Article and method of making and using the same

Abstract

Article having a first single, discrete atomic, dry layer of a first weakly bonded crystalline material on at least a surface of a substrate. Embodiments of the articles are useful, for example, in automotive under-the-hood parts exposed to chemicals and extreme temperatures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article having a first, discrete single atomic, dry layer of a first weakly bonded crystalline material on at least a surface of a substrate; wherein the first weakly bonded crystalline material transferred onto the surface of the substrate exhibits a printed pattern having shapes comprising varying dimensions aligned in both an X-axis and a Y-axis. 
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first weakly bonded crystalline material transferred onto the surface of the substrate exhibits at least one alphanumeric character. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first weakly bonded crystalline material is selected from the group consisting of graphite, mica, clay, hexagonal boron nitride, and transition metal dichalcogenides having the formula MX 2 , where M=Mo, W, Nb, Ta; and X=S, Se, and Te. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first single, discrete atomic, dry layer of a first weakly bonded crystalline material is graphene. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a second, discrete single atomic, dry layer of weakly bonded crystalline material on at least a portion of at least one of the major surfaces of the substrate or the first weakly bonded crystalline material, wherein the first and second weakly bonded crystalline materials are different materials. 
     
     
         6 . A printer comprising a first print head with a print surface comprising dry, weakly bonded crystalline material, the printer configured to move the print surface along each of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis to transfer the dry, weakly bonded crystalline material to a substrate by rubbing. 
     
     
         7 . The printer of  claim 6 , wherein the printer provides control of a transfer direction and a transfer speed of the dry, weakly bonded crystalline material to a substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The printer of  claim 7 , further comprising a force sensor that detects the frictional force between the dry, weakly bonded crystalline material and the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The printer of  claim 6 , comprising a maximum speed along each of the X-axis and the Y-axis of 700 millimeters per second (mm/s) and along the Z-axis of 250 mm/s. 
     
     
         10 . The printer of  claim 6 , comprising a resolution along each of the X-axis and the Y-axis of at least 5 micrometers and along the Z-axis of at least 2.5 micrometers. 
     
     
         11 . The printer of  claim 6 , comprising an ink jet printer. 
     
     
         12 . The printer of  claim 6 , wherein the dry, weakly bonded crystalline material is selected from the group consisting of graphite, mica, clay, hexagonal boron nitride, and transition metal dichalcogenides having the formula MX 2 , where M=Mo, W, Nb, Ta; and X=S, Se, and Te. 
     
     
         13 . The printer of  claim 6 , wherein the dry, weakly bonded crystalline material is graphene. 
     
     
         14 . The printer of  claim 6 , further comprising a second print head with a print surface comprising dry, weakly bonded crystalline material.