Two-Dimensional Water Diffusion at a Graphene-Silica Interface

TL;DR

This study investigates water diffusion at a graphene-silica interface, revealing real-time visualization of intercalation, reversible graphene deformation, and the properties of interfacial water layers using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.

Contribution

It demonstrates the use of graphene as a transparent, atom-thick confining layer to study 2D water diffusion and interfacial phenomena at the nanoscale.

Findings

Water intercalates from edges to center underneath graphene.

Interfacial water layer is approximately 3.5 Å thick, like a bilayer of ice.

Graphene deforms reversibly to accommodate water clusters.

Abstract

Because of the dominant role of the surface of molecules and their individuality, molecules behave dis-tinctively in a confined space, which has far-reaching implications in many physical, chemical and bio-logical systems. Here, we demonstrate that graphene forms a unique atom-thick interstitial space that enables the study of molecular diffusion in 2-dimensions with underlying silica substrates. Raman spec-troscopy visualized intercalation of water from the edge to the center underneath graphene in real time, which was dictated by the hydrophilicity of the substrates. In addition, graphene undergoes reversible deformation to conform to intercalating water clusters or islands. Atomic force microscopy confirmed that the interfacial water layer is only ca. 3.5 angstroms thick, corresponding to one bilayer unit of normal ice. This study also demonstrates that oxygen species responsible for the ubiquitous hole dop-ing are located below graphene. In addition to serving as a transparent confining wall, graphene and possibly other 2-dimensional materials can be used as an optical indicator sensitive to interfacial mass transport and charge transfer.