Passivation of metal surface states: microscopic origin for uniform monolayer graphene by low temperature chemical vapor deposition

ACS Nano. 2011 Mar 22;5(3):1915-20. doi: 10.1021/nn102916c. Epub 2011 Feb 10.

Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to investigate the surface morphology and electronic structure of graphene synthesized on Cu by low temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Periodic line patterns originating from the arrangements of carbon atoms on the Cu surface passivate the interaction between metal substrate and graphene, resulting in flawless inherent graphene band structure in pristine graphene/Cu. The effective elimination of metal surface states by the passivation is expected to contribute to the growth of monolayer graphene on Cu, which yields highly enhanced uniformity on the wafer scale, making progress toward the commercial application of graphene.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Cold Temperature
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Gases / chemistry
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / methods
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Gases
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Graphite
  • Copper