Reversible graphene decoupling by NaCl photo-dissociation

We describe the reversible intercalation of Na under graphene on Ir(1 1 1) by photo-dissociation of a previously adsorbed NaCl overlayer. After room temperature evaporation, NaCl adsorbs on top of graphene forming a bilayer. With a combination of electron diffraction and photoemission techniques we...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Palacio, Irene, Aballe, Lucía, Foerster, Michael, Oteyza, Dimas G. de, García-Hernández, Mar, Martín-Gago, José A.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/206101
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/206101
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Graphene
NaCl
Alkali metals
Photo-dissociation
Intercalation
Decoupling
Descripción
Sumario:We describe the reversible intercalation of Na under graphene on Ir(1 1 1) by photo-dissociation of a previously adsorbed NaCl overlayer. After room temperature evaporation, NaCl adsorbs on top of graphene forming a bilayer. With a combination of electron diffraction and photoemission techniques we demonstrate that the NaCl overlayer dissociates upon a short exposure to an X-ray beam. As a result, chlorine desorbs while sodium intercalates under the graphene, inducing an electronic decoupling from the underlying metal. Low energy electron diffraction shows the disappearance of the moiré pattern when Na intercalates between graphene and iridium. Analysis of the Na 2p core-level by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows a chemical change from NaCl to metallic buried Na at the graphene/Ir interface. The intercalation-decoupling process leads to a n-doped graphene due to the charge transfer from the Na, as revealed by constant energy angle resolved X-ray photoemission maps. Moreover, the process is reversible by a mild annealing of the samples without damaging the graphene.