Direct observation of ordered configurations of hydrogen adatoms on graphene

Nano Lett. 2015 Feb 11;15(2):903-8. doi: 10.1021/nl503635x. Epub 2015 Feb 2.

Abstract

Ordered configurations of hydrogen adatoms on graphene have long been proposed, calculated, and searched for. Here, we report direct observation of several ordered configurations of H adatoms on graphene by scanning tunneling microscopy. On the top side of the graphene plane, H atoms in the configurations appear to stick to carbon atoms in the same sublattice. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements revealed a substantial gap in the local density of states in H-contained regions as well as in-gap states below the conduction band due to the incompleteness of H ordering. These findings can be well explained by density functional theory calculations based on double-sided H configurations. In addition, factors that may influence H ordering are discussed.

Keywords: Graphene; STM; double-sided; gap; hydrogen; ordered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't