title: Atomic structure of graphene on SiO2.
abstract: We employ scanning probe microscopy to reveal atomic structures and nanoscale morphology of graphene-based electronic devices (i.e., a graphene sheet supported by an insulating silicon dioxide substrate) for the first time. Atomic resolution scanning tunneling microscopy images reveal the presence of a strong spatially dependent perturbation, which breaks the hexagonal lattice symmetry of the graphitic lattice. Structural corrugations of the graphene sheet partially conform to the underlying silicon oxide substrate. These effects are obscured or modified on graphene devices processed with normal lithographic methods, as they are covered with a layer of photoresist residue. We enable our experiments by a novel cleaning process to produce atomically clean graphene sheets.
authors.affiliation: Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
authors.forename: Masa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fuhrer
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D006108:Graphite