Characterization of Graphene Growth on Pt(111)

Undergraduate #263
Discipline: Nanoscience
Subcategory: Materials Science

Taliya Gunawansa - Norfolk State University
Co-Author(s): Daisuke Fujita and Keisuke Sagisaka, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan

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Characterization of sizable graphene sheets grown on metal surfaces is key to understanding the interaction between graphene and the substrate for future applications. It is confirmed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and helium ion microscopy (HIM) that graphene was successfully grown on Pt(111) surface through segregation. The graphene consisted of single-layer graphene across the majority of the substrate with various sections of bi- and tri-layer graphene islands and Pt patches. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals the C1s peak from graphene on Pt(111) has lower binding energy than those from graphite (HOPG) and graphene on Ni(111), suggesting that graphene on Pt(111) has a weaker interaction than other substrates. Topographic images and cross-section data from atomic force microscopy (AFM) depicted that graphene islands are 1.10 nm lower than the surrounding Pt region, in spite of the fact that graphene is grown on Pt. This observation speculated that water adsorption on the Pt region may indicate the nanoscale hydrophobicity of graphene and nanoscale hydrophilicity of Pt(111).

Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network Research Experience for Undergraduates Program; National Institute of Material Sciences; National Science Foundation, Grant No. ECCS0335765

Faculty Advisor: Daisuke Fujita,