title: Stacking sequence and interlayer coupling in few-layer graphene revealed by in situ imaging.
abstract: In the transition from graphene to graphite, the addition of each individual graphene layer modifies the electronic structure and produces a different material with unique properties. Controlled growth of few-layer graphene is therefore of fundamental interest and will provide access to materials with engineered electronic structure. Here we combine isothermal growth and etching experiments with in situ scanning electron microscopy to reveal the stacking sequence and interlayer coupling strength in few-layer graphene. The observed layer-dependent etching rates reveal the relative strength of the graphene-graphene and graphene-substrate interaction and the resulting mode of adlayer growth. Scanning tunnelling microscopy and density functional theory calculations confirm a strong coupling between graphene edge atoms and platinum. Simulated etching confirms that etching can be viewed as reversed growth. This work demonstrates that real-time imaging under controlled atmosphere is a powerful method for designing synthesis protocols for sp2carbon nanostructures in between graphene and graphite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin-Dahlem D-14195, Germany.
authors.forename: Zhu-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textiles and Clothing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.
authors.forename: Jichen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Vacuum Interconnected Nanotech Workstation, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Gyula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eres
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin-Dahlem D-14195, Germany.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Timpe
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5316-6758
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textiles and Clothing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin-Dahlem D-14195, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schloegl
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin-Dahlem D-14195, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc-Georg
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Willinger