MatSciCon2023: Researchers studying graphene have photographed atoms "swimming" in a liquid
To better understand how the presence of liquid alters the behaviour of the solid, a team led by scientists from the National Graphene Institute (NGI) employed stacks of 2D materials like graphene to trap liquid. Their findings were published in the journal Nature. For the first time, the team was able to photograph a single atom " swimming " in a liquid. The results might have a significant effect on how green technologies like hydrogen production are developed in the future. When a liquid and a solid are in close proximity to one another, both substances adapt to the other's presence. These atomic-scale interactions at solid-liquid interfaces control the behaviour of fuel cells and batteries used to generate clean power, as well as the effectiveness of systems used to produce clean water and many biological activities. Professor Sarah Haigh , one of the principal investigators, said: "It is incredibly astounding how much we still don't understand about the pri...