Dynamic observation of layer-by-layer growth and removal of graphene on Ru(0001)

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2010 May 21;12(19):5053-7. doi: 10.1039/c000719f. Epub 2010 Mar 24.

Abstract

Graphene growth and dissolution on Ru(0001) was dynamically imaged by low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM). It was found that multilayer graphene grows on the metal surface in a layer-by-layer mode and the removal of graphene multilayers also occurs one layer after another. The topmost surface of the formed multilayer graphene is physically continuous as indicated by scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images. Accordingly, a bottom-up growth mechanism of multilayer graphene on Ru(0001) was proposed, which would help to prepare graphene overlayers with controlled thickness.