Electrostatic Force Microscopy on Oriented Graphite Surfaces: Where Insulating and Conducting Behaviors Coexist

Abstract

We present measurements of the electric potential fluctuations on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite using electrostatic force and atomic force microscopy. Micrometric domain-like potential distributions are observed even when the sample is grounded. Such potential distributions are unexpected given the good metallic conductivity of graphite because the surface should be an equipotential. Our results indicate the coexistence of regions with metallic and insulating behaviors showing large potential fluctuations of the order of 0.25V. We discuss the implications of these measurements in the disorder structure of graphite.

14 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films
• Phase analysis of quantum oscillations in graphite
• Integer Quantum Hall Effect in Graphite

Cited by in corpus (7)

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• Colors Of Graphite On Silicon Dioxide
• Self-Retracting Motion of Graphite Microflakes
• Charge inhomogeneities due to smooth ripples in graphene sheets
• Charge distribution and screening in layered graphene systems
• Electronic properties of curved graphene sheets
• Intrinsic Superconductivity at 25 K in Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite