Immobilization and Encapsulation of Micro- and Nano- Objects with Electron Transparent Graphene Oxide membranes

The encapsulation of objects with protective layers is employed in anticorrosive coatings of the metals [1], conformal coatings in microelectronics [2], micro encapsulation of chemicals for drug delivery [3] and etc. In many research and histological practices the microscopy access to the coated sample is desirable. We report here on facile methodology for immobilization and encapsulation of objects at microand nanoscales by means of nanometer thin and electronically transparent graphene oxide (GO) membranes. There are several features that make GO membranes advantageous for microscopy friendly encapsulation: (i) Low Z number for GO and, therefore, its high electron transparency, (ii) facile formation of the GO membranes at liquid-gas-solid interfaces coupled with simple and cost-effective wet protocols; (iii) its mechanical stiffness upon drying [5].