Graphene on Rh(111): STM and AFM studies

The electronic and crystallographic structure of the graphene/Rh(111) moir\'e lattice is studied via combination of density-functional theory calculations and scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy (STM and AFM). Whereas the principal contrast between hills and valleys observed in STM does not depend on the sign of applied bias voltage, the contrast in atomically resolved AFM images strongly depends on the frequency shift of the oscillating AFM tip. The obtained results demonstrate the perspectives of application atomic force microscopy/spectroscopy for the probing of the chemical contrast at the surface.Comment: manuscript and supplementary information; submitted to Appl. Phys. Lett. on 01.03.201

A possible source of spin-polarized electrons: The inert graphene/Ni(111) system

We report on an investigation of spin-polarized secondary electron emission from the chemically inert system: graphene/Ni(111). An ordered passivated graphene layer (monolayer of graphite, MG) was formed on Ni(111) surface via cracking of propylene gas. The spin-polarization of the secondary electrons obtained from this system upon photoemission is only slightly lower than the one from the clean Ni surface, but does not change upon large oxygen exposure. These results suggest to use such passivated Ni(111) surface as a source of spin-polarized electrons stable against adsorption of reactive gases.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Preparation and photoemission investigation of bulk-like a-Mn films on W(110)

We report the successful stabilization of a thick bulk-like, distorted $\alpha$-Mn film with (110) orientation on a W(110) substrate. The observed $(3\times3)$ overstructure for the Mn film with respect to the original W(110) low-energy electron diffraction pattern is consistent with the presented structure model. The possibility to stabilize such a pseudomorphic Mn film is supported by density functional total energy calculations. Angle-resolved photoemission spectra of the stabilized $\alpha$-Mn(110) film show weak dispersions of the valence band electronic states in accordance with the large unit cell.Comment: 11 pages; 5 figure

Electronic and magnetic properties of the graphene-ferromagnet interface

The article presents the work on the investigation of the surface structure as well as electronic and magnetic properties of graphene layer on a lattice matched surface of a ferromagnetic material, Ni(111).Comment: accepted in New J. Phy

EELS study of the epitaxial graphene/Ni(111) and graphene/Au/Ni(111) systems

We have performed electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) studies of Ni(111), graphene/Ni(111), and the graphene/Au/Ni(111) intercalation-like system at different primary electron energies. A reduced parabolic dispersion of the \pi plasmon excitation for the graphene/Ni(111) system is observed compared to that for bulk pristine and intercalated graphite and to linear for free graphene, reflecting the strong changes in the electronic structure of graphene on Ni(111) relative to free-standing graphene. We have also found that intercalation of gold underneath a graphene layer on Ni(111) leads to the disappearance of the EELS spectral features which are characteristic of the graphene/Ni(111) interface. At the same time the shift of the \pi plasmon to the lower loss-energies is observed, indicating the transition of initial system of strongly bonded graphene on Ni(111) to a quasi free-standing-like graphene state.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figures, accepted in Carbo

Structural and electronic properties of the graphene/Al/Ni(111) intercalation-like system

Decoupling of the graphene layer from the ferromagnetic substrate via intercalation of sp metal has recently been proposed as an effective way to realize single-layer graphene-based spin-filter. Here, the structural and electronic properties of the prototype system, graphene/Al/Ni(111), are investigated via combination of electron diffraction and spectroscopic methods. These studies are accompanied by state-of-the-art electronic structure calculations. The properties of this prospective Al-intercalation-like system and its possible implementations in future graphene-based devices are discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, and supplementary materia