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Adsorption on epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001)

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Abstract

Graphene, a single atomic sheet of sp2-bonded carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice, exhibits extraordinary electrical and mechanical properties, attracting much attention in both academia and industry. The preparation of high quality large-area graphene and the tuning of graphene electronic properties are important topics in this field. In this feature paper, we review our recent work on epitaxial graphene (EG) on SiC(0001). First, we introduce the bottom-up growth mechanism of the first few EG layers on SiC(0001), and the modification of graphene electronic properties by means of surface transfer doping with electron withdrawing materials (F4-TCNQ and MoO3). Next, we summarize the adsorption behaviors of organic (PTCDA, ClAlPc, and C60F48) and inorganic (bismuth) materials on EG/SiC(0001). Finally, as an example of tuning the electronic properties of graphene by reducing its dimensionality, we demonstrate the molecular self-assembly of atomically precise armchair graphene nanoribbons with varying widths and electronic structures.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We acknowledge the financial support from NRF-CRP Grant Nos. R-143-000-360-281: “Graphene and Related Materials and Devices” and R-144-000-295-281: “Novel 2D materials with tailored properties – beyond graphene”. Dr. Han Huang acknowledges the “Shenghua Professorship” startup funding from Central South University.

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Correspondence to Han Huang or Andrew Thye Shen Wee.

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Huang, H., Wee, A.T.S. Adsorption on epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001). Journal of Materials Research 29, 447–458 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2013.236

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