Dynamics of graphene growth on a metal surface: a time-dependent photoemission study

TL;DR

This study uses time-dependent photoemission to investigate the self-limiting growth process of monolayer graphene on a metal surface during CVD, revealing a metastable phase with simultaneous construction and deconstruction.

Contribution

It uncovers a novel metastable graphene phase and provides detailed insights into the growth dynamics of large-area monolayer graphene on nickel.

Findings

Discovered a metastable graphene phase with simultaneous construction and deconstruction.

Confirmed high-quality monolayer graphene covering large substrate areas.

Demonstrated the self-limiting nature of graphene CVD growth.

Abstract

Applying time-dependent photoemission we unravel the graphene growth process on a metallic surface by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Graphene CVD growth is in stark contrast to the standard growth process of two--dimensional films because it is self-limiting and stops as soon as a monolayer graphene has been synthesized. Most importantly, a novel phase of metastable graphene was discovered that is characterized by permanent and simultaneous construction and deconstruction. The high quality and large area graphene flakes are characterized by angle-resolved photoemission proofing that they are indeed monolayer and cover the whole 1$\times$1 cm Nickel substrate. These findings are of high relevance to the intensive search for reliable synthesis methods for large graphene flakes of controlled layer number.