Size contrast of Pt nanoparticles formed on neighboring domains within suspended and supported graphene.

Graphene (Gr) is one of the most explored 2D materials with unique combination of exotic properties, which have allowed for impressive wide spectrum of applications ranging from electronics and sensors to bio and electrochemical devices. However, it is still a challenge to produce high-quality Gr on a large scale.One of the appealing applications is the use of Gr as a catalyst support for Pt in fuel cells, which requires to shed light on the Pt-Gr interactions at local scale that should lead to modification of Pt and Gr properties.

Due to the small size of the low thickness (one or few layers) and high quality Gr films that can be obtained nowadays, it is, indeed, extremely difficult to study the behavior of suspended Gr flakes by characterization techniques other than the electron microscopies. [CONTINUE READING]