Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 024006 |
| Journal | Physical Review Materials |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2021 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
We demonstrate the fabrication of an ultrathin gallium film, also known as gallenene, beneath epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC under ambient conditions triggered by liquid gallium intercalation. Gallenene has been fabricated using liquid metal intercalation, achieving lateral intercalation and diffusion of Ga atoms at room temperature on square centimeter areas limited only by the graphene samples' size. The stepwise self-propagation of the gallenene film below the epitaxial graphene surface on the macroscopic scale was observed by optical microscopy shortly after the initial processing without further physical or chemical treatment. Directional Ga diffusion of gallenene occurs on SiC terraces since the terrace steps form an energetic barrier (Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier), retarding the gallenene propagation. The subsequent conversion of the epitaxial graphene into quasi-free-standing bilayer graphene and the graphene-gallenene heterostack interactions have been analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman measurements. The results reveal an alternative approach for the controlled fabrication of wafer-scale gallenene as well as for two-dimensional heterostructures and stacks based on the interaction between liquid metal and epitaxial graphene.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- General Materials Science
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
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In: Physical Review Materials, Vol. 5, No. 2, 024006, 02.2021.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Liquid metal intercalation of epitaxial graphene: Large-area gallenene layer fabrication through gallium self-propagation at ambient conditions
AU - Wundrack, S.
AU - Momeni, D.
AU - Dempwolf, W.
AU - Schmidt, N.
AU - Pierz, K.
AU - Michaliszyn, L.
AU - Spende, H.
AU - Schmidt, A.
AU - Schumacher, H. W.
AU - Stosch, R.
AU - Bakin, A.
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - We demonstrate the fabrication of an ultrathin gallium film, also known as gallenene, beneath epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC under ambient conditions triggered by liquid gallium intercalation. Gallenene has been fabricated using liquid metal intercalation, achieving lateral intercalation and diffusion of Ga atoms at room temperature on square centimeter areas limited only by the graphene samples' size. The stepwise self-propagation of the gallenene film below the epitaxial graphene surface on the macroscopic scale was observed by optical microscopy shortly after the initial processing without further physical or chemical treatment. Directional Ga diffusion of gallenene occurs on SiC terraces since the terrace steps form an energetic barrier (Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier), retarding the gallenene propagation. The subsequent conversion of the epitaxial graphene into quasi-free-standing bilayer graphene and the graphene-gallenene heterostack interactions have been analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman measurements. The results reveal an alternative approach for the controlled fabrication of wafer-scale gallenene as well as for two-dimensional heterostructures and stacks based on the interaction between liquid metal and epitaxial graphene.
AB - We demonstrate the fabrication of an ultrathin gallium film, also known as gallenene, beneath epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC under ambient conditions triggered by liquid gallium intercalation. Gallenene has been fabricated using liquid metal intercalation, achieving lateral intercalation and diffusion of Ga atoms at room temperature on square centimeter areas limited only by the graphene samples' size. The stepwise self-propagation of the gallenene film below the epitaxial graphene surface on the macroscopic scale was observed by optical microscopy shortly after the initial processing without further physical or chemical treatment. Directional Ga diffusion of gallenene occurs on SiC terraces since the terrace steps form an energetic barrier (Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier), retarding the gallenene propagation. The subsequent conversion of the epitaxial graphene into quasi-free-standing bilayer graphene and the graphene-gallenene heterostack interactions have been analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman measurements. The results reveal an alternative approach for the controlled fabrication of wafer-scale gallenene as well as for two-dimensional heterostructures and stacks based on the interaction between liquid metal and epitaxial graphene.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102413083&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.5.024006
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.5.024006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85102413083
VL - 5
JO - Physical Review Materials
JF - Physical Review Materials
IS - 2
M1 - 024006
ER -