Inflating Graphene with Atomic Scale Blisters

Abstract

Using 80 kV electron beam irradiation we have created graphene blister defects of additional carbon atoms incorporated into a graphene lattice. These structures are the antithesis of the vacancy defect with blister defects observed to contain up to six additional carbon atoms. We present aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy data demonstrating the formation of a blister from an existing divacancy, together with further examples that undergo reconfiguration and annihilation under the electron beam. The relative stability of the observed variations of blister are discussed and considered in the context of previous calculations. It is shown that the blister defect is seldom found in isolation and is more commonly coupled with dislocations where it can act as an intermediate state, permitting dislocation core climb without the atom ejection from the graphene lattice required for nonconservative motion