Transfer-free electrical insulation of epitaxial graphene from its metal substrate

Nano Lett. 2012 Sep 12;12(9):4503-7. doi: 10.1021/nl301614j. Epub 2012 Aug 10.

Abstract

High-quality, large-area epitaxial graphene can be grown on metal surfaces, but its transport properties cannot be exploited because the electrical conduction is dominated by the substrate. Here we insulate epitaxial graphene on Ru(0001) by a stepwise intercalation of silicon and oxygen, and the eventual formation of a SiO(2) layer between the graphene and the metal. We follow the reaction steps by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and demonstrate the electrical insulation using a nanoscale multipoint probe technique.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Particle Size
  • Rubidium / chemistry*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Graphite
  • Rubidium