Carbon interaction with rhodium surface: Adsorption, dissolution, segregation, growth of graphene layers

Carbon interaction with rhodium (111) surface has been studied by Auger electron spectroscopy in ultrahigh vacuum within a broad temperature interval of 300-1800 K. It has been shown that the graphene monolayer remains stable on the metal surface within a relatively narrow temperature interval of ～50 K below the carbonization point, and when heated above this point, graphene breaks up gradually by transferring first to the island state, and after that, to chemisorbed carbon “gas.“ As the temperature decreases, a stable multilayer graphite film forms.