Electronic structures and coronene on Ru（0001）： vibrational properties of first-principles study

We calculate the configurations,electronic structures,vibrational properties at the coronene/Ru(0001) interface,and adsorption of a single Pt atom on coronene/Ru(0001) based on density functional theory calculations.The geometric structures and electronic structures of the coronene on Ru(0001) are compared with those of the graphene/Ru(0001).The results show that the coronene/Ru(0001) can be a simplified model system used to describe the interaction between graphene and ruthenium.Further calculations of the vibrational properties of coronene molecule adsorbed on Ru(0001) suggest that the phonon properties of differently corrugated regions of graphene on Ru(0001) are different.This model system is also used to investigate the selective adsorption of Pt atoms on graphene/Ru(0001).The configurations of Pt on coronene/Ru(0001) with the lowest binding energy give clues to explain the experimental observation that a Pt cluster selectively adsorbs on the second highest regions of graphene/Ru(0001).This work provides a simple model for understanding the adsorption properties and vibrational properties of graphene on Ru(0001) substrate.     

Electronic structures and vibrational properties of coronene on Ru(0001): first-principles study

We calculate the configurations, electronic structures, vibrational properties at the coronene/Ru(0001) interface, and adsorption of a single Pt atom on coronene/Ru(0001) based on density functional theory calculations. The geometric structures and electronic structures of the coronene on Ru(0001) are compared with those of the graphene/Ru(0001). The results show that the coronene/Ru(0001) can be a simplified model system used to describe the interaction between graphene and ruthenium. Further calculations of the vibrational properties of coronene molecule adsorbed on Ru(0001) suggest that the phonon properties of differently corrugated regions of graphene on Ru(0001) are different. This model system is also used to investigate the selective adsorption of Pt atoms on graphene/Ru(0001). The configurations of Pt on coronene/Ru(0001) with the lowest binding energy give clues to explain the experimental observation that a Pt cluster selectively adsorbs on the second highest regions of graphene/Ru(0001). This work provides a simple model for understanding the adsorption properties and vibrational properties of graphene on Ru(0001) substrate.     

Phonon dispersion of monolayer graphite on Pt(111) and NbC surfaces: bond softening and interface structures

The phonon dispersion relations of monolayer graphite on Pt(111), NbC(111) and NbC(001) were measured by electron energy loss spectroscopy. The monolayer graphite on Ni surfaces has been reported to show large softening, while that on Pt(111) was found to indicate little softening and rather resembled pristine graphite. Similarly, the monolayer graphite on NbC(111) indicated fairly large softening but that on NbC(001) did not. This difference is discussed in relation with the interface structure.     

Ordered vacancy network induced by the growth of epitaxial graphene on Pt(111)

We have studied large areas of (√3×√3)R30° graphene commensurate with a Pt(111) substrate. A combination of experimental techniques with ab initio density functional theory indicates that this structure is related to a reconstruction at the Pt surface, consisting of an ordered vacancy network formed in the outermost Pt layer and a graphene layer covalently bound to the Pt substrate. The formation of this reconstruction is enhanced if low temperatures and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are used as molecular precursors for epitaxial growth of the graphene layers.     

Anchoring platinum on graphene using metallic adatoms: a first principles investigation

First principles calculations based on spin-polarized density functional theory were used to identify metallic adatoms that would strengthen the Pt(111)/graphene interface (with a low work of separation of 0.009 J m(-2)), when the adatom was placed between the Pt(111) and the graphene. It was shown that the strength of the Pt-adatom bond, which had a metallic character, increased with the amount of charge transferred from the adatom to the Pt. The carbon-adatom bond, on the other hand, had a mixed ionic and covalent character and was weaker than the Pt-adatom bond for each of the 25 elements considered. Consequently, the total Pt(111)/graphene interface strength and, hence, the anchoring effect of the adatom were controlled by the carbon-adatom bond strength. Metals with unfilled d orbitals increased the Pt/graphene interface strength to above 0.5 J m(-2). The carbon-adatom bond strength was proportional to the ratio between the charge transferred from the adatom to the graphene (ΔZ(C)) and the charge transferred to the Pt surface (ΔZ(Pt)); i.e., the ΔZ(C)/ΔZ(Pt) ratio defined the ability of an adatom to anchor Pt to graphene. For Ir, Os, Ru, Rh and Re, ΔZ(C)/ΔZ(Pt) > 1.0, making these elements the most effective adatoms for anchoring Pt to graphene.     

Formation of quasi-free graphene on the Ni(111) surface with intercalated Cu,Ag, and Au layers

This paper reports on a study by angle-resolved photoelectron and low-energy electron energy loss spectroscopy of graphene monolayers, which are produced by propylene cracking on the Ni(111) surface, followed by intercalation of Cu, Ag, and Au atoms between the graphene monolayer and the substrate, for various thicknesses of deposited metal layers and annealing temperatures. It has been shown that the spectra of valence-band π states and of phonon vibrational modes measured after intercalation become similar to those characteristic of single-crystal graphite with weak interlayer coupling. Despite the strong coupling of the graphene monolayer to the substrate becoming suppressed by intercalation of Cu and Ag atoms, the π state branch does not reach at the K point of the Brillouin zone the Fermi level, with the graphene coating itself breaking up partially to form graphene domains. At the same time after intercalation of Au atoms, the electronic band structure approaches the closest to that of isolated graphene, with linear π-state dispersion near the K point of the Brillouin zone, and the point of crossing of the filled, (π), with empty, (π*), states lying in the region of the Fermi level, which makes this system a promising experimental model of the quasi-free graphene monolayer.     

Comparative study of the nature of chemical bonding of corrugated graphene on Ru(0001) and Rh(111) by electronic structure calculations

Recently, atomic resolved scanning tunneling microscopy investigations revealed that, depending on the substrate (Ni(111), Ru(0001), Ir(111), Pt(111), Rh(111)), graphene overlayer might present regular corrugation patterns, with periodically repeated units of a few nanometers. Variations of the interactions at the interface and the modulation of the local electronic properties are associated with the exact atomic arrangement of the carbon pairs with respect to the metal atoms of the substrate. Better understanding of the atomic structure and of the chemical bonding between graphene and the underlying transition metal is motivated by the fundamental scientific relevance of such systems, but it is also crucial in the perspective of possible applications. With the present work, we propose model systems for the two interfaces showing the most pronounced corrugation patterns, i.e. graphene/Ru(0001) and graphene/Rh(111). Our goal is to understand the nature of the interactions by means of electronic structure calculations based on Density Functional Theory. Our simulations qualitatively reproduce very well experimental results such as the STM topographies and the electrostatic potential maps, and quantitatively provide the closest agreement that has been published so far. The detailed analysis of the electronic structure at the interface highlights similarities and differences by changing the supporting transition metal. Our results point to a fundamental role of the hybridization between the π orbitals of graphene with the d band of the metal in determining the specific corrugation of the adsorbed monolayer. It is shown that differences in the response of the graphene electronic structure to the interaction with the metal can hinder the hybridization and lead to substantially different structures.     

Graphene domain boundaries on Pt(111) as nucleation sites for Pt nanocluster formation

The growth of Pt nanoclusters on a graphene layer on Pt(111) was studied with ultra high vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy. Different periodicities in the moiré patterns of the graphene layer are observed corresponding to different orientations with respect to the Pt(111) lattice. Various graphene orientations are possible because of a relatively weak graphene–Pt interaction. Following Pt deposition onto the graphene-covered surface, small Pt nanoclusters are observed to preferentially form along the moiré domain boundaries. The weak interaction of graphene with Pt(111) leads to a weak corrugation in the superlattice compared to other transition metals, such as Ru, but it is found even this weak corrugation is sufficient to serve as a template for the formation of mono-dispersed one-dimensional Pt nanocluster chains. These Pt nanoclusters are relatively stable and only undergo agglomeration at annealing temperatures above 600 K.     

Characterization of a hybrid Li-ion anode system from pulsed laser deposited silicon on CVD-grown multilayer graphene

A hybrid anode system for lithium (Li) ion battery applications based on pulsed laser deposited silicon films on chemical vapor deposited multilayer graphene (MLG) layers on a nickel foam substrate was electrochemically characterized. The as-grown material was directly fabricated into an anode without a binder, and tested in a half-cell configuration. There is evidence of the participation of both the multilayer graphene and the Si in the transport of Li ions. Even when cycled under stressful voltage limits that accelerate degradation, the MLG–Si films displayed higher stability than Si-only anodes, especially at higher cycling rates. Unlike the Si cells that display capacity fade even within the first few cycles, the MLG–Si cells show a very narrow spread in capacity, indicative of the role of the graphene layers in improving adhesion of the Si and acting as a compliant buffer for its volume expansion. Stable average specific capacities of ~1,200 mAh/g per total weight of MLG + Si, over 80 cycles at C/5 rate, were obtained for the MLG–Si anode. Pre- and post-cycling characterization of the anode materials revealed the differences between the two systems.     

Chirality-induced dynamic kohn anomalies in graphene

We develop a theory for the renormalization of the phonon energy dispersion in graphene due to the combined effects of both Coulomb and electron-phonon (e-ph) interactions. We obtain the renormalized phonon energy spectrum by an exact analytic derivation of the phonon self-energy, finding three distinct Kohn anomalies (KAs) at the phonon wave vector q=omega/v, 2k_{F}+/-omega/v for LO phonons and one at q=omega/v for TO phonons. The presence of these new KAs in graphene, in contrast to the usual KA q=2k_{F} in ordinary metals, originates from the dynamical screening of e-ph interaction (with a concomitant breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation) and the peculiar chirality of the graphene e-ph coupling.     

The role of the covalent interaction in the formation of the electronic structure of Au- and Cu-intercalated graphene on Ni(111)

A study is reported of the role played by covalent interaction in the coupling of graphene formed on Ni(111) to the Ni substrate and after intercalation of Au and Cu monolayers underneath the graphene. Covalent interaction of the graphene π states with d states of the underlying metal (Ni, Au, Cu) has been shown to bring about noticeable distortion of the dispersion relations of the graphene electronic π states in the region of crossing with d states, which can be described in terms of avoided-crossing effects and formation of bonding and antibonding d-π states. The overall graphene coupling to a substrate is mediated by the energy and occupation of the hybridized states involved. Because graphene formed directly on the Ni(111) surface has only bonding-type occupied states, the coupling to the substrate is very strong. Interaction with intercalated Au and Cu layers makes occupation of states of the antibonding and bonding types comparable, which translates into a weak resultant overall coupling of graphene to the substrate. As a result, after intercalation of Au atoms, the electronic structure becomes similar to that of quasi-free-standing graphene, with linear dispersion of π states at the K point of the Brillouin zone and the Dirac point localized close to the Fermi level. Intercalation of Cu atoms under the graphene monolayer results, besides generation of covalent interaction, in a slight charge transport, with a partial occupation of the previously unoccupied π* states and the Dirac point shifted by 0.35 eV toward increasing binding energy.     

Electronic states of moiré modulated Cu films

We examined by low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy the surface of thin Cu films on Pt(111). The Cu/Pt lattice mismatch induces a moiré modulation for films from 3 to about 10?ML thickness. We used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to examine the effects of this structural modulation on the electronic states of the system. A series of hexagonal- and trigonal-like constant energy contours is found in the proximity of the Cu(111) zone boundaries. These electronic patterns are generated by Cu sp-quantum well state replicas, originating from multiple points of the reciprocal lattice associated with the moiré superstructure. Layer-dependent strain relaxation and hybridization with the substrate bands concur to determine the dispersion and energy position of the Cu Shockley surface state.     

Electronic properties and interfacial coupling in Pb islands on single-crystalline graphene

Introducing metal thin films on two-dimensional (2D) material may present a system to possess exotic properties due to reduced dimensionality and interfacial effects. We deposit Pb islands on single-crystalline graphene on a Ge(110) substrate and studied the nano- and atomic-scale structures and low-energy electronic excitations with scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). Robust quantum well states (QWSs) are observed in Pb(111) islands and their oscillation with film thickness reveals the isolation of free electrons in Pb from the graphene substrate. The spectroscopic characteristics of QWSs are consistent with the band structure of a free-standing Pb(111) film. The weak interface coupling is further evidenced by the absence of superconductivity in graphene in close proximity to the superconducting Pb islands. Accordingly, the Pb(111) islands on graphene/Ge(110) are free-standing in nature, showing very weak electronic coupling to the substrate.     

Modelling self-ordering behaviour on Ag covered Pt vicinal surfaces

We use computer simulation to explore the formation process of a monolayer of Ag on a stepped Pt(111) substrate and the formation of 3D Pt nanostructures on an Ag covered (111) and (100) Pt substrate. We show that broken lines of Pt nanostructures are preferred at the step edges on the (111) substrate while continuous lines of Pt nanowires are preferred at the step edge on the (100) substrate. This different behaviour is due to the exposed front facet of the nanostructures running along the step, specifically for the (100) stepped substrate a nanowire grown on the step edge has a stable (111) exposed front facet, whereas a nanowire grown on the (111) substrate would have an unstable (100) front facet (depending on the direction of the step). For the Pt nanowires grown on the (100) substrate we show how arriving Pt dimers (and monomers) preferentially move up off the Ag substrate onto the nanowire's (111) facet where they undergo fast diffusion. We also show that these Pt dimers (and monomers) move up and down the nanowire's facet until a vacancy or defect is encountered.     

Resonance Raman scattering in graphene: Probing phonons and electrons

In this work, by using different laser excitation energies, we obtain important electronic and vibrational properties of mono- and bi-layer graphene. For monolayer graphene, we determine the phonon dispersion near the Dirac point for the in-plane transverse optical (iTO) mode. This result is compared with recent calculations that take into account electron–electron correlations for the phonon dispersion around the K point. For bilayer graphene we extract the Slonczewski–Weiss–McClure band parameters and compare them with recent infrared measurements. We also analyze the second-order feature in the Raman spectrum for trilayer graphene.     

A LEED study of the deposition of carbon on platinum crystal surfaces

The deposition of carbon is studied by LEED on four platinum crystal faces: two low-index surfaces Pt(100), Pt(111)and two stepped surfaces Pt(S) ? [5(100) × (111)], a vicinal of (100), Pt(S)?[6(111) × (100)], a vicinal of (111). Carbon, generated by flowing ethylene onto the hot platinum, causes the formation of a graphitic overlayer and surface rearrangements of the substrate. The threshold temperature for graphitization is the lowest on Pt(100). The overlayer exhibits a single preferred orientation on Pt(100), several orientations on Pt(111) and its vicinal. Ordered carbon structures can be detected on the vicinal of (111) for low carbon doses. The orientations found in spot patterns (perfect registry) or ring-like patterns (imperfect alignment) can be associated with a coincidence-site lattice condition at the Pt/C interface. Faceting is observed except on Pt(111); the vicinal of (100) is particularly unstable. The stepped array on the vicinal of (111) starts to disorder at 350°C and can be converted into a hill and valley configuration at higher temperatures and carbon doses. Implications for catalytic studies are discussed.     

Point defects on graphene on metals

Understanding the coupling of graphene with its local environment is critical to be able to integrate it in tomorrow's electronic devices. Here we show how the presence of a metallic substrate affects the properties of an atomically tailored graphene layer. We have deliberately introduced single carbon vacancies on a graphene monolayer grown on a Pt(111) surface and investigated its impact in the electronic, structural, and magnetic properties of the graphene layer. Our low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy studies, complemented by density functional theory, show the existence of a broad electronic resonance above the Fermi energy associated with the vacancies. Vacancy sites become reactive leading to an increase of the coupling between the graphene layer and the metal substrate at these points; this gives rise to a rapid decay of the localized state and the quenching of the magnetic moment associated with carbon vacancies in freestanding graphene layers.     

Electrochemical codeposition of Pt/graphene catalyst for improved methanol oxidation

Pt/graphene electrocatalyst was uniformly deposited on a glassy carbon substrate using a pulsed galvanostatic electrodeposition method, which facilitated the simultaneous electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide and formation of Pt nanoparticles. Compared to the commercial carbon-supported Pt electrocatalyst, the electrochemically reduced Pt/graphene (Pt/ERG) catalyst exhibited improved electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation due to the synergistic effects of an increase in the number of catalytic reaction sites and an enhancement of the charge transfer rate.     

Investigation on thermal conductivity of graphene/Si heterostructure with different defect ratios and sizes

The thermal conductivity (TC) of graphene/Si heterostructures with different defect ratios and sizes was investigated using the molecular dynamics method. As the defect ratio of heterostructure increased, the TC decreased first sharply and then slowly under a high temperature stage. The TC of heterostructure also showed a significant size effect. This phenomenon was explained by phonon dispersion and flip competition. The phonon density of states for the graphene heterostructure with different defect ratios and sizes was obtained to understand the thermal transport mechanism. Analysis showed that with the increase in the defect ratio and when the flexural modes of the heterostructure became weak, the longitudinal and transverse modes gradually dominated the phonon transport. This phenomenon can be explained that the Si atom vibration was harder in the vertical plane than that of graphene. The vibration mode hindered the heat carrier of graphene and affected heat transport to the heterostructure.     

Triphenylene adsorption on Cu(111) and relevant graphene self-assembly

Investigations on adsorption behavior of triphenylene(TP) and subsequent graphene self-assembly on Cu(111) were carried out mainly by using scanning tunneling microscopy(STM).At monolayer coverage,TP molecules formed a longrange ordered adsorption structure on Cu(111) with an uniform orientation.Graphene self-assembly on the Cu(111) substrate with TP molecules as precursor was achieved by annealing the sample,and a large-scale graphene overlayer was successfully captured after the sample annealing up to 1000 K.Three different Moire patterns generated from relative rotational disorders between the graphene overlayer and the Cu(111) substrate were observed,one with 40 rotation between the graphene overlayer and the Cu(111) substrate with a periodicity of 2.93 nm,another with 70 rotation and 2.15 nm of the size of the Moire supercell,and the third with 100 rotation with a periodicity of 1.35 nm.