| AVS 57th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Graphene Focus Topic | Thursday Sessions |
| Session GR+AS+TF-ThM |
| Session: | Graphene Synthesis on Metals |
| Presenter: | S. Kodambaka, University of California Los Angeles |
| Authors: | S. Kodambaka, University of California Los Angeles Y. Murata, University of California Los Angeles E. Starodub, Sandia National Laboratories N.C. Bartelt, Sandia National Laboratories K.F. McCarty, Sandia National Laboratories |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Using in situ low-energy electron microscopy, we investigate the dynamics of graphene layer formation and the relationship between domain structure and its work function on Pd(111). We observe, in real time, the nucleation and growth of graphene islands during cooling via surface segregation of C atoms from the Pd bulk. Interestingly, we observe rapid motion of Pd substrate surface steps during graphene growth. Using low-energy electron diffraction, we identify at least five different orientations (domains) of monolayer graphene islands on the surface. We determine their relative orientations with respect to the substrate as approximately 2°, 6°, 11°, 19°, and 26°. We measured electron reflectivity (image intensity) values for each of the domains as a function of incident electron energy. From this data, we extracted the work functions of graphene domains which are found to vary with the domain orientation. Our results suggest that the substrate-graphene interactions influence the growth kinetics as well as the electronic structure of graphene.