Local Electrical Conductivity Research Articles

“Stick–slip” fluctuations in local electrical conductivity maps on graphite surfaces: A revisit

Electrical conductivity images of graphite surfaces are routinely obtained using scanning probe microscopy. Although the acquired conductivity maps often display a trigonal pattern with smooth variations, a “stick–slip” type of fluctuation has also been reported, where the local conductivity inversely correlates with the friction force during probe scanning. In this work, we revisit the lattice-resolved variations in local conductivity on graphite surfaces and reveal a new series of behaviors. Unlike previous observations, we demonstrate that local conductivity can exhibit in-phase, out-of-phase, or mixed-mode correlations with “stick–slip” lateral force signals. These behaviors are attributed to the cross-talk effect between interface contact conductivity and lateral force, induced by the inhomogeneous conductivity of the tip apex. This mechanism is experimentally validated, showing that local conductivity variations can switch within a single scan due to spontaneous changes in the conductivity of the tip. Our findings enhance the understanding of lattice-resolved electrical conductivity data on graphite surfaces and suggest a novel approach to amplify small lateral forces using inhomogeneous probe tips.

Quantifying local cardiac substrate heterogeneity from high density recordings: an experimental study

Abstract Background and Purpose High-density (HD) grid catheters offer enhanced local electrical conduction characterization, owing to their unique grid arrangement. This arrangement enables the generation of orientation-independent EGMs, termed omnipolar EGMs (oEGMs), overcoming limitations associated with traditional unipolar and bipolar EGMs. This innovation holds potential for differentiating healthy tissue from scarred or arrhythmogenic areas. In this study, we introduce a novel metric, the Vector Field Heterogeneity (VFH), designed to quantify the heterogeneity of propagation wavefronts in local vector maps derived from oEGMs. Methods We developed and validated the VFH metric through a combination of simulations and experiment conducted on Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts. Simulations involved creating a model that generated 100,000 simulated maps exhibiting various levels of disorganization. For experimental data, 68 propagation maps were utilized, including 29 from basal recordings, 39 from recordings with stimulation (4 or 6Hz), from five Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts at 37ºC, using a multielectrode mapping catheter with 128 electrodes spaced 1mm apart. The VFH metric, based on vector field theory (see figure 2), was computed and compared to the widely adopted the Spatial Inhomogeneity Index (SI) from Statistical analysis was then performed to assess the distribution of heterogeneity values. Results The analysis of the VFH metric through simulations revealed a linear increase in VFH values with disorganization up to a 45º angle, followed by a plateau. Different catheter grid sizes demonstrated that larger grids reduced the standard deviation, with the VFH metric converging to a lower value of approximately 0.62 for larger grids. Experimental data indicated that for a 4x4 grid, VFH values averaged 0.35 without stimulation and decreased to 0.11 with stimulation. The VFH metric consistently outperformed the SI index in binary classification of basal vs stimulated conditions, as evidenced by higher Area Under Curve (AUC) values in both Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and Precision-Recall (PR) analyses across various catheter sizes. For example, in the 4x4 grid, the AUROC for the VFH metric was 0.9752 compared to 0.8311 for the SI index, showcasing the VFH metric’s superior accuracy in assessing cardiac wavefront heterogeneity (see figure 2). Conclusion Vector Field Heterogeneity (VFH) emerges as an effective tool for characterizing cardiac tissue. It successfully differentiates between stimulated and non-stimulated tissue, accurately representing progressive disorganization in simulated maps. The VFH metric demonstrates superiority over the established Spatial Inhomogeneity (SI) index, making it a reliable parameter for assessing cardiac heterogeneity, especially on small high-density grids. It holds promise for clinical use in studying and understanding the cardiac substrate during arrhythmic conditions.Figure 1.Abstract Figure.Figure 2.Methods and Results.

Investigation of electronic, ferroelectric and local electrical conduction behavior of RF sputtered BiFeO3 thin films

Most of the applied research on BiFeO3 (BFO) focuses on magnetoelectric and spintronic applications. This calls for a detailed grasp of multiferroic and conduction properties. BFO thin films with (100) epitaxial growth has been deposited on a LaNiO3 (LNO) buffered Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrate using RF magnetron sputtering. The film formed at 15 mTorr, 570 °C, and with Ar/O2 4:1 had a reasonably high degree of (100)-preferential orientation, the least surface roughness, and a densely packed structure. We obtained ferroelectric loops with strong polarization (150 μC cm−2). The leakage current density is as low as 10–2 A cm−2 at 100 kV cm−1, implying that space-charge-limited bulk conduction (SCLC) was the primary conduction channel for carriers within BFO films. Local electrical conduction behavior demonstrates that at lower voltages, the grain boundary dominates electrical conduction and is linked to the displacement of oxygen vacancies in the grain boundary under external electric fields. We hope that a deeper understanding of the conduction mechanism will help integrate BFO into viable technologies.

Bulk‐Phase Grain Boundaries Regulation Enables Highly Reversible Zn Anodes for Rechargeable Aqueous Zn‐Ion Batteries

AbstractDendrites and side reactions of Zn anodes severely restrict the application of aqueous Zn‐based batteries for grid‐scale energy storage. While surface/interface modification strategies have shown some progress in improving Zn anode reversibility, they still fall short in addressing the overall regulation and intrinsic mechanisms from the bulk‐phase perspective. Herein, a bulk‐phase composite Zn/CNTs anodes fabricated by a powder‐metallurgy‐based strategy is introduced. Benefiting from the regulation of grain boundary engineering on local electric conductivity, electric field distributions, and Zn atom absorption energy, the Zn/CNTs anodes effectively suppress dendrite growth and enhance corrosion resistance during Zn stripping/plating cycles. Symmetrical cells equipped with Zn/CNT4 anodes exhibit extended cycling stability with minimal voltage hysteresis (only 22 mV). Furthermore, the full cells incorporating Zn/CNT4 with commercial MnO2 demonstrate superior rate performance and specific capacitance retention after 500 h cycling. This breakthrough opens up new avenues for optimizing metallic anodes at the bulk phase level using powder metallurgy, enabling scalable manufacturing processes, and providing valuable insights for various metal anode systems.

Numerical Measurement of the Effective Electrical Conductivity of Electrolyte-Gas Bubble Dispersions

Bubble formation during water electrolysis is inevitable. Apart from mass and heat transfer limitations, the presence of these bubbles causes a decrease in the local electrical conductivity of the electrolyte, thereby contributing further to the ohmic resistance of the system. Experimental and theoretical studies have shown that the effective electrical conductivity of an electrolyte-gas bubble dispersion depends on the volume fraction of gas bubbles. However, these studies do not provide insight into the dependence of conductivity on the geometric and spatial parameters of the dispersion, such as the size distribution of the bubbles or their spatial arrangement.Experimentally, the conductivity of such dispersions can be measured using the four-electrode conductivity measurement technique. In this talk, I will present a numerical rendition of this experimental technique to measure the conductivity of an electrolyte dispersed with gas bubbles, using the lattice Boltzmann method. The computational nature of the method lends itself well to investigating systems with different bubble size distributions and spatial configurations. The model also offers the flexibility to specify the surface charge density of the dispersed bubbles. The visualization of the ionic flux around these dispersed bubbles provides insights into the motion of ions along the paths of least resistance, and therefore a better understanding of the behavior of such systems.The effective conductivity of bubble dispersions with varying degrees of randomness in their spatial arrangement has been measured, ranging from a regularly packed array of bubbles to a completely random packing. We observed that the numerically measured conductivity deviates from that predicted theoretically at high bubble volume fractions. Moreover, for the same bubble volume fraction, different spatial arrangements yield different values of conductivity, thus highlighting the influence of spatial arrangement of the bubbles on the effective conductivity of the dispersion. Additionally, the spread (standard deviation) of the numerically measured conductivity about the mean value for a given bubble volume fraction is observed to be larger at moderate volume fractions, in comparison to very dilute and densely packed dispersions. This can be explained by the fact that at moderate bubble volume fractions, there is a larger probability for the formation of random bubble clusters that hinder the movement of ions. Such clusters are unlikely in dilute cases and are universal in the dense limit, and as a consequence, less variation in the resulting effective conductivity is observed for the two limiting cases. This furthermore indicates the importance of spatial arrangement on the effective conductivity of such dispersions.

Diode Character of Local Conductivity of Human Buccal Epithelial Cell Membranes

AFM methods revealed unilateral (diode) local electrical conductivity of the membrane of human buccal epithelium cells at the nanoscale and its correlation with the topology of micromechanical properties.

Impact of adding Fe ions on the local structure and electrochemical performance of P2O5–V2O5 glass and glass ceramics used as a cathode in LIBs

Due to their low cost and non-toxic characteristics, iron-vanadium-phosphate glass and glass ceramics as a cathode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) promise an excellent storage system. The impact of adding Fe2O3 has been studied on the local structure, electric conductivity, and battery performance of xFe2O3.(60-x)V2O5.40P2O5(10≤x ≤ 50mol%) glass and glass ceramics, abbreviated as xFVP, were prepared by the melt quenching method. The xFVP glass and glass-ceramics series were scientifically studied before (BHT) and after heat treatment (HT) at 500 °C for 100 min. The X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), 57Fe-Mössbauer spectra (FeMS), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), DC conductivity, and charge-discharge capacity were achieved in this study. The XRD data of xFVP-BHT glasses confirmed the amorphous nature as 'x' increased from 10 to 30 mol%. Also, we found several sharp diffraction lines in the XRD patterns of xFVP-BHT and xFVP-HT, which are attributed to the FePO4, Fe3.5(PO4)3, (VO)(PO4), FePVO6, and V2O5 crystalline phases. Furthermore, with Fe2O3 increasing from 10 to 50 mol%, the DC conductivity of xFVP glass ceramics at room temperature decreased from 1.14 × 10−6 (Ω cm)−1 to 5.99 × 10−8 (Ω cm)−1. The highest initial capacity is 342 mAh g−1 recorded in 10FVP-BHT, measured at a current density of 50 mA g−1. In conclusion, Fe ions were added to the phosphate-vanadate glass to enhance the local structure and improve the cyclability of xFVP glasses as a cathode, making these glasses a promising active material for high-performance cathode LIBs.

Local electrical conductivity of carbon black/PDMS nanocomposites subjected to large deformations

The full-field microscale electrical behavior of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix composites with 12 wt% (below the electrical percolation threshold) and 20 wt% (above the electrical percolation threshold) carbon black (CB) nanoparticles was obtained with the aid of Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (C-AFM) as a function of uniaxial tensile strain. A comparison between the macroscale and the microscale 2D strain fields showed that 25 × 25 μm2 specimen domains can serve as a representative surface element (RSE) to describe the macroscale mechanical response under finite deformations. The same surface domain size was shown to serve as RSE for the local electrical behavior of CB/PDMS nanocomposites at small and large strains. The transverse specimen contraction due to the Poisson’s effect increased the through-thickness conductivity of 12 wt% CB specimens, with a rapid increase in the total electric current measured at the scale of the RSE taking place above 23% uniaxial true strain. The locally dominant tunneling conductance in the undeformed specimen state transitioned to a combination of Ohmic (linear local current-voltage (I–V) characteristics) and tunneling (parabolic local I–V characteristics) at 35% uniaxial true strain. In comparison, the local I–V characteristics of undeformed PDMS composites with 20 wt% CB were a combination of Ohmic (contributing the majority of the total current) and tunneling. Upon application of 35% uniaxial true strain the vast majority of local conduction sites became Ohmic, while the total electric current at the scale of the RSE increased relatively linearly with applied strain.

A new exploration of quality testing technique for the wafer-scale graphene film based on the terahertz vector network analysis technology

As the fabrication scale of graphene continues to expand, the limitations of existing mass characterization techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, AFM, and other microscopic characterization techniques for large-scale homogeneity characterization of graphene films become more and more prominent. Although the line-shaped defects (primarily grain boundaries and folds) distributed on the graphene film can be observed using the above techniques, it is difficult to comprehensively evaluate their distribution state on the entire film surface using these instruments. Based on this background, the author’s group has been aiming at the above problems by combining terahertz vector network analysis technology with the detection of large-area homogeneity of graphene films and quantitative characterization of line-shaped defects on the film surface, to explore a quality inspection technology that can be used in the production line of graphene films. The results demonstrate that the terahertz transverse electric (TE) wave is extremely sensitive to the variation of local thickness and electrical conductivity, which can be used in the homogeneity testing for the graphene; distributed line-shaped defects on graphene surface can exhibit anisotropic EM behavior with respect to THz TE waves, which can be exploited to identify the defect distribution states.

Boron-doped diamond growth on carbon fibre: Enhancing the electrical conductivity

Carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CRFP) are extensively used in many industrial applications thanks to its mechanical properties and its low weight. Nevertheless, the orthotropic character of CRFP highly reduces its applications. The transversal electrical conductivity in CRFP is two orders poorer than in the longitudinal direction. To improve their electrical properties, this work proposes the use of polycrystalline boron doped diamond (BDD) as coating of the carbon fibres (CF). BDD coating is deposited on CF surface using microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) system. The BDD coating forms a rigid conductive coating around the CF as a core–shell structure. Here, an electrical characterization of both, 12,000 filaments (a tow) and a single coated filament, are carried out in the longitudinal and cross-section directions. Macro, micro and local analysis using the Kelvin method, Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (C-AFM), and Scanning Microwave Impedance Microscopy (sMIM), were carried out to evidence the improvement of the electrical properties. Macro measurement reveals that the BDD coating decreases to half the resistivity of the CF. The BDD coating raises the local electrical conductivity of the CF by an order of magnitude with respect to the uncoated ones. sMIM maps identified BDD locations in ring-like configurations.

Effect of electromigration dispersion and non-Newtonian rheology of a charged solute in a microcapillary

The present work is concerned with the electromigration interaction of non-Newtonian fluid in a rectangular micro-capillary under the influence of an external electric field to predict the spatiotemporal dynamics of the solute concentration due to an effective dispersion and migration velocity. The solute concentration is optimized by dispersion and a driving force exploiting the interplay between the sequential ionic distribution and the local electrical conductivity coupled with the characteristics of the fluid. The incompressible Navier–Stokes equation combined with the Poisson equation for the electric field is considered for the flow transport incorporated with the Nernst–Planck equation for the ion transport. The numerical computations are performed for the coupled electro-osmosis/electrophoresis migrated nonlinear equations by a control volume approach for effective dispersion. The analytical observation of electrical conductivity in the case of a planar uniformly charged substrate is found to be varied locally near the sample peak and majorly concentration dependent. The asymptotic analysis for the velocity is made by using the lubrication approximation. The solutal species calculation is made from an area averaged nonlinear advection diffusion equation incorporating the coupled momentum equation. It is observed that the Taylor–Aries dispersion effect is dependent on the flow behavior index of the power law fluid, the flow strength, and the local sample concentration. The study of the time regime and the flow strength dependent instantaneous dispersion has also been conducted.

Local Electric Field and Electrical Conductivity Analysis Using a Glass Microelectrode.

Transport phenomena in microfluidic chips are induced by electric fields and electrolyte concentrations. Liquid flows are often affected by ionic currents driven by electric fields in narrow channels, which are applied in microelectromechanical systems, microreactors, lab-on-a-chip, and so forth. Even though numerical studies to evaluate those local fields have been reported, measurement methods seem to be under construction. To deeply understand the dynamics of ions at the microscale, measurement techniques are necessary to be developed. In this study, we propose a novel method to directly measure electrical potential differences in liquids, local electric fields, and electrical conductivities, using a glass microelectrode. Scanning an electrolyte solution, for example, KCl solutions, with a 1 μm tip under constant ionic current conditions, a potential difference in liquids is locally measured with a micrometer-scale resolution. The conductivity of KCl solutions ranging from 0.56 to 100 mM is evaluated from electric fields locally measured, and errors are within 5% compared with the reference values. It is found that the present method enables us to directly measure local electric fields under constant current and that the electrical conductivity is quantitatively evaluated. Furthermore, it is suggested that the present method is available for various electrical analyses without calibration procedures before measurements.

Enhancement of electrical conductivity and thermal stability of Iron- or Tin- substituted vanadate glass and glass-ceramics nanocomposite to be applied as a high-performance cathode active material in sodium-ion batteries

To explore novel vanadate formulations, i.e. newly effective cathode active material for sodium-ion battery (SIB), relationships among the local structure, electrical conductivity, and cathode performance of xNa2O•10 P2O5•(85-x)V2O5•5Fe2O3 and xNa2O•10 P2O5•(85-x) V2O5•5SnO2 (5 <x < 45 mol%) glasses and glass-ceramics nanocomposite abbreviated as xFeV and xSnV, respectively, were systematically investigated before and after heat treatment at 500 ℃ for 100 min. Measurements of 57Fe- and 119Sn Mössbauer spectra (FeMS, SnMS, respectively), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential thermal analysis (DTA), electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and charge-discharge capacity were carried out in this study. From DTA curves, decreases in glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystallization temperature (Tc) were observed for xFeV and xSnV glasses as ‘x’ increased from 5 to 45 mol% Na2O content. This indicates that the introduction of Na2O reduces thermal stability. Furthermore, the DC conductivity for xFeV and xSnV glasses and glass-ceramics nanocomposite, decreases from 2.82 • 10−5 to 6.61 • 10−7 S cm−1 and from 1.26 • 10−5 to 4.27 • 10−7 S cm−1, respectively, with increasing Na2O content from 5 to 45 mol%. The values of electrical conductivity of xFeV and xSnV are higher than that of xNa2O•10 P2O5•(90-x)V2O5, abbreviated as xV glasses. This indicates that the introduction of Fe2O3 and SnO2 produces an increase in electrical conductivity. 57Fe-Mössbauer spectra of xFeV glass showed decreased quadrupole splitting from 0.73 to 0.63 mm s−1, indicating that FeIII ion forms less distorted tetrahedra upon increasing ‘x’ from 5 to 45 mol%. Additionally, a high capacity of about 200 mAh g−1 was achieved for the SIB made of 5FeV glasses as a cathode. This capacity was larger than the previously reported value of 158 mAh g−1 in Na1.25V3O8. It can be concluded that the introduction of Fe or Sn ions into the phospho-vanadate glass as a cathode causes an increase in durability and conductivity, so these glasses can be considered promising for a high-performance cathode active material with significant improvement of cyclability in SIBs.

Dynamics of domain walls in ferroelectrics and relaxors

AbstractThe dynamic contribution of domain walls (DWs) to application‐relevant dielectric and piezoelectric properties of ferroelectrics and relaxor‐based oxide ceramics has been in the focus since the earliest studies on these complex multifunctional materials. Despite the vital importance of DWs in the material design for targeted applications, the understanding of these interfaces has been significantly advanced only recently owing to the concurrent development of analytical methodologies probing the structure of samples in situ and at different length scales. In this contribution, we present two recent cases that have raised particular attention and controversy. The first is on the electrically conductive DWs in BiFeO3 (BFO), whereas the second is on low‐angle DWs characteristic for relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3−xPbTiO3 (PMN–PT). Using nonlinear piezoelectric measurements with the support from multiscale structural analysis, we illustrate with the two case studies how, on one hand, the local electrical conductivity in BFO and, on the other hand, the structural disorder inherent to PMN–PT affect DW dynamics, leading to emerging macroscopic effects. By clarifying some of the aspects of these particular interfaces, we hope that the presented results will provide guidance to analytical approaches for identifying the key microscopic mechanisms contributing to macroscopic functional properties of ferroelectric and related materials.

Electrocaloric studies of bulk materials and multilayer structures by dynamic infrared radiometry

A new experimental approach to the complex study of electrocaloric, pyroelectric, and thermal effects associated with the bulk and local electrical conductivity of ferroelectrics and related materials is proposed. The key to this approach is the analysis of the dynamics of the sample temperature response to an arbitrary external action, including long-term electrical impacts. The metrological justification of the experimental technique is based on direct non-contact high-speed monitoring of the sample temperature using an IR photodiode sensor designed by Ioffe Institute. Its efficiency is confirmed by numerous experimental data on electrocaloric properties of ferroelectrics, relaxors, and relaxors-based multilayer structures.

Mapping Within-Field Soil Health Variations Using Apparent Electrical Conductivity, Topography, and Machine Learning

High-resolution maps of soil health measurements could help farmers finetune input resources and management practices for profit maximization. Within-field soil heath variations can be mapped using local topography and apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) as predictors. To address these issues, a study was conducted in Texas Blackland Prairie soils with the following objectives: (i) to assess and map within-field soil health variations using machine learning; (ii) to evaluate the usefulness of topography and ECa as soil health predictors; and (iii) to quantify the relationship between ECa and soil health index and use ECa to estimate soil health spatial distribution. We collected 218 topsoil (0–15 cm) samples following a 35 m × 35 m grid design and analyzed for one-day CO2, organic C, organic N, and soil health index (SHI) based on the Haney Soil Health Tool. A random forest model was applied to predict and map those properties on a 5 m × 5 m grid where ECa, and terrain attributes were used as predictors. Furthermore, the empirical relationship between SHI and ECa was established and mapped across the field. Results showed that the study area was variable in terms of one-day CO2, organic C, organic N, SHI, and ECa distribution. The ECa, wetness index, multiresolution valley bottom flatness, and topographic position index were among the top predictors of soil health measurements. The model was sufficiently robust to predict one day CO2, organic C, organic N (R2 between 0.24–0.90), and SHI (R2 between 0.47–0.90). Overall, we observed a moderate to strong spatial dependency of soil health measurements which could impact within-field yield variability. The study confirmed the applicability of easy to obtain ECa as a good predictor of SHI, and the predicted maps at high resolution which could be useful in site-specific management decisions within these types of soils.

Nanoscale Visualization of Electrochemical Activity at Indium Tin Oxide Electrodes.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is a popular electrode choice, with diverse applications in (photo)electrocatalysis, organic photovoltaics, spectroelectrochemistry and sensing, and as a support for cell biology studies. Although ITO surfaces exhibit heterogeneous local electrical conductivity, little is known as to how this translates to electrochemistry at the same scale. This work investigates nanoscale electrochemistry at ITO electrodes using high-resolution scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). The nominally fast outer-sphere one-electron oxidation of 1,1′-ferrocenedimethanol (FcDM) is used as an electron transfer (ET) kinetic marker to reveal the charge transfer properties of the ITO/electrolyte interface. SECCM measures spatially resolved linear sweep voltammetry at an array of points across the ITO surface, with the topography measured synchronously. Presentation of SECCM data as current maps as a function of potential reveals that, while the entire surface of ITO is electroactive, the ET activity is highly spatially heterogeneous. Kinetic parameters (standard rate constant, k0, and transfer coefficient, α) for FcDM0/+ are assigned from 7200 measurements at sites across the ITO surface using finite element method modeling. Differences of 3 orders of magnitude in k0 are revealed, and the average k0 is about 20 times larger than that measured at the macroscale. This is attributed to macroscale ET being largely limited by lateral conductivity of the ITO electrode under electrochemical operation, rather than ET kinetics at the ITO/electrolyte interface, as measured by SECCM. This study further demonstrates the considerable power of SECCM for direct nanoscale characterization of electrochemical processes at complex electrode surfaces.

Microstructure and Eddy-Current Analysis of Aluminum 01570 Welded Joints Obtained by Friction Stir Welding

The article presents the results of studies of aluminum alloys connected by a welded joint obtained by friction stir welding. During this kind of welding a recrystallized fine-grained microstructure is formed in the joint. The pictures of the weld area microstructure are presented, and the eddy current probe signal variations when scanning the joint are shown. The resulting parameter of the eddy current probe was the local electrical conductivity of the weld area. It is demonstrated that the average grain size of the welded joint microstructure varies in the area of weld defects, which was determined by the signal variation of the eddy current probe. The microstructure peculiarities formed in the weld area where the defects are located, and their influence on the mechanical properties of welded joints are discussed. The results of a series of experiments allow concluding about the qualitative characteristics of the obtained welded joints.

Measurements of the Electrical Conductivity of Monolayer Graphene Flakes Using Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy.

The intrinsic electrical conductivity of graphene is one of the key factors affecting the electrical conductance of its assemblies, such as papers, films, powders, and composites. Here, the local electrical conductivity of the individual graphene flakes was investigated using conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). An isolated graphene flake connected to a pre-fabricated electrode was scanned using an electrically biased tip, which generated a current map over the flake area. The current change as a function of the distance between the tip and the electrode was analyzed analytically to estimate the contact resistance as well as the local conductivity of the flake. This method was applied to characterize graphene materials obtained using two representative large-scale synthesis methods. Monolayer graphene flakes synthesized by chemical vapor deposition on copper exhibited an electrical conductivity of 1.46 ± 0.82 × 106 S/m. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) flakes obtained by thermal annealing of graphene oxide at 300 and 600 °C exhibited electrical conductivities of 2.3 ± 1.0 and 14.6 ± 5.5 S/m, respectively, showing the effect of thermal reduction on the electrical conductivity of rGO flakes. This study demonstrates an alternative method to characterizing the intrinsic electrical conductivity of graphene-based materials, which affords a clear understanding of the local properties of individual graphene flakes.

Quantitative Characterization of Platinum Diselenide Electrical Conductivity With an Inverted Scanning Microwave Microscope

Near-field scanning microwave microscopy is a technique with increasing popularity for the study of nanometer-scale electrical properties of samples. Here, we present an approach to quantify sample properties in images obtained with an inverted scanning microwave microscope (iSMM), recently introduced by our group. In particular, this study reports the analysis of the local electrical conductivity of a platinum diselenide sample and proves its semimetal behavior. The approach is validated by a full-wave numerical model, reproducing the complete iSMM operation as well as all steps of the calibration algorithms. To extract local sample properties, this article provides two calibration procedures, respectively, for transmission and reflection mode measurements, based on a two-port equivalent circuit of the iSMM. This enables the high-frequency quantitative characterization of a wide variety of samples and surfaces.