Chemistry below graphene: Decoupling epitaxial graphene from metals by potential-controlled electrochemical oxidation

While high-quality defect-free epitaxial graphene can be efficiently grown on metal substrates, strong interaction with the supporting metal quenches its outstanding properties. Thus, protocols to transfer graphene to insulating substrates are obligatory, and these often severely impair graphene pro...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Palacio, Irene, Otero-Irurueta, Gonzalo, Alonso, Concepción, Martínez, José Ignacio, López-Elvira, Elena, Muñoz-Ochando, Isabel, Salavagione, Horacio J., López, María F., García-Hernández, Mar, Méndez, Javier, Ellis, Gary J., Martín-Gago, José A.
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Recursos:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Repositorio:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.uam.es:10486/681561
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10486/681561
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2017.12.104
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Decoupling
Electrochemistry
Graphene
Intercalation
Metals
Física
Química
Descrição
Resumo:While high-quality defect-free epitaxial graphene can be efficiently grown on metal substrates, strong interaction with the supporting metal quenches its outstanding properties. Thus, protocols to transfer graphene to insulating substrates are obligatory, and these often severely impair graphene properties by the introduction of structural or chemical defects. Here we describe a simple and easily scalable general methodology to structurally and electronically decouple epitaxial graphene from Pt(111) and Ir(111) metal surfaces. A multi-technique characterization combined with ab-initio calculations was employed to fully explain the different steps involved in the process. It was shown that, after a controlled electrochemical oxidation process, a single-atom thick metal-hydroxide layer intercalates below graphene, decoupling it from the metal substrate. This decoupling process occurs without disrupting the morphology and electronic properties of graphene. The results suggest that suitably optimized electrochemical treatments may provide effective alternatives to current transfer protocols for graphene and other 2D materials on diverse metal surfaces