| dc.description.abstract | Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) has emerged as a powerful tool for investigating
the potential of graphene as a substrate for molecular absorption, attracting considerable
attention in nanotechnology and materials science. In this study, the molecular absorption
characteristics of graphene utilizing a cutting-edge STM system were observed. STM
images of graphene on both graphite surfaces and commercially available Highly Ordered
Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) at room temperature were obtained and compared. Naturally
occurring graphite samples from Sri Lanka were used To ensure the highest level of
purity. These samples are renowned for their exceptional purity. The STM system was
used to acquire constant current and height mode images for three samples, including
commercially prepared HOPG and the naturally occurring graphite samples. The nat urally occurring sample exhibited the distinctive honeycomb structure of graphene with
minimal distortion, indicating its superior quality at low sample bias conditions. The
STM images obtained for the commercially prepared HOPG samples were comparable
to those of the naturally occurring samples, affirming their high quality and limited
presence of surface defects and faults. Overall, the results of this study underscore
the significance of STM analysis in unravelling the molecular absorption properties of
graphene. Moreover, they highlight the immense potential of graphene as a promising
substrate for diverse applications, such as molecular electronics, catalysis, and sensing.
The insights gained from this research pave the way for future advancements in graphene based nanotechnology. | en_US |
