Graphene membrane repair

Abstract

Technologies described herein are generally related to systems and processes for repairing a graphene membrane on a support. A chamber may receive a layer of graphene on a support. The layer of graphene may include a hole. A first container including an initiator may be effective to apply an initiator through the hole to the support to functionalize the support and produce an initiator layer on the support. A second container including an activator may be effective to apply an activator through the hole to the initiator layer to activate the initiator layer. The application of the activator may further be effective to grow a polymer from the initiator layer. The growth of the polymer may be effective to produce a polymer plug in the hole and effective to repair at least a portion of the layer of graphene.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to repair a layer of graphene including a hole, the system comprising:
 a chamber to receive the layer of graphene on a support;   a first container in operative relationship with the chamber, wherein the first container includes an initiator; and   a second container in operative relationship with the chamber, wherein the second container includes an activator; and   wherein the chamber is configured to
 operate with the first container to apply the initiator through the hole to the support to functionalize the support and to produce an initiator layer on the support; 
 operate with the second container to apply the activator through the hole to the initiator layer to activate the initiator layer; and 
 operate with the second container to grow a polymer from the initiator layer by use of the activator to produce a polymer plug in the hole. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second containers are different. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the initiator includes a brominated silanol or a brominated thiol. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third container in operative relationship with the chamber; and wherein   the chamber is configured to operate with the third container to apply a material to a region in the support effective to form a cutout region.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises one or more of copper, nickel, silica, alumina, a polymer, etc. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activator comprises one or more of styrene, toluene, copper chloride, copper bromide, and/or bipyridine. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activator comprises one or more of a vinyl, styryl, acrylate, and/or acrylamide. 
     
     
         8 . A structure comprising:
 a support;   a layer of graphene on the support, the layer of graphene including pores and at least one hole region; and   a polymer plug grown from the support and in the at least one hole region of the layer of graphene.   
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein the polymer plug extends above an upper surface of the layer of graphene and below a lower surface of the layer of graphene and into the support. 
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein the polymer plug comprises one or more of a vinyl, styryl, acrylate, and/or acrylamide.