Semiconducting electronic property of graphene adsorbed on (0001) surfaces of SiO2

First-principles total energy calculations are performed to investigate the energetics and electronic structures of graphene adsorbed on both an oxygen-terminated SiO2 (0001) surface and a fully hydroxylated SiO2 (0001) surface. We find that there are several stable adsorption sites for graphene on both O-terminated and hydroxylated SiO2 surfaces. The binding energy in the most stable geometry is found to be 15 meV per C atom, indicating a weak interaction between graphene and SiO2 (0001) surfaces. We also find that the graphene adsorbed on SiO2 is a semiconductor irrespective of the adsorption arrangement due to the variation of on-site energy induced by the SiO2 substrate.     

基于第一性原理的锂空气电池钌掺杂石墨烯正极 氧还原反应机理研究

双电解液锂空气电池因其高理论能量密度受到广泛研究,但电池正极侧氧还原反应(ORR)速率低,其反应速率是限制锂空气电池发展的主要因素之一.本文提出了以钌(Ru)掺杂单层石墨烯作为正极ORR催化剂,采用第一性原理计算nRu (n=1～3)掺杂石墨烯的电子结构和氧气在Ru掺杂石墨烯表面的吸附性能,并以过渡态搜索方法获得ORR反应路径,研究碱性溶液中Ru掺杂单层石墨烯作用下的ORR机理.研究结果表明,经Ru原子掺杂后,石墨烯能够获得稳定的掺杂结构,且电导率显著提升.同原始单层石墨烯相比,Ru掺杂石墨烯增强了对O₂的吸附能力.在三Ru(n=3)掺杂石墨烯表面进行的ORR无需克服任何能垒.此外,三Ru掺杂石墨烯表面对OH基团的吸附能最低,有利于ORR的连续进行.研究表明三Ru掺杂石墨烯有望成为一种新型的ORR催化剂以提高双电解液锂空气电池的性能.     

Vibrational modes of oxygen on W(110)

Electron energy loss measurements of the vibrational modes of oxygen on W(110) as a function of coverage up to 0.5 monolayer are presented and analyzed. A single loss at 67 meV is observed initially; with increasing exposure this loss shifts to 72 meV and another loss appears at 47 meV. These data indicate coexistence of two species on the surface with a coverage-dependent conversion. Angular profiles of the specular elastic beam show a dramatic increase in width with initial oxygen coverage; this is possibly due to an oxygen-induced static disordering of the W surface layer.     

High-energy limit of massless Dirac fermions in multilayer graphene using magneto-optical transmission spectroscopy

We have investigated the absorption spectrum of multilayer graphene in high magnetic fields. The low-energy part of the spectrum of electrons in graphene is well described by the relativistic Dirac equation with a linear dispersion relation. However, at higher energies (>500 meV) a deviation from the ideal behavior of Dirac particles is observed. At an energy of 1.25 eV, the deviation from linearity is approximately 40 meV. This result is in good agreement with the theoretical model, which includes trigonal warping of the Fermi surface and higher-order band corrections. Polarization-resolved measurements show no observable electron-hole asymmetry.     

A first principle calculation of electronic and dielectric properties of electrically gated low-buckled mono and bilayer silicene

The structural, electronic and dielectric properties of mono and bilayer buckled silicene sheets are investigated using density functional theory. A comparison of stabilities, electronic structure and effect of external electric field are investigated for AA and AB-stacked bilayer silicene. It has been found that there are no excitations of electrons i.e. plasmons at low energies for out-of-plane polarization. While for AB-stacked bilayer silicene 1.48 eV plasmons for in-plane polarization is found, a lower value compared to 2.16 eV plasmons for monolayer silicene. Inter-band transitions and plasmons in both bilayer and monolayer silicene are found relatively at lower energies than graphene. The calculations suggest that the band gap can be opened up and varied over a wide range by applying external electric field for bilayer silicene. In infra-red region imaginary part of dielectric function for AB-stacked buckled bilayer silicene shows a broad structure peak in the range of 75–270 meV compared to a short structure peak at 70 meV for monolayer silicene and no structure peaks for AA-stacked bilayer silicene. On application of external electric field the peaks are found to be blue-shifted in infra-red region. With the help of imaginary part of dielectric function and electron energy loss function effort has been made to understand possible interband transitions in both buckled bilayer silicene and monolayer silicene.     

Rashba effect in the graphene/ni(111) system

We report on angle-resolved photoemission studies of the electronic pi states of high-quality epitaxial graphene layers on a Ni(111) surface. In this system the electron binding energy of the pi states shows a strong dependence on the magnetization reversal of the Ni film. The observed extraordinarily large energy shift up to 225 meV of the graphene-derived pi band peak position for opposite magnetization directions is attributed to a manifestation of the Rashba interaction between spin-polarized electrons in the pi band and the large effective electric field at the graphene/Ni interface. Our findings show that an electron spin in the graphene layer can be manipulated in a controlled way and have important implications for graphene-based spintronic devices.     

Bandgap engineering of self-assembled InAs quantum dots with a thin AlAs barrier

We investigate the effects of a thin AlAs layer with different position and thickness on the optical properties of InAs quantum dots (QDs) by using transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence (PL). The energy level shift of InAs QD samples is observed by introducing the thin AlAs layer without any significant loss of the QD qualities. The emission peak from InAs QDs directly grown on the 4 monolayer (ML) AlAs layer is blueshifted from that of reference sample by 219 meV with a little increase in FWHM from 42–47 meV for ground state. In contrast, InAs QDs grown under the 4 ML AlAs layer have PL peak a little redshifted to lower energy by 17 meV. This result is related to the interdiffusion of Al atom at the InAs QDs caused by the annealing effect during growing of InAs QDs on AlAs layer.     

Quasi-particle spectrum and density of electronic states in AA- and AB-stacked bilayer graphene

The present work deals with the analysis of the quasi-particle spectrum and the density of states of monolayer and bilayer (AB- and AA-stacked) graphene. The tight binding Hamiltonian containing nearest-neighbor and next-nearest neighbor hopping and onsite Coulomb interaction within two triangular sub-lattice approach for monolayer graphene, along-with the interlayer coupling parameter for bilayer graphene has been employed. The expressions of quasi-particle energies and the density of states (DOS) are obtained within mean-field Green’s function equations of motion approach. It is found that next-nearest-neighbour intralayer hopping introduce asymmetry in the electronic states above and below the zero point energy in monolayer and bilayer (AA- and AB-stacked) graphene. The behavior of electronic states in monolayer and bilayer graphene is different and highly influenced by interlayer coupling and Coulomb interaction. It has been pointed out that the interlayer coupling splits the quasi-particle peak in density of states while the Coulomb interaction suppresses the bilayer splitting and generates a gap at Fermi level in both AA- and AB-stacked bilayer graphene. The theoretically obtained quasi-particle energies and density of states in monolayer and bilayer (AA- and AB-stacked) graphene has been viewed in terms of recent ARPES and STM data on these systems.     

Symmetry of standing waves generated by a point defect in epitaxial graphene

Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and Fourier Transform STM (FT-STM), we have studied a point defect in epitaxial graphene grown on silicon carbide substrate. We find a strong threefold anisotropy in the standing waves generated by the defect. We discuss possible relations between this anisotropy and the chirality of the electrons, and how it allows us to identify the position of the impurity. We extract the quasiparticle energy dispersion, and give a first experimental proof of the validity of Fermi liquid theory in graphene for a wide range of energies from -800 meV to +800 meV. All experimental measurements are compared and related to theoretical T-matrix calculations.     

Adsorption configurations of carbon monoxide on gold monolayer supported by graphene or monolayer hexagonal boron nitride: a first-principles study

Using density functional theory with a semiempirical van der Waals approach proposed by Grimme, the adsorption behavior of carbon monoxide on a gold monolayer supported by graphene or monolayer hexagonal boron nitride has been investigated. Based on the changes in the Dirac cone of graphene and a Bader charge analysis, we observe that the Au(111) monolayer gains a small charge from graphene and monolayer h-BN. The adsorbed CO molecule adopts similar adsorption configurations on Au(111)/graphene and Au(111)/h-BN with Au-C distance 2.17?2.50 Å and Au-C-O angle of 123.9°–139.6°. Moreover, we found that for low CO coverages, bonding to the gold surface is surprisingly energy-favorable. Yet the CO adsorption binding energy diminishes at high coverage due to the repulsive van der Waals interactions between CO molecules.     

Magnetic correlations at graphene edges: basis for novel spintronics devices

Magnetic zigzag edges of graphene are considered as a basis for novel spintronics devices despite the fact that no true long-range magnetic order is possible in one dimension. We study the transverse and longitudinal fluctuations of magnetic moments at zigzag edges of graphene from first principles. We find a high value for the spin wave stiffness D=2100 meV A2 and a spin-collinear domain wall creation energy E(dw)=114 meV accompanied by low magnetic anisotropy. Above the crossover temperature T(x) approximately 10 K, the spin correlation length xi proportional, variantT(-1) limits the long-range magnetic order to approximately 1 nm at 300 K while below T(x), it grows exponentially with decreasing temperature. We discuss possible ways of increasing the range of magnetic order and effects of edge roughness on it.     

直接带隙半导体In2(PS3)3单层结构与电子特性的第一性原理研究

高载流子迁移率和可调直接带隙是低维电子器件应用的两个关键特性.但目前发现的此类二维材料稀少.鉴于此在第一性原理计算的基础上,本文系统研究了In₂(PS₃)₃单层的稳定性、电子结构性质和机械性质.研究结果表明,In₂(PS₃)₃单层是具有直接带隙的半导体材料(1.58 eV).在-3%到3%应变下,In₂(PS₃)₃单层的带隙是可以调节的(1.3～1.8 eV).声子谱、分子动力学和弹性常数的计算结果表明,In₂(PS₃)₃单层是热力学、动力学和机械稳定的.此外,In₂(PS₃)₃单层的剥离能(0.21 J m^-2)小于石墨烯的剥离能(0.36 J m^-2),有望像石墨烯一样机械剥离得到.这些优异的的性能使得In     

First-principles studies of graphene antidot lattices on monolayer h-BN substrate

The structures and electronic structures of hetero bilayers composed of graphene antidot lattice (GAL) on monolayer h-BN substrate are studied in first-principles method. Bond lengths, interlayer distances, flatness, biaxial strain effects, and effects of translating the GAL layer are studied and analyzed in detail. Results show that introducing a monolayer BN substrate makes the zero-bandgap $5\times 5$ GAL open a bandgap up to 28 meV, while it makes the semiconducting $6\times 6$ GAL keep its low-energy electronic structure almost intact except a small bandgap change by tens of meV at most. Our studies demonstrate that h-BN is a promising substrate for GAL.     

Ultrasensitive terahertz/infrared waveguide modulators based on multilayer graphene metamaterials

This paper studies and classifies the electromagnetic regimes of multilayer graphene‐dielectric artificial metamaterials in the terahertz/infrared range. The employment of such composites for waveguide‐integrated modulators is analysed and three examples of novel tunable devices are presented. The first one is a modulator with excellent ON‐state transmission and very high modulation depth: >38 dB at 70 meV graphene's electrochemical potential (Fermi energy) change. The second one is a modulator with extreme sensitivity towards graphene's Fermi energy ‐ a minute 1 meV variation of the latter leads to >13.2 dB modulation depth. The third one is a tunable waveguide‐based passband filter. The narrow‐band cut‐off conditions around the ON‐state allow the latter to shift its central frequency by 1.25% per every meV graphene's Fermi energy change.     

Interaction of H_2~+ molecular beam with thin layer graphene foils

The interaction of MeV H_2~+ molecular ions with thin layer graphene and graphite foils was studied by using a highresolution electrostatic analyzer.A large number of fragment protons were observed at zero degree(along the beam direction) when the H_2~+ beam was passing through the monolayer graphene foil, which indicates that the electron of the H_2~+ molecular ions can be stripped easily even by the monolayer graphene foil.More trailing than leading protons were found in the energy spectrum, which means significant wake effect was observed in the monolayer graphene foil.The ratio of the numbers of trailing protons over leading protons first increased with the thickness for the much thinner graphene foils, and then decreased with the thickness for the much thicker graphite foils, which indicates that the bending effect of the wake field on the trailing proton varied with the foil thickness.     

Graphene-like Be_3X_2(X=C,Si, Ge,Sn):A new family of two-dimensional topological insulators

Using first-principle calculations, we predict a new family of stable two-dimensional(2 D) topological insulators(TI),monolayer Be_3 X_2(X = C,Si, Ge, Sn) with honeycomb Kagome lattice. Based on the configuration of Be_3 C_2, which has been reported to be a 2 D Dirac material, we construct the other three 2 D materials and confirm their stability according to their chemical bonding properties and phonon-dispersion relationships. Because of their tiny spin-orbit coupling(SOC)gaps, Be_3 C_2 and Be_3 Si_2 are 2 D Dirac materials with high Fermi velocity at the same order of magnitude as that of graphene.For Be3 Ge2 and Be_3 Sn_2,the SOC gaps are 1.5 meV and 11.7 meV, and their topological nontrivial properties are also confirmed by their semi-infinite Dirac edge states. Our findings not only extend the family of 2 D Dirac materials, but also open an avenue to track new 2 DTI.     

In situ scanning electron microscopy of graphene growth on polycrystalline Ni substrate

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is shown to be capable of imaging a monolayer of graphene, and is employed to observe in situ the graphene growth process by segregation of bulk-dissolved carbon on a polycrystalline nickel surface. Because of a wide field of view, SEM could easily track the rapid graphene growth induced by carbon segregation. Monolayer graphene extended on (111)- and (011)-oriented nickel grains, but was excluded from the (001) grains. This is due to the difference in carbon-nickel binding energy among these crystalline faces. This work proves the usefulness of in situ SEM imaging for the investigation of large area graphene growth.     

Characteristics of secondary electron emission from few layer graphene on silicon (111) surface

As a typical two-dimensional (2D) coating material, graphene has been utilized to effectively reduce secondary electron emission from the surface. Nevertheless, the microscopic mechanism and the dominant factor of secondary electron emission suppression remain controversial. Since traditional models rely on the data of experimental bulk properties which are scarcely appropriate to the 2D coating situation, this paper presents the first-principles-based numerical calculations of the electron interaction and emission process for monolayer and multilayer graphene on silicon (111) substrate. By using the anisotropic energy loss for the coating graphene, the electron transport process can be described more realistically. The real physical electron interactions, including the elastic scattering of electron—nucleus, inelastic scattering of the electron—extranuclear electron, and electron—phonon effect, are considered and calculated by using the Monte Carlo method. The energy level transition theory-based first-principles method and the full Penn algorithm are used to calculate the energy loss function during the inelastic scattering. Variations of the energy loss function and interface electron density differences for 1 to 4 layer graphene coating GoSi are calculated, and their inner electron distributions and secondary electron emissions are analyzed. Simulation results demonstrate that the dominant factor of the inhibiting of secondary electron yield (SEY) of GoSi is to induce the deeper electrons in the internal scattering process. In contrast, a low surface potential barrier due to the positive deviation of electron density difference at monolayer GoSi interface in turn weakens the suppression of secondary electron emission of the graphene layer. Only when the graphene layer number is 3, does the contribution of surface work function to the secondary electron emission suppression appear to be slightly positive.     

Anisotropic optical conductivity and electron–hole asymmetry in doped monolayer graphene in the presence of the Rashba coupling

In this study, the optical conductivity of substitutionary doped graphene is investigated in the presence of the Rashba spin orbit coupling (RSOC). Calculations have been performed within the coherent potential approximation (CPA) beyond the Dirac cone approximation. Results of the current study demonstrate that the optical conductivity is increased by increasing the RSOC strength. Meanwhile it was observed that the anisotropy of the band energy results in a considerable anisotropic optical conductivity (AOC) in monolayer graphene. The sign and magnitude of this anisotropic conductivity was shown to be controlled by the external field frequency. It was also shown that the Rashba interaction results in electron–hole asymmetry in monolayer graphene.     

Theory of H bonding and vibration on Ru(0001)

Self-consistent linear augmented plane wave total energy calculations have been carried out for a 1 × 1 H monolayer on the Ru(0001) surface. They give an HRu layer separation of 1.06 Å and vibrational frequencies of 140 meV for the symmetric stretch mode and 100 meV for the asymmetric stretch mode. These compare very well with measured values of 138 and 105 meV, but reverse the original mode assignments which appeared to be consistent with a nearest neighbor harmonic force model. Our results are qualitatively inconsistent with such a model. Another simple model, the effective medium theory, also fails to account for our results in the absence of significant covalent correction terms.