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3-dimensional nucleation of Fe oxide induced by a graphene buffer layer
Alessandro Lodesani1, Andrea Picone1, Alberto Brambilla1
1Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|February 10, 2020
Summary
Graphene buffer layers alter iron oxide growth on nickel surfaces. Graphene promotes 3D cluster formation, unlike layer-by-layer growth on bare nickel, due to reduced surface energy.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Controlling oxide nanolayer morphology is crucial for tuning material properties.
- Graphene's unique properties make it a candidate for modifying surface growth dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of a 2D graphene buffer layer on iron oxide growth.
- To compare iron oxide deposition on Ni(111) versus graphene/Ni(111) substrates.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) at mesoscopic and atomic scales.
- Comparing oxide growth modes on bare Ni(111) and graphene-covered Ni(111).
Main Results:
- Iron oxide exhibits layer-by-layer growth on Ni(111).
- Graphene induces the nucleation of 3D iron oxide clusters.
- Iron oxide maintains a similar in-plane lattice constant on both substrates, suggesting weak overlayer-substrate interaction.
Conclusions:
- The distinct growth modes are primarily attributed to the graphene-induced reduction of the substrate's surface free energy.
- Graphene acts as a significant modifier of oxide nanostructure formation.
