can be successfully grown by thermal decomposition of a boron carbide thin film, which can also be epitaxially grown on a silicon carbide substrate. The interfaces of BC on SiC and graphene on BC had a fixed orientation relation, having a local stable structure with no dangling bonds. The first carbon layer on BC acts as a buffer layer, and the overlaying carbon layers are graphene.

Surface Morphology Analysis of Zirconium Dioxide Nanoparticles at 1200 K by Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles were heated at 1200 K in a transmission electron microscope, and their surfaces were observed in situ via lattice imaging. The nanoparticles exhibited well-defined crystal habits while fluctuating the surface terrace structures. The stable surfaces and ridges were inferred from the fluctuation of the terraces, leading to the construction of the three-dimensional surface structures at 1200 K.

Development of 2000 K Class High Temperature In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy of Nanostructured Materials via Resistive Heating.

We report the development of a new type of a 2000 K class high temperature stage for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of various shaped nanostructured materials, i.e., nanometer-sized isolated nanostructures, such as particles, fibers, and thin films, and nanocrystalline bulk materials.

Radiation-mode optical microscopy on the growth of graphene.

Chemical vapour deposition (CVD) growth of graphene has attracted much attention, aiming at the mass production of large-area and high-quality specimens. To optimize the growth condition, CVD grown graphene is conventionally characterized after synthesis. Real-time observation during graphene growth enables us to understand the growth mechanism and control the growth more easily.