Atomically-resolved edge states on surface-nanotemplated graphene explored at room temperature. Issue 11 (6th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merino, Pablo; Santos, Hernán; Pinardi, Anna L.; Chico, Leonor; Martin-Gago, José A.
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 9:Issue 11(2017)
• Page Start: 3905
• Page End: 3911
• Publication Date: 2017-03-06
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c7nr00367f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Graphene edges present localized electronic states strongly depending on their shape, size and border configuration. Abstract : Graphene edges present localized electronic states strongly depending on their shape, size and border configuration. Chiral- or zigzag-ended graphene nanostructures develop spatially and spectrally localized edge states around the Fermi level; however, atomic scale investigations of such graphene terminations and their related electronic states are very challenging and many of their properties remain unexplored. Here we present a combined experimental and theoretical study on graphene stripes showing strong metallic edge states at room temperature. By means of scanning tunneling microscopy, we demonstrate the use of vicinal Pt(111) as a template for the growth of graphene stripes and characterize their electronic structure. We find the formation of a sublattice localized electronic state confined on the free-standing edges of the graphene ribbons at energies close to the Fermi level. These experimental results are reproduced and understood with tight-binding and ab initio calculations. Our results provide a new way of synthesizing wide graphene stripes with zigzag edge termination and open new prospects in the study of valley and spin phenomena at their interfaces.