Size-Selective Carbon Nanoclusters as Precursors to the Growth of Epitaxial Graphene

Bo Wang, Xiufang Ma, Marco Caffio, Renald Schaub, Wei-Xue Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The nucleation and growth mechanisms of graphene on Rh(111) via temperature-programmed growth of C2H4 are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, and by density functional theory calculations. By combining our experimental and first principles approaches, we show that carbon nanoislands form in the initial stages of graphene growth, possessing an exclusive size of seven honeycomb carbon units (hereafter labeled as 7C6 ). These clusters adopt a domelike hexagonal shape indicating that bonding to the substrate is localized on the peripheral C atoms. Smoluchowski ripening is identified as the dominant mechanism leading to the formation of graphene, with the size-selective carbon islands as precursors. Control experiments and calculations, whereby coronene molecules, the hydrogenated analogues of 7C6 , are deposited on Rh(111), provide an unambiguous structural and chemical identification of the 7C6 building blocks.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)424-430
Number of pages7
JournalNano Letters
Volume11
Issue number2
Early online date19 Jan 2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 Feb 2011

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Size-Selective Carbon Nanoclusters as Precursors to the Growth of Epitaxial Graphene'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this