Xe irradiation of graphene on Ir(111): From trapping to blistering

Charlotte Herbig, E. Harriet Åhlgren, Ulrike A. Schröder, Antonio J. Martínez-Galera, Mohammad A. Arman, Jani Kotakoski, Jan Knudsen, Arkady V. Krasheninnikov, and Thomas Michely
Phys. Rev. B 92, 085429 – Published 26 August 2015
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Abstract

Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal desorption spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy, we show that upon keV Xe+ irradiation of graphene on Ir(111), Xe atoms are trapped under the graphene. Upon annealing, aggregation of Xe leads to graphene bulges and blisters. The efficient trapping is an unexpected and remarkable phenomenon given the absence of chemical binding of Xe to Ir and to graphene, the weak interaction of a perfect graphene layer with Ir(111), as well as the substantial damage to graphene due to irradiation. By combining molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations with our experiments, we uncover the mechanism of trapping. We describe ways to avoid blister formation during graphene growth, and also demonstrate how ion implantation can be used to intentionally create blisters without introducing damage to the graphene layer. Our approach may provide a pathway to synthesize new materials at a substrate—2D material interface or to enable confined reactions at high pressures and temperatures.

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  • Received 22 June 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.085429

©2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Charlotte Herbig1,*, E. Harriet Åhlgren2, Ulrike A. Schröder1, Antonio J. Martínez-Galera1, Mohammad A. Arman3, Jani Kotakoski4, Jan Knudsen5, Arkady V. Krasheninnikov6,7, and Thomas Michely1

  • 1II. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Straße 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
  • 3Division of Synchrotron Radiation Research, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
  • 4Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Wien, Austria
  • 5Max IV Laboratory and Division of Synchrotron Radiation Research, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
  • 6Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
  • 7Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany

  • *herbig@ph2.uni-koeln.de

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Issue

Vol. 92, Iss. 8 — 15 August 2015

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