Direct matter disassembly via electron beam control: electron-beam-mediated catalytic etching of graphene by nanoparticles

Abstract

We report electron-beam activated motion of a catalytic nanoparticle along a graphene step edge and associated etching of the edge. This approach enables beam-controlled etching of matter through activated electrocatalytic processes. The applications of electron-beam control as a paradigm for molecular-scale robotics are discussed.

In Situ Fabrication of Freestanding Single‐Atom‐Thick 2D Metal/Metallene and 2D Metal/ Metallene Oxide Membranes: Recent Developments

“…Apart from being a standard method used in the characterization of nanomaterials with high spatial and temporal resolution, electrons are also used to obtain spectroscopic information about specimens, [ 75 , 76 ] as well as trigger catalytic processes. [ 77 ] Electron beams also find application in the use of additive manufacturing, also known as electron beam melting or 3D printing with electrons. [ 78 , 79 , 80 ] The fabrication of precise nanoparticle arrays and electric circuits are also possible using electron lithography.…”

“…Apart from being a standard method used in the characterization of nanomaterials with high spatial and temporal resolution, electrons are also used to obtain spectroscopic information about specimens, [75,76] as well as trigger catalytic processes. [77] Electron beams also find application in the use of additive manufactur- In situ (S)TEM e-beam-driven reactions are an ideal approach for forming single-atom-thick freestanding 2D metals membranes. A,B,F) Reproduced with permission.…”

The Atomic Drill Bit: Precision Controlled Atomic Fabrication of 2D Materials

“…[43][44][45][46] Efforts using similar types of beam control systems have recently produced unique insights for controlled atomic manipulation. [26,29,38,47] Herein, we develop an atomic fabrication method to induce, visualize, and control atomic transformations in 2D MoS 2 to form reconstructed atomic 1D-2D edge heterostructures in the most stable and smallest possible decorated nanopore. This goal is accomplished by controlling the geometric scan pathway to guide the transformation along specific crystallographic orientation using a focused sub-Å sized electron beam (e − beam) in an aberration corrected STEM.…”

“…[ 43–46 ] Efforts using similar types of beam control systems have recently produced unique insights for controlled atomic manipulation. [ 26,29,38,47 ]…”

Electron-Beam-Induced Molecular Plasmon Excitation and Energy Transfer in Silver Molecular Nanowires

“…Moreover, it allows an improved understanding of the interaction between electron beams and materials or molecules and, ultimately, for experimental techniques which take advantage of the electron beam’s shorter wavelength and broader energy range to control chemical reactions. In particular, regarding electron-beam-induced excitations, unique features have been reported both for first-principles excited state calculations and experimental electron spectroscopies, such as investigation of non-dipole-allowed electronic transitions promoted by electron beams. − Unlike the photoinduced excitations where the interaction between photons and materials can be well approximated by the electric dipole interaction and where the excitation intensity is mainly determined by the transition dipole moment, for the electron-beam-induced excitation there is a large spatial inhomogeneity of the (Coulomb-like) interaction potential between the beam and electrons in the materials; therefore, the resulting electronic excitations are beyond those predicted by the electric dipole matter–field interaction Hamiltonian. , Meanwhile, due to the short de Broglie wavelength of electrons comprising a high energy beam, a high spatial resolution of excitation can be achieved, and the excitations with different spatial distributions can be distinguished. − Consequently, the electron-beam-induced excitations can provide richer physical insights and opportunities for addressing features of these materials’ excited state electronic structures that are beyond the reach of optical spectroscopies.…”