Direct imaging charge distribution in reduced graphene oxide sheets induced by isolated charges

Abstract

In this paper, we directly visualized the charges distributed in one-atom-thick reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheet induced by adjacent charged rGO using a sample-charged mode scanning polarization force microscopy. We found that electron carriers could be attracted to one side of the rGO sheet and leave holes on the other side. The induced charges were distributed inhomogeneously; that is, contrary to earlier reports, the free carrier concentration was neither distributed on the ends, nor distributed uniformly on the whole rGO sheet. When the surrounding rGO sheets were injected with electrostatic charges, the motion of the charge carriers happened in the target-neutral rGO sheet simultaneously. The charges induced in the rGO sheet by isolated charges on adjacent rGO sheets decayed rapidly with the increasing of their separated distance. In addition, fine control of the distribution of the induced charges in a single rGO sheet could be realized through placing more isolated charges in the surrounding areas. These findings suggest a feasible and precise strategy for the modulation and design of local-charge-sensitive functional graphene-based systems.