Low-energy electron transmission imaging of clusters on free-standing graphene

Abstract

We investigated the utility of free-standing graphene as a transparent sample carrier for imaging nanometer-sized objects by means of low-energy electron holography. The sample preparation for obtaining contamination-free graphene as well as the experimental setup and findings are discussed. For incoming electrons with 66 eV kinetic energy, graphene exhibits 27% opacity per layer. Hence, electron holograms of nanometer-sized objects adsorbed on free-standing graphene can be recorded and numerically reconstructed to reveal the object's shapes and distribution. Furthermore, a Moiré effect has been observed with free-standing graphene multi-layers.