Continuity of graphene on polycrystalline copper.
The atomic structure of graphene on polycrystalline copper substrates has been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy. The graphene overlayer maintains a continuous pristine atomic structure over atomically flat planes, monatomic steps, edges, and vertices of the copper surface. We find that facets of different identities are overgrown with graphene's perfect carbon honeycomb lattice. Our observations suggest that growth models including a stagnant catalytic surface do not apply to graphene growth on copper. Contrary to current expectations, these results reveal that the growth of macroscopic pristine graphene is not limited by the underlying copper structure.
Deparment of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States. haider@chem.ucla.edu
Haider I
HI
Rasool
Emil B
EB
Song
Matthew J
MJ
Allen
Jonathan K
JK
Wassei
Richard B
RB
Kaner
Kang L
KL
Wang
Bruce H
BH
Weiller
James K
JK
Gimzewski