Controlled healing of graphene nanopores

TL;DR

This study uses computer simulations to explore how graphene nanopores heal and grow, revealing two distinct mechanisms that influence nanopore size control for nanotech applications.

Contribution

It identifies and characterizes two different healing mechanisms of graphene nanopores, advancing understanding of graphene annealing processes.

Findings

Two distinct healing mechanisms identified: edge attachment and atom insertion.

Healing mechanisms depend on temperature and pore size.

Insights enable better control of nanopore size for nanotechnology applications.

Abstract

Nanopores of nanometer-size holes are very promising devices for many applications: DNA sequencing, sensory, biosensoring and molecular detectors, catalysis and water desalination. These applications require accurate control over nanopores size. We report computer simulation studies of regrowth and healing of graphene nanopores of different sizes ranging from 30 to 5 {\AA}. We study mechanism, speed of nanopores regrowth and structure of healed areas in the wide range of temperatures. We report existence of at least two distinct healing mechanisms, one so called edge attachment where carbons are attached to the edges of graphene sheet and another mechanism that involves atom insertion directly into a sheet of graphene even in the absence of the edges. These findings point a significantly more complicated pathways for graphene annealing. They also provide an important enabling step in development of graphene based devices for numerous nanotechnology applications.