Observation of Graphene Bubbles and Effective Mass Transport under Graphene Films

Mechanically exfoliated graphene mounted on a SiO(2)/Si substrate was subjected to HF/H(2)O etching or irradiation by energetic protons. In both cases gas was released from the SiO(2) and accumulated at the graphene/SiO(2) interface resulting in the formation of ``bubbles{''} in the graphene sheet. Formation of these ``bubbles{''} demonstrates the robust nature of single layer graphene membranes, which are capable of containing mesoscopic volumes of gas. In addition, effective mass transport at the graphene/SiO(2) interface has been observed.