Visualizing Chemical Reactions Confined under Graphene

Abstract
An undercover agent: Graphene has been used as an imaging agent to visualize interfacial reactions under its cover, and exhibits a strong confinement effect on the chemistry of molecules underneath (see picture). In a CO atmosphere, CO penetrates into the graphene/Pt(111) interface and reacts with O2 therein, whereas intercalated CO desorbs from the Pt surface.