Atomic-scale imaging and manipulation of ridges on epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC(0001)

Nanotechnology. 2009 Sep 2;20(35):355701. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/20/35/355701. Epub 2009 Aug 12.

Abstract

Ridges are observed on epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC(0001) by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Atomic resolution imaging reveals that they are in fact bulged regions of the graphene layer, occurring as a result of bending and buckling to relieve the compressive strain. Furthermore, their length, direction, and distribution can be manipulated, and new ones can even be created by the tip-surface interactions during STM imaging. The lower limit of terrace size for ridge formation is estimated to be approximately 80 nm, and nearly ridge-free graphene film can be obtained on vicinal 3.5 degrees miscut substrates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.