Addressing asymmetry of the charge and strain in a two-dimensional fullerene peapod

We prepared a two-dimensional (2D) analogue of a C70 fullerene peapod by the sequential assembly of 12C and 13C graphene single-layers, and C70 fullerenes. The local changes in the strain and doping were correlated with local roughness revealing asymmetry in the strain and doping with respect to the top and bottom layers. It is a first example of a carbon-only 2D nanoelectromechanical system. The concept is now exploited in design of 2D quantum computers using magnetic endohedral fullerenes.

Structure of a two-dimensional analogue of a fullerene peapod with isotopically labeled graphene single-layers (left) and map of distribution of strain in the top graphene layer determined from analysis of Raman active modes in graphene (right).

¹J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, CAS, v.v.i., Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Praha, Czech Republic
²Institute of Physics AS CR,Na Slovance 2, Prague 8, Czech Republic