We report on an investigation of quasi-free-standing graphene on 6H-SiC(0001) which was prepared by intercalation of hydrogen under the buffer layer. Using infrared absorption spectroscopy we prove that the SiC(0001) surface is saturated with hydrogen. Raman spectra demonstrate the conversion of the buffer layer into graphene which exhibits a slight tensile strain and short range defects. The layers are hole doped (p = 5.0-6.5 x 10^12 cm^(-2)) with a carrier mobility of 3,100 cm^2/Vs at room temperature. Compared to graphene on the buffer layer a strongly reduced temperature dependence of the mobility is observed for graphene on H-terminated SiC(0001)which justifies the term quasi-free-standing.
Quasi-free standing epitaxial graphene is obtained on SiC(0001) by hydrogen intercalation. The hydrogen moves between the 6root3 reconstructed initial carbon layer and the SiC substrate. The topmost Si atoms which for epitaxial graphene are covalently bound to this buffer layer, are now saturated by hydrogen bonds. The buffer layer is turned into a quasi-free standing graphene monolayer with its typical linear pi-bands. Similarly, epitaxial monolayer graphene turns into a decoupled bilayer. The intercalation is stable in air and can be reversed by annealing to around 900 degrees Celsius.
Quasi free standing monolayer graphene (QFMLG) grown on SiC by selective Si evaporation from the Si-rich SiC(0001) face and H intercalation displays irregularities in STM and AFM analysis, appearing as localized features, which we previously identified as vacancies in the H layer coverage [Y Murata, et al. Nano Res, in press, DOI: 10.1007/s12274-017-1697-x]. The size, shape, brightness, location, and concentration of these features, however, are variable, depending on the hydrogenation conditions. In order to shed light on the nature of these features, in this work we perform a systematic Density Functional Theory study on the structural and electronic properties of QFMLG with defects in the H coverage arranged in different configurations including up to 13 vacant H atoms, and show that these generate localized electronic states with specific electronic structure. Based on the comparison of simulated and measured STM images we are able to associate different vacancies of large size (7-13 missing H) to the different observed features. The presence of large vacancies is in agreement with the tendency of single H vacancies to aggregate, as demonstrated here by DFT results. This gives some hints into the hydrogenation process. Our work unravels the structural diversity of defects of H coverage in QFMLG and provides operative ways to interpret the variety in the STM images. The energy of the localized states generated by these vacancies is tunable by means of their size and shape, suggesting applications in nano- and opto-electronics.
Realization of a free-standing graphene is always a demanding task. Here we use scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy to study the crystallographic structure and electronic properties of the uniform free-standing graphene layers obtained by intercalation of oxygen monolayer in the strongly bonded graphene/Ru(0001) interface. Spectroscopic data show that such graphene layer is heavily p-doped with the Dirac point located at 552 meV above the Fermi level. Experimental data are understood within DFT and the observed effects are in good agreement with the theoretical data.
We present a study of quasi-free-standing monolayer graphene obtained by intercalation of Au atoms at the interface between the carbon buffer layer (Bu-L) and the silicon-terminated face (0001) of 4H-silicon carbide. Au intercalation is achieved by deposition of atomically thin Au on the Bu-L followed by annealing at 850 {deg}C in an Argon atmosphere. We explore the intercalation of Au and decoupling of the Bu-L into quasi-free-standing monolayer graphene by surface science characterizations and electron transport in top-gated electronic devices. By gate-dependent magnetotransport we find that the Au-intercalated buffer layer displays all properties of monolayer graphene, namely gate tunable ambipolar transport across the Dirac point, and n- or p-type doping depending on the Au content.