Tuning the nanoscale rippling of graphene with PEGylated gold nanoparticles and ion irradiation

Here we report a new method combining strain and defect engineering for the periodic modulation of graphene nanoscale rippling. First, gold nanoparticles 16 nm in diameter were synthesized by seed-mediated, wet-chemical approach, thiol-terminated polyethylene glycol (mPEG-SH) molecules grafted onto their surface. High-density monolayers PEGylated successfully prepared on Si substrates Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Graphene grown chemical vapour deposition was transferred nanoparticle monolayer, characterized atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling as well Raman spectroscopy. The induced rippling fine-tuned Ar+ ion irradiation.