Suspension and simple optical characterization of two-dimensional membranes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple method to suspend two-dimensional materials like graphene and NbSe2 in circuits, enabling optical characterization of layer number and gap size using just a microscope and camera, suitable for sensitive environments.

Contribution

A novel suspension technique for 2D materials that facilitates optical characterization without complex equipment or processes.

Findings

Successful suspension of graphene and NbSe2 above electrodes.

Optical method accurately determines layer number and gap size.

Applicable in oxygen-sensitive environments like glove boxes.

Abstract

We report on a method for suspending two-dimensional crystal materials in an electronic circuit using an only photoresists and solvents. Graphene and NbSe${}_2$ are suspended tens of nanometers above metal electrodes with clamping diameters of several microns. The optical cavity formed from the membrane/air/metal structures enables a quick method to measure the number of layers and the gap separation using comparisons between the expected colour and optical microscope images. This characterization technique can be used with just an illuminated microscope with a digital camera which makes it adaptable to environments where other means of characterization are not possible, such as inside nitrogen glove boxes used in handling oxygen-sensitive materials.