Factors Contributing to Size Selection of Metal Nanoparticles on Graphene

ORAL

Abstract

We examine layer number dependence in the size of metal nanoparticles grown on single and multilayer graphene. Graphene offers a smooth inert substrate for nanoparticles, in particular for particles grown in situ. Upon annealing, the particles forming on thin layers are smaller. A theory based on balance between self-repulsive dipole interaction and surface tension is presented. We test this theory by examining size distributions for various metals.

*This work was supported by the JSTO DTRA and the Army Research Office Grant \# W911NF-06-1-0462.

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Authors

  • Luke Somers

    • University of Pennsylvania

  • Eugene Mele

    • University of Pennsylvania

  • Zhengtang Luo

    • University of Pennsylvania
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

  • Alan T. Johnson

    • University of Pennsylvania
    • U. Pennsylvania
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania