The stability of graphene band structures against an external periodic perturbation; Na on Graphene

Abstract

We report that the $\pi$ band of graphene sensitively changes as a function of an external potential induced by Na especially when the potential becomes periodic at low temperature. We have measured the band structures from the graphene layers formed on the 6H-SiC(0001) substrate using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with synchrotron photons. With increasing Na dose, the $\pi$ band appears to be quickly diffused into background at 85 K whereas it becomes significantly enhanced its spectral intensity at room temperature (RT). A new parabolic band centered at $k\sim$1.15 Å${}^{-1}$ also forms near Fermi energy with Na at 85 K while no such a band observed at RT. Such changes in the band structure are found to be reversible with temperature. Analysis based on our first principles calculations suggests that the changes of the $\pi$ band of graphene be mainly driven by the Na-induced potential especially at low temperature where the potential becomes periodic due to the crystallized Na overlayer. The new parabolic band turns to be the $\pi$ band of the underlying buffer layer partially filled by the charge transfer from Na adatoms. The five orders of magnitude increased hopping rate of Na adatoms at RT preventing such a charge transfer explains the absence of the new band at RT.

arXiv comment6 pages and 6 figures

References in corpus (12)

• Two-Dimensional Gas of Massless Dirac Fermions in Graphene
• Experimental Observation of Quantum Hall Effect and Berry's Phase in Graphene
• Quantum Spin Hall Effect in Graphene
• Evidence for ubiquitous strong electron-phonon coupling in high-temperature superconductors
• Anisotropic behaviors of massless Dirac fermions in graphene under periodic potential
• Disorder, pseudospins, and backscattering in carbon nanotubes
• Origins of anomalous electronic structures of epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide
• Observation of Landau levels of Dirac fermions in graphite
• An unusual isotope effect in a high-transition-temperature superconductor
• Morphology of graphene thin film growth on SiC(0001)
• Characterization of graphene through anisotropy of constant-energy maps in angle-resolved photoemission
• Van Hove Singularity and Apparent Anisotropy in the Electron-Phonon Interaction in Graphene

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Properties of Graphene: A Theoretical Perspective
• Large Bandgap Opening Between Graphene Dirac Cones Induced by Na Adsorption onto an Ir Superlattice
• Quantum reflection of ultracold atoms from thin films, graphene, and semiconductor heterostructures
• Opening and reversible control of a wide energy gap in uniform monolayer graphene