Understanding the origin of band gap formation in graphene on metals: graphene on Cu/Ir(111)

Abstract

Understanding the nature of the interaction at the graphene/metal interfaces is the basis for graphene-based electron- and spin-transport devices. Here we investigate the hybridization between graphene- and metal-derived electronic states by studying the changes induced through intercalation of a pseudomorphic monolayer of Cu in between graphene and Ir(111), using scanning tunnelling microscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy in combination with density functional theory calculations. We observe the modifications in the band structure by the intercalation process and its concomitant changes in the charge distribution at the interface. Through a state-selective analysis of band hybridization, we are able to determine their contributions to the valence band of graphene giving rise to the gap opening. Our methodology reveals the mechanisms that are responsible for the modification of the electronic structure of graphene at the Dirac point, and permits to predict the electronic structure of other graphene-metal interfaces.

arXiv commentmanuscript and supplementary material

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Cited by in corpus (16)

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• Universal classification of twisted, strained and sheared graphene moiré superlattices
• General approach to the understanding the electronic structure of graphene on metals
• Theory of electronic and spin-orbit proximity effects in graphene on Cu(111)
• Band gap engineering by Bi intercalation of graphene on Ir(111)
• Scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy of graphene on metals
• The Electron-Phonon Coupling Constant for Single-Layer Graphene on Metal Substrates Determined from He Atom Scattering
• Common surface structures of graphene and Au(111) : The effect of rotational angle on adsorption and electronic properties
• Graphene as a Mechanically Active, Deformable Two-Dimensional Surfactant
• Graphene: Free electron scattering within an inverted honeycomb lattice
• Realistic large-scale modeling of Rashba and induced spin-orbit effects in graphene/high-Z-metal systems
• Spectroscopic and DFT studies of graphene intercalation systems on metals
• Dirac-Electron Behavior for Spin-Up Electrons in Strongly Interacting Graphene on Ferromagnetic Mn${}_5$Ge${}_3$
• Intercalation of Mn in graphene/Cu(111) interface: insights to the electronic and magnetic properties from theory
• Confined step-flow growth of Cu intercalated between graphene and a Ru(0001) surface