• 文献标题:   Unusual surface and edge morphologies, sp(2) to sp(3) hybridized transformation and electronic damage after Ar+ ion irradiation of few-layer graphene surfaces
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   ALHARTHI SH, ELZAIN M, ALBARWANI M, KORA A A, HYSEN T, MYINT MTZ, ANANTHARAMAN MR
  • 作者关键词:   few layer graphene, argon sputtering, electronic damage, edge reconstruction
  • 出版物名称:   NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS
  • ISSN:   1931-7573 EI 1556-276X
  • 通讯作者地址:   Sultan Qaboos Univ
  • 被引频次:   16
  • DOI:   10.1186/1556-276X-7-466
  • 出版年:   2012

▎ 摘  要

Roughness and defects induced on few-layer graphene (FLG) irradiated by Ar+ ions at different energies were investigated using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy techniques. The results provide direct experimental evidence of ripple formation, sp (2) to sp (3) hybridized carbon transformation, electronic damage, Ar+ implantation, unusual defects and edge reconstructions in FLG, which depend on the irradiation energy. In addition, shadowing effects similar to those found in oblique-angle growth of thin films were seen. Reliable quantification of the transition from the sp (2)-bonding to sp (3)-hybridized state as a result of Ar+ ion irradiation is achieved from the deconvolution of the XPS C (1s) peak. Although the ion irradiation effect is demonstrated through the shape of the derivative of the Auger transition C KVV spectra, we show that the D parameter values obtained from these spectra which are normally used in the literature fail to account for the sp (2) to sp (3) hybridization transition. In contrast to what is known, it is revealed that using ion irradiation at large FLG sample tilt angles can lead to edge reconstructions. Furthermore, FLG irradiation by low energy of 0.25 keV can be a plausible way of peeling graphene layers without the need of Joule heating reported previously.