The Equilibrium Shape of Graphene Domains on Ni(111)

2013/05/02 by Meifang Li, Li, Meifang, J. B. Hannon +11
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #cond-mat.mtrl-sci

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1305.0580

9 pages, 3 figures

arxiv created 2013/05/02 · arxiv updated 2013/05/06

Abstract

We have determined the equilibrium shape of graphene domains grown on Ni(111) via carbon segregation at 925°C. In situ, spatially-resolved electron diffraction measurements were used to determine the crystallographic orientation of the edges of the graphene domains. In contrast to recent theoretical predictions of a nearly-circular shape, we show that graphene domains, which nucleate with random shapes, all evolve toward a triangular equilibrium shape with 'zig-zag' edges. Only one of the two possible zig-zag edge orientations is observed.

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