Scientists discover massive strength of nanoparticle sheet only 50 atoms thick

Scientists at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory have discovered the surprising strength of a sheet of nanoparticles that measure just 50 atoms in thickness.

Washington, July 23 : Scientists at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory have discovered the surprising strength of a sheet of nanoparticles that measure just 50 atoms in thickness.

Even when suspended over a tiny hole and poked with an ultrafine tip, the membrane boasts the equivalent strength of an ultrathin sheet of plexiglass that maintains its structural integrity at relatively high temperatures.

"It's an amazing little marvel. This is not a very fragile layer, but rather a robust, resilient membrane," said Heinrich Jaeger, Professor in Physics at the University of Chicago.

"When we first realized that they can be suspended freely in air, it truly surprised all of us," said Xiao-Min Lin, a physicist at Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials.

The scientists say the material's characteristics make it a promising candidate for use as a highly sensitive pressure sensor in precision technological applications.

As artificial atoms, the nanoparticles might also serve as building blocks in assembling specially designed nano-objects, they add.

"If we use different types of nanoparticles to make the same kind of suspended membrane, we can even imagine using these devices as chemical filters to promote catalytic reactions on a very small length scale," said Lin.

"This is the ultimate limit of such a solid. It's just one layer. What is interesting is that already one layer is so resilient and has these interesting properties," added Jaeger.

The characteristics of the nanoparticles are described in the July 22 issue of the journal Nature.

ANI