We investigate the electronic, thermal, and optical characteristics of graphene like SiC$_x$ structure using model calculations based on density functional theory. The change in the energy bandgap can be tuned by the Si atomic configuration, rather than the dopants ratio. The effects of the concentration of the Si atoms and the shape of supercell are kept constant, and only the interaction effects of two Si atoms are studied by varying their positions. If the Si atoms are at the same sublattice positions, a maximum bandgap is obtained leading to an increased Seebeck coefficient and figure of merit. A deviation in the Wiedemann-Franz ratio is also found, and a maximum value of the Lorenz number is thus discovered. Furthermore, a significant red shift of the first peak of the imaginary part of the dielectric function towards the visible range of the electromagnetic radiation is observed. On the other hand, if the Si atoms are located at different sublattice positions, a small bandgap is seen because the symmetry of sublattice remains almost unchanged. Consequently, the Seebeck coefficient and the dielectric function are only slightly changed compared to pristine graphene. In addition, the electron energy loss function is suppressed in Si-doped graphene. These unique variations of the thermal and the optical properties of Si-doped graphene are of importance to understand experiments relevant to optoelectronic applications.
Magnetotransport measurements on Hall bar devices fabricated on purely monolayer epitaxial graphene on Silicon Carbide (SiC/G) show a very tight spread in carrier concentration and mobility across wafer- size dimensions. In contrast, SiC/G devices containing bilayer graphene domains display variations in their electronic properties linked to the amount of bilayer content.
We determine conditions for the formation of compressible stripes near the quantum Hall effect (QHE) edges of top-gated epitaxial graphene on Si-terminated SiC (G/SiC) and compare those to graphene exfoliated onto insulating substrate in the field-effect-transistor (GraFET) geometry. For G/SiC, a large density of localised surface states on SiC just underneath graphene layer and charge transfer between them lead both to doping of graphene and to screening of potential profile near its edge. This suppresses formation of compressible stripes near QHE edges in graphene, making them much narrower …
In this work we use LEEM, XPEEM and XPS to study how the excess Si at the graphene-vacuum interface reorders itself at high temperatures. We show that silicon deposited at room temperature onto multilayer graphene films grown on the SiC(000[`1]) rapidly diffuses to the graphene-SiC interface when heated to temperatures above 1020. In a sequence of depositions, we have been able to intercalate ~ 6 ML of Si into the graphene-SiC interface.
Electronic devices based on graphene technology are catching on rapidly and the ability to engineer graphene properties at the nanoscale is becoming, more than ever, indispensable. Here, we present a new procedure of graphene functionalization on SiC(0001) that paves the way towards the fabrication of complex graphene electronic chips. The procedure resides on the well-known ion-implantation technique. The efficiency of the working principle is demonstrated by the intercalation of the epitaxial graphene layer on SiC(0001) with Bi atoms, which was not possible following standard procedures. Our…
Monolayer graphene epitaxially grown on SiC(0001) was etched by H-plasma and studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The etching created partly hexagonal nanopits of monatomic depth as well as elevated regions with a height of about 0.12 nm which are stable at $T$ = 78 K. The symmetric tunnel spectrum about the Femi energy and the absence of a $6\times6$ corrugation on the elevated regions suggest that in these regions the carbon buffer layer is decoupled from the SiC substrate and quasi-free-standing bilayer graphene appears at originally monolayer graphene on the buffer la…
Epitaxial graphene grown on SiC by the confinement controlled sublimation method is reviewed, with an emphasis on multilayer and monolayer epitaxial graphene on the carbon face of 4H-SiC and on directed and selectively grown structures under growth-arresting or growth-enhancing masks. Recent developments in the growth of templated graphene nanostructures are also presented, as exemplified by tens of micron long very well confined and isolated 20-40nm wide graphene ribbons. Scheme for large scale integration of ribbon arrays with Si wafer is also presented.
Epitaxial graphene films were formed on the Si-face of semi-insulating 4H-SiC substrates by a high temperature sublimation process. A high-k gate stack on epitaxial graphene is realized by inserting a fully oxidized nanometer thin aluminum film as a seeding layer followed by an atomic-layer deposition process. The electrical properties of epitaxial graphene films are sustained after gate stack formation without significant degradation. At low temperatures, the quantum-Hall effect in Hall resistance is observed along with pronounced Shubnikov-de Hass oscillations in diagonal magneto-resistance …
We perform density functional theory calculations for the determination of the structural and electronic properties of epitaxial graphene on 4H-SiC(000$\bar{1}$). Using commensurate supercells that minimize non-physical stresses we show that, in contrast with Si-face epitaxial films, the first graphene layer that forms on the C-face of SiC is purely metallic with its $π$-bands partially preserved. Typical free-standing characteristics are fully recovered with a second graphene layer. We moreover discuss on the magnetic properties of the interface and the absence of Fermi-level pinning effects …
Classical molecular-dynamics simulations were carried out to study epitaxial growth of graphene on 6H-SiC(0001) substrate. It was found that there exists a threshold annealing temperature above which we observe formation of graphitic structure on the substrate. To check the sensitivity of the simulation results, we tested two empirical potentials and evaluated their reliability by the calculated characteristics of graphene, its carbon-carbon bond-length, pair correlation function, and binding energy.
Structured growth of high quality graphene is necessary for technological development of carbon based electronics. Specifically, control of the bunching and placement of surface steps under epitaxial graphene on SiC is an important consideration for graphene device production. We demonstrate lithographically patterned evaporated amorphous carbon corrals as a method to pin SiC surface steps. Evaporated amorphous carbon is an ideal step-flow barrier on SiC due to its chemical compatibility with graphene growth and its structural stability at high temperatures, as well as its patternability. The …
We developed an easy, upscalable process to prepare lateral spin-valve devices on epitaxially grown monolayer graphene on SiC(0001) and perform nonlocal spin transport measurements. We observe the longest spin relaxation times tau_S in monolayer graphene, while the spin diffusion coefficient D_S is strongly reduced compared to typical results on exfoliated graphene. The increase of tau_S is probably related to the changed substrate, while the cause for the small value of D_S remains an open question.
We study step flow growth of epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC using a one dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo model. The model parameters are effective energy barriers for the nucleation and propagation of graphene at the SiC steps. When the model is applied to graphene growth on vicinal surfaces, a strip width distribution is used to characterize the surface morphology. Additional kinetic processes are included to study graphene growth on SiC nano-facets. Our main result is that the original nano-facet is fractured into several nano-facets during graphene growth. This phenomenon is characterized by t…
In view of the appreciable semiconducting gap of 0.26 eV observed in recent experiments, epitaxial graphene on a SiC substrate seems a promising channel material for FETs. Indeed, it is two-dimensional - and therefore does not require prohibitive lithography - and exhibits a wider gap than other alternative options, such as bilayer graphene. Here we propose a model and assess the achievable performance of a nanoscale FET based on epitaxial graphene on SiC, conducting an exploration of the design parameter space. We show that the current can be modulated by 4 orders of magnitude; for digital ap…
Recent experiments shown that graphene epitaxially grown on Silicon Carbide (SiC) can exhibit a energy gap of 0.26 eV, making it a promising material for electronics. With an accurate model, we explore the design parameter space for a fully ballistic graphene-on-SiC Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors (TFETs), and assess the DC and high frequency figures of merit. The steep subthreshold behavior can enable I_{ON}/I_{OFF} ratios exceeding 10^4 even with a low supply voltage of 0.15 V, for devices with gatelength down to 30 nm. Intrinsic transistor delays smaller than 1 ps are obtained. These factor…
X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) reveal the magnetic properties of intercalated europium metal under graphene on SiC(0001). Intercalation of Eu nano-clusters (average size 2.5 nm) between graphene and SiC substate are formed by deposition of Eu on epitaxially grown graphene that is subsequently annealed at various temperatures while keeping the integrity of the graphene layer. Using sum-rules analysis of the XMCD of Eu M$_{4,5}$ edges at $T = 15$ K, our samples show paramagnetic-like behavior with distinct anomaly at T $\approx$ 90 K which may be related to the N{è}el transition, T$_N$…
On the SiC(0001) surface (the silicon face of SiC), epitaxial graphene is obtained by sublimation of Si from the substrate. The graphene film is separated from the bulk by a carbon-rich interface layer (hereafter called the buffer layer) which in part covalently binds to the substrate. Its structural and electronic properties are currently under debate. In the present work we report scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of the buffer layer and of quasi-free-standing monolayer graphene (QFMLG) that is obtained by decoupling the buffer layer from the SiC(0001) substrate by means of hydroge…
We show that the $d^{0}$ ferromagnetism with high Curie temperature ($T_c$) can be achieved in the electron doped hydrogenated epitaxial graphene on some certain SiC substrates through first-principles calculations. The pristine systems are found to be a Mott insulator independent of SiC polytypes (2$H$, 4$H$ or 6$H$) which, however, play a significant role in the modulation of magnetic interaction. Carrier doping enhances the ferromagnetic coupling due to the double exchange mechanism and thus realizes the phase transition from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism. A $T_c$ of around 400 K is …
We report scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy investigation of graphene nanoribbons grown on an array of bunched steps of a 6H-SiC(0001) substrate. Our scanning tunneling microscopy images of a graphene nanoribbons on a step terrace feature a (sqrt(3)x sqrt(3))R30° pattern of aromatic rings which define our armchair nanoribbons. This is in agreement to a simulation based on density functional theory. As another signature of the one-dimensional electronic structure, in the corresponding scanning tunneling spectroscopy spectra we find well developed, sharp Van Hove singularities.
We introduce a kinetic model for the growth of epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC. The model applies to vicinal surfaces composed of half-unit-cell height steps where experiment shows that step flow sublimation of SiC promotes the formation and growth of graphene strips parallel to the step edges. The model parameters are effective energy barriers for the nucleation and subsequent propagation of graphene at the step edges. Using both rate equations and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, two distinct growth regimes emerge from a study of the layer coverage and distribution of top-layer graphene strip w…
We study the effect of SiC substrate on thermal conductivity of epitaxial graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) using the nonequilibrium molecular dynamics method. We show that the substrate has strong interaction with single-layer GNRs during the thermal transport, which largely reduces the thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity characteristics of suspended GNRs are well preserved in the second GNR layers of bilayer GNR, which has a weak van der Waals interaction with the underlying structures. The out-of-plane phonon mode is found to play a critical role on the thermal conductivity variation o…
Epitaxial graphene is grown on a non-polar n+ 6H-SiC m-plane substrate and studied using atomic scale scanning tunneling microscopy. Multilayer graphene is found throughout the surface and exhibits rotational disorder. Moiré patterns of different spatial periodicities are found, and we found that as the wavelength increases, so does the amplitude of the modulations. This relationship reveals information about the interplay between the energy required to bend graphene and the interaction energy, i.e. van der Waals energy, with the graphene layer below. Our experiments are supported by theoretic…
In this letter we report on transport measurements of epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001) with oxygen adsorption. In a $50\times 50 μ\mathrm{m^2}$ size Hall bar we observe the half-integer quantum Hall effect with a transverse resistance plateau quantized at filling factor around $ν= 2$, an evidence of monolayer graphene. We find low electron concentration of $9\times 10^{11} \textrm{cm}^{-2}$ and we show that a doping of $10^{13}\textrm{cm}^{-2}$ which is characteristic of intrinsic epitaxial graphene can be restored by vacuum annealing. The effect of oxygen adsorption on carrier density is confi…
We report the first observation of the quantum Hall effect in epitaxial graphene. The result described in the submitted manuscript fills the yawning gap in the understanding of the electronic properties of this truly remarkable material and demonstrate suitability of the silicon carbide technology for manufactiring large area high quality graphene. Having found the quantum Hall effect in several devices produced on distant parts of a single large-area wafer, we can confirm that material synthesized on the Si-terminated face of SiC promises a suitable platform for the implementations of quantum…
We report on quantum-interference measurements in top-gated Hall bars of monolayer graphene epitaxially grown on the Si face of SiC, in which the transition from negative to positive magnetoresistance was achieved varying temperature and charge density. We perform a systematic study of the quantum corrections to the magnetoresistance due to quantum interference of quasiparticles and electron-electron interaction. We analyze the contribution of the different scattering mechanisms affecting the magnetotransport in the $-2.0 \times 10^{10}$ cm$^{-2}$ to $3.75 \times 10^{11}$ cm$^{-2}$ density reg…
Atomic-scale topography of epitaxial multilayer graphene grown on 4H-SiC(0001) was investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Bunched nano-ridges ten times smaller than previously recorded were observed throughout the surface, the morphology of which was systematically altered using a relatively new technique called electrostatic-manipulation scanning tunneling microscopy. Transformed graphene formations sometimes spontaneously returned to their original morphology, while others permanently changed. Using an electrostatic model, we calculate that a force up to ~5 nN was exerted by…
Graphene, the two-dimensional form of carbon presents outstanding electronic and transport properties. This gives hope for the development of applications in nanoelectronics. However, for industrial purpose, graphene has to be supported by a substrate. We focus here on the graphene-on-SiC system to discuss how the SiC substrate interacts with the graphene layer and to show the effect of the interface on graphene atomic and electronic structures.
Graphene monolayer grown by Si evaporation from the 0001 surface of SiC displays a moiré pattern of corrugation whose structure is ambiguous: different measurements and theoretical studies show either protruding bumps surrounded by valleys, or, reversely, wells surrounded by crests. Here we address the fine structure of monolayer graphene on SiC by means of Density Functional Theory, using a model including the full symmetry of the system and the substrate (1648 atoms) and therefore realistically reproducing the experimental sample. We find that accurate treatment of the vdW interactions betwe…
Pentacene has been used widely in organic devices, and the interface structure between pentacene and a substrate is known to significantly influence device performances. Here we demonstrate that molecular ordering of pentacene on graphene depends on the interaction between graphene and its underlying SiC substrate. The adsorption of pentacene molecules on zero-layer and single-layer graphene, which were grown on a Sifaced 6H-SiC(0001) wafer, was studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Pentacene molecules form a quasi-amorphous layer on zero-layer graphene which interacts strongly wi…
Intercalation of rare earth metals ($RE$ = Eu, Dy, and Gd) is achieved by depositing the $RE$ metal on graphene that is grown on silicon-carbide (SiC) and by subsequent annealing at high temperatures to promote intercalation. STM images of the films reveal that the graphene layer is defect free and that each of the intercalated metals has a distinct nucleation pattern. Intercalated Eu forms nano-clusters that are situated on the vertices of a Moir{è} pattern, while Dy and Gd form randomly distributed nano-clusters. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements of intercalated films rev…
Controlling the type and density of charge carriers by doping is the key step for developing graphene electronics. However, direct doping of graphene is rather a challenge. Based on first-principles calculations, a concept of overcoming doping difficulty in graphene via substrate is reported.We find that doping could be strongly enhanced in epitaxial graphene grown on silicon carbide substrate. Compared to free-standing graphene, the formation energies of the dopants can decrease by as much as 8 eV. The type and density of the charge carriers of epitaxial graphene layer can be effectively mani…
We report the realization of top-gated graphene nanoribbon field effect transistors (GNRFETs) of ~10 nm width on large-area epitaxial graphene exhibiting the opening of a band gap of ~0.14 eV. Contrary to prior observations of disordered transport and severe edge-roughness effects of GNRs, the experimental results presented here clearly show that the transport mechanism in carefully fabricated GNRFETs is conventional band-transport at room temperature, and inter-band tunneling at low temperature. The entire space of temperature, size, and geometry dependent transport properties and electrostat…
Graphene on silicon carbide (SiC) has proved to be highly successful in Hall conductance quantization for its homogeneity at the centimetre scale. Robust Josephson coupling has been measured in co-planar diffusive Al/monololayer graphene/Al junctions. Graphene on SiC substrates is a concrete candidate to provide scalability of hybrid Josephson graphene/superconductor devices, giving also promise of ballistic propagation.
Nanoscale ridges in epitaxial multilayer graphene grown on the silicon face of 4 degree off-cut 4H-SiC (0001) were found using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). These nano-ridges are only 0.1 nm high and 25-50 nm wide, making them much smaller than previously reported ridges. Atomic-resolution STM was performed near and on top of the nano-ridges using a dual scanning technique in which forward and reverse images are simultaneously recorded. An apparent 100% enlarged graphene lattice constant is observed along the leading edge of the image for both directions. Horizontal movement of the grap…
Raman spectra were measured for mono-, bi- and trilayer graphene grown on SiC by solid state graphitization, whereby the number of layers was pre-assigned by angle-resolved ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy. It was found that the only unambiguous fingerprint in Raman spectroscopy to identify the number of layers for graphene on SiC(0001) is the linewidth of the 2D (or D*) peak. The Raman spectra of epitaxial graphene show significant differences as compared to micromechanically cleaved graphene obtained from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite crystals. The G peak is found to be blue-shift…
We employ tip-enhanced infrared near-field microscopy to study the plasmonic properties of epitaxial quasi-free-standing monolayer graphene on silicon carbide. The near-field images reveal propagating graphene plasmons, as well as a strong plasmon reflection at gaps in the graphene layer, which appear at the steps between the SiC terraces. When the step height is around 1.5 nm, which is two orders of magnitude smaller than the plasmon wavelength, the reflection signal reaches 20% of its value at graphene edges, and it approaches 50% for step heights as small as 5 nm. This intriguing observatio…
We use scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to study epitaxial graphene grown on a C-face 4H-SiC(000-1) substrate. The results reveal amazing nano-objects at the graphene/SiC interface leading to electronic interface states. Their height profiles suggest that these objects are made of packed carbon nanotubes confined vertically and forming mesas at the SiC surface. We also find nano-cracks covered by the graphene layer that, surprisingly, is not broken, with no electronic interface state. Therefore, unlike the above nano-objects, these cracks should not affect the carrier mobility.
We present results of non-local and three terminal (3T) spin precession measurements on spin injection devices fabricated on epitaxial graphene on SiC. The measurements were performed before and after an annealing step at 150 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes in vacuum. The values of spin relaxation length L_s and spin relaxation time tau_s obtained after annealing are reduced by a factor 2 and 4, respectively, compared to those before annealing. An apparent discrepancy between spin diffusion constant D_s and charge diffusion constant D_c can be resolved by investigating the temperature dependenc…
Ca-intercalation has opened a way for superconductivity in graphene on SiC. However, the atomic and electronic structures being critical for superconductivity are still under discussion. We find the essential role of the interface between monolayer graphene and the SiC substrate for superconductivity. In the Ca-intercalation process, at the interface a carbon layer terminating SiC changes to graphene by Ca-termination of SiC (monolayer graphene becomes bilayer) with inducing more carriers than a free-standing model. Then, Ca is intercalated in-between graphene layers, which shows superconducti…
The buffer layer has been analysed by combined micro-Raman and micro-transmission experiments. The epitaxial graphene growth on the (0001) Si face of 6H-SiC substrates was tuned to get a mixed surface at the early stage of graphitization with i) bare SiC, ii) buffer layer and iii) in some localized areas small monolayers flakes on top of the buffer layer. These unique samples enabled to measure the Raman spectrum of the buffer layer (close to the Raman spectrum of a carbon layer with a significant percentage of sp3 bonds) and its corresponding relative extinction at 514.5 nm. The Raman spectru…
We have studied the transport properties of graphene grown on silicon side of SiC. Samples under study have been prepared by two different growth methods in two different laboratories. Magnetoresistance and Hall resistance have been measured at temperatures between 4 and 100 K in resistive magnet in magnetic fields up to 22 T. In spite of differences in sample preparation, the field dependence of resistances measured on both sets of samples exhibits two periods of magneto-oscillations indicating two different parallel conducting channels with different concentrations of carriers. The semi-quan…
The results of micro-Raman scattering measurements performed on three different ``graphitic'' materials: micro-structured disks of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, graphene multi-layers thermally decomposed from carbon terminated surface of 4H-SiC and an exfoliated graphene monolayer are presented. Despite its multi-layer character, most parts of the surface of the graphitized SiC substrates shows a single-component, Lorentzian shape, double resonance Raman feature in striking similarity to the case of a single graphene monolayer. Our observation suggests a very weak electronic coupling bet…
Grain boundaries in epitaxial graphene on the SiC(000$\bar{1}$) substrate are studied using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. All investigated small-angle grain boundaries show pronounced out-of-plane buckling induced by the strain fields of constituent dislocations. The ensemble of observations allows to determine the critical misorientation angle of buckling transition $θ_c = 19 \pm~2^\circ$. Periodic structures are found among the flat large-angle grain boundaries. In particular, the observed $θ= 33\pm2^\circ$ highly ordered grain boundary is assigned to the previously propose…
We study electron transport in nanostructures patterned in bilayer graphene patches grown epitaxially on SiC as a function of doping, magnetic field, and temperature. Away from charge neutrality transport is only weakly modulated by changes in carrier concentration induced by a local side-gate. At low n-type doping close to charge neutrality, electron transport resembles that in exfoliated graphene nanoribbons and is well described by tunnelling of single electrons through a network of Coulomb-blockaded islands. Under the influence of an external magnetic field, Coulomb blockade resonances flu…
Zig-zag edge graphene ribbons grown on 6H-SiC facets are ballistic conductors. It has been assumed that zig-zag graphene ribbons grown on 4H-SiC would also be ballistic. However, in this work we show that SiC polytype matters; ballistic graphene ribbons only grow on 6H SiC. 4H and 4H-passivated ribbons are diffusive conductors. Detailed photoemmision and microscopy studies show that 6H-SiC sidewalls zig-zag ribbons are metallic with a pair of n-doped edge states associated with asymmetric edge terminations, In contrast, 4H-SiC zig-zag ribbons are strongly bonded to the SiC; severely distorting…
We present a systematical study via scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) on the effect of the exposure of Lithium (Li) on graphene on silicon carbide (SiC). We have investigated Li deposition both on epitaxial monolayer graphene and on buffer layer surfaces on the Si-face of SiC. At room temperature, Li immediately intercalates at the interface between the SiC substrate and the buffer layer and transforms the buffer layer into a quasi-free-standing graphene. This conclusion is substantiated by LEED and STM evidence. We show that intercalation occurs th…
The formation of epitaxial graphene on SiC is monitored in-situ using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). The possibility of using LEED as an in-situ thickness monitor of the graphene is examined. The ratio of primary diffraction spot intensities for graphene compared to SiC is measured for a series of samples of known graphene thickness (determined using low-energy electron microscopy). It is found that this ratio is effective for determining graphene thicknesses in the range 1 to 3 monolayers. Effects of a distribution of graphene thicknesses on this method of thickness determination are…
We present an orbital-resolved density functional theory study on the electronic properties of hydrogen and lithium intercalated graphene grown on the Si face of SiC. Starting from the $(6\sqrt3\times6\sqrt3)R30^{\circ}$ surface reconstruction of the graphene/SiC heterosystem, we find that both H and Li can restore the ideal structural characteristics of the two nonequivalent junction parts (i.e. graphene and the SiC substrate) when inserted at the interface. However, the chemical/electrostatic interactions remain different for the two cases. Hence, H-intercalated epitaxial graphene is subject…
Using high temperature annealing conditions with a graphite cap covering the C-face of an 8deg off-axis 4H-SiC sample, large and homogeneous single epitaxial graphene layers have been grown. Raman spectroscopy shows evidence of the almost free-standing character of these monolayer graphene sheets, which was confirmed by magneto-transport measurements. We find a moderate p-type doping, high carrier mobility and half integer Quantum Hall effect typical of high quality graphene samples. This opens the way to a fully compatible integration of graphene with SiC devices on the wafers that constitute…
The potential of graphene to impact the development of the next generation of electronics has renewed interest in its growth and structure. The graphitization of hexagonal SiC surfaces provides a viable alternative for the synthesis of graphene, with wafer-size epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001) now possible. Despite this recent progress, the exact nature of the graphene-SiC interface and whether the graphene even has a semiconducting gap remain controversial. Using scanning tunneling microscopy with functionalized tips and density functional theory calculations, here we show that the interface i…
We address the energetic stability of the graphene/SiC(0001) interface and the associated binding mechanism by studying a series of low-strain commensurate interface structures within a density functional scheme. Among the structures with negligible strain, the 6\surd3\times6\surd3 R30° SiC periodicity shows the lowest interface energy, providing a rationale for its frequent experimental observation. The interface stability is driven by the enhanced local reactivity of the substrate-bonded graphene atoms undergoing sp2-to-sp3 rehybridization (pyramidalization). By this mechanism, relaxed struc…
Growth of epitaxial graphene on the C-face of SiC has been investigated. Using a confinement controlled sublimation (CCS) method, we have achieved well controlled growth and been able to observe propagation of uniform monolayer graphene. Surface patterns uncover two important aspects of the growth, i.e. carbon diffusion and stoichiometric requirement. Moreover, a new "stepdown" growth mode has been discovered. Via this mode, monolayer graphene domains can have an area of hundreds of square micrometers, while, most importantly, step bunching is avoided and the initial uniformly stepped SiC surf…
Top-gated, few-layer graphene field-effect transistors (FETs) fabricated on thermally-decomposed semi-insulating 4H-SiC substrates are demonstrated. Physical vapor deposited SiO2 is used as the gate dielectric. A two-dimensional hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms with the correct lattice vectors, observed by high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy, confirms the formation of multiple graphene layers on top of the SiC substrates. The observation of n-type and p-type transition further verifies Dirac Fermions unique transport properties in graphene layers. The measured electron and hole …
Realization of post-CMOS graphene electronics requires production of semiconducting graphene, which has been a labor-intensive process. We present tailoring of silicon carbide crystals via conventional photolithography and microelectronics processing to enable templated graphene growth on 4H-SiC{1-10n} (n = 8) crystal facets rather than the customary {0001} planes. This allows self-organized growth of graphene nanoribbons with dimensions defined by those of the facet. Preferential growth is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurement…
We reexamine the electronic structure of graphene on SiC substrate by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We directly observed multiply cloning of Dirac cone, in addition to ones previously attributed to reconstruction. The locations, relative distances and anisotropy of Dirac cone replicas fully agree with the moiré pattern of graphene-SiC heterostructure. Our results provide a straightforward example of moiré potential modulation in engineering electronic structure with Dirac fermions.
Intercalation of Au can produce giant Rashba-type spin-orbit splittings in graphene but this has not yet been achieved on a semiconductor substrate. For graphene/SiC(0001), Au intercalation yields two phases with different doping. Here, we report the preparation of an almost pure p-type graphene phase after Au intercalation. We observe a 100 meV Rashba-type spin-orbit splitting at 0.9 eV binding energy. We show that this giant splitting is due to hybridization and much more limited in energy and momentum space than for Au-intercalated graphene on Ni.
Graphene is formed on SiC(000-1) surfaces (the so-called C-face of the crystal) by annealing in vacuum, with the resulting films characterized by atomic force microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, scanning Auger microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Morphology of these films is compared with the graphene films grown on SiC(0001) surfaces (the Si-face). Graphene forms a terraced morphology on the C-face, whereas it forms with a flatter morphology on the Si-face. It is argued that this difference occurs because of differing interface structures in the two cases. For certain SiC wafers, nanocryst…
We propose a table-top method to obtain bilayer quasi-free-standing epitaxial-graphene (QFSEG) on SiC(0001). By applying a microwave annealing in air to a monolayer epitaxial graphene (EG) grown on SiC(0001), the buffer layer is decoupled from the SiC substrate and becomes the second EG layer as confirmed by the low energy electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The most likely mechanism of the decoupling is given by the oxidation of the SiC surface, w…
Graphene films prepared by heating the SiC(000-1) surface (the C-face of the {0001} surfaces) in a Si-rich environment are studied using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM). Upon graphitization, an interface with rt(43) x rt(43)-R7.6 degree symmetry is observed by in situ LEED. After oxidation, the interface displays rt(3) x rt(3)-R30 degree symmetry. Electron reflectivity measurements indicate that these interface structures arise from a graphene-like "buffer layer" that forms between the graphene and the SiC, similar to that observed on Si-face Si…
We review progress in developing epitaxial graphene as a material for carbon electronics. In particular, improvements in epitaxial graphene growth, interface control and the understanding of multilayer epitaxial graphene's electronic properties are discussed. Although graphene grown on both polar faces of SiC is addressed, our discussions will focus on graphene grown on the (000-1) C-face of SiC. The unique properties of C-face multilayer epitaxial graphene have become apparent. These films behave electronically like a stack of nearly independent graphene sheets rather than a thin Bernal-stack…
