Search

Multilayer graphene has exhibited distinct electronic properties such as the tunable bandgap for optoelectronic applications. Among all graphene growth techniques, thermal decomposition of SiC is regarded as a promising method for production of device-quality graphene. However, it is still very challenging to grow uniform graphene over a large-area, especially multilayer graphene. One of the main obstacles is the occurrence of step bunching on the SiC surface, which significantly influences the formation process and the uniformity of the multilayer graphene. In this work, we have systematically studied the growth of monolayer and multilayer graphene on off-axis 3CSiC(111). Taking advantage of the synergistic effect of periodic SiC step edges as graphene nucleation sites and the unique thermal decomposition energy of 3CSiC steps, we demonstrate that the step bunching can be fully eliminated during graphene growth and large-area monolayer, bilayer, and four-layer graphene can be controllably obtained on high-quality off-axis 3CSiC(111) surface. The low energy electron microscopy results demonstrate that a uniform four-layer graphene has been grown over areas of tens of square micrometers, which opens the possibility to tune the bandgap for optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, a model for graphene growth along with the step bunching elimination is proposed. Funding agencies: Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsradet) [621-2014-5461, 621-2014-5825]; Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS) [2016-00559]; Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher

Here, we report the electrochemical deposition of lead (Pb) as a model metal on epitaxial graphene fabricated on silicon carbide (Gr/SiC). The kinetics of electrodeposition and morphological characteristics of the deposits were evaluated by complementary electrochemical, physical and computational methods. The use of Gr/SiC as an electrode allowed the tracking of lead-associated redox conversions. The analysis of current transients passed during the deposition revealed an instantaneous nucleation mechanism controlled by convergent mass transport on the nuclei locally randomly distributed on epitaxial graphene. This key observation of the deposit topology was confirmed by low values of the experimentally-estimated apparent diffusion coefficient, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. First principles calculations showed that the nucleation of Pb clusters on the graphene surface leads to weakening of the interaction strength of the metal-graphene complex, and only spatially separated Pb adatoms adsorbed on bridge and/or edge-plane sites can affect the vibrational properties of graphene. We expect that the lead adatoms can merge in large metallic clusters only at defect sites that reinforce the metal-graphene interactions. Our findings provide valuable insights into both heavy metal ion electrochemical analysis and metal electroplating on graphene interfaces that are important for designing effective detectors of toxic heavy metals. Funding Agencies|VR grant [621-2014-5805]; SSF [SSF GMT14-0077, SSF RMA15-0024]; Angpanneforeningens Forskningsstiftelse [16-541]

Nickel oxide thin films were deposited by a simple and low-cost spray pyrolysis technique using three different precursors: nickel nitrate, nickel chloride, and nickel acetate on corning glass substrates. X-ray diffraction show that the NiO films are polycrystalline and have a cubic crystal structure, although predominantly with a preferred 111-orientation in the growth direction and a random in-plane orientation. The deconvolution of the Ni 2p and O 1s core level X-ray photoelectron-spectra of nickel oxides produced by using different precursors indicates a shift of the binding energies. The sprayed NiO deposited from nickel nitrate has an optical transmittance in the range of 60-65% in the visible region. The optical band gap energies of the sprayed NiO films deposited from nickel nitrate, nickel chloride and nickel acetate are 3.5, 3.2 and 3.43 eV respectively. Also, the extinction coefficient and refractive index of NiO films have been calculated from transmittance and reflectance measurements. The average value of refractive index for sprayed films by nickel nitrate, nickel chloride and nickel acetate are 2.1, 1.6 and 1.85 respectively. It is revealed that the band gap and refractive index of NiO films by using nickel nitrate corresponds to the commonly reported values. We attribute the observed behavior in the optical band gap and optical constants as due to the change of the Ni/O ratio. Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council [VR 348-2013-6782]; Egyptian Ministry for Higher Education and Scientific Research; Angpanneforeningens Forskningsstiftelse [14-517]; Swedish Research Council (VR) Marie Sklodowska Curie International Career "GREEN 2D FOX" [2015-00679]

In this work, surface functionalization of epitaxial graphene grown on silicon carbide was performed by ion irradiation to investigate their gas sensing capabilities. Swift heavy ion irradiation using 100 MeV silver ions at four varying fluences was implemented on epitaxial graphene to investigate morphological and structural changes and their effects on the gas sensing capabilities of graphene. Sensing devices are expected as one of the first electronic applications using graphene and most of them use functionalized surfaces to tailor a certain function. In our case, we have studied irradiation as a tool to achieve functionalization. Morphological and structural changes on epitaxial graphene layers were investigated by atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Raman mapping and reflectance mapping. The surface morphology of irradiated graphene layers showed graphene folding, hillocks, and formation of wrinkles at highest fluence (2 x 10(13) ions/cm(2)). Raman spectra analysis shows that the graphene defect density is increased with increasing fluence, while Raman mapping and reflectance mapping show that there is also a reduction of monolayer graphene coverage. The samples were investigated for ammonia and nitrogen dioxide gas sensing applications. Sensors fabricated on pristine and irradiated samples showed highest gas sensing response at an optimal fluence. Our work provides new pathways for introducing defects in controlled manner in epitaxial graphene, which can be used not only for gas sensing application but also for other applications, such as electrochemical, biosensing, magnetosensing and spintronic applications. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Funding Agencies|Graphene Flagship [CNECT-ICT-604391]; Swedish Research Council [2015-05876]

We introduce a 3C-SiC growth concept on off-oriented 4H-SiC substrates using a sublimation epitaxial method. A growth model of 3C-SiC layer development via a controlled cubic polytype nucleation on in situ formed on-axis area followed by a lateral enlargement of 3C-SiC domains along the step-flow direction is outlined. Growth process stability and reproducibility of high crystalline quality material are demonstrated in a series of 3C-SiC samples with a thickness of about 1 mm. The average values of full width at half-maximum of ω rocking curves on these samples vary from 34 to 48 arcsec indicating high crystalline quality compared to values found in the literature. The low temperature photoluminescence measurements also confirm a high crystalline quality of 3C-SiC and indicate that the residual nitrogen concentration is about 1–2 × 1016 cm–3. Such a 3C-SiC growth concept may be applied to produce substrates for homoepitaxial 3C-SiC growth or seeds which could be explored in bulk growth of 3C-SiC.

One of the main challenges in the fabrication of device quality graphene is the achievement of large area monolayer graphene that is processing compatible. Here, the impact of the substrate properties on the thickness uniformity and electronic characteristics for epitaxial graphene on SiC produced by high temperature sublimation has been evidenced and discussed. Several powerful techniques have been used to collect data, among them large scale ellipsometry mapping has been demonstrated for the first time. The study is covering all three SiC polytype, e.g. 4H-, 6H- and 3C-SiC in order to reveal eventual peculiarities that have to be controlled during graphene growth. The advantage of the cubic polytype is unambiguously demonstrated.