Local work function on Graphene Nanoribbons and on the Au(111) herringbone reconstruction

TL;DR

This study uses Kelvin probe force microscopy and density functional theory to map and analyze the local work function variations in graphene nanoribbons on Au(111), revealing charge transfer and doping effects related to atomic structure.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed mapping of local work function on graphene nanoribbons on Au(111) and correlates experimental data with theoretical calculations.

Findings

Charge transfer between nanoribbons and gold substrate

Doping of nanoribbons verified by DFT calculations

Atomic structure influences local work function

Abstract

Graphene nanoribbons show exciting electronic properties related to the exotic nature of the charge carriers and to local confinement as well as atomic-scale structural details. The local work function provides evidence for such structural, electronic and chemical variations at surfaces. Kelvin prove force microscopy (KPFM) can be used to measure the local contact potential difference (LCPD) between a probe tip and a surface, related to the work function. Here we use this technique to map the LCPD of graphene nanoribbons grown on a Au(111) substrate. The LCPD data shows charge transfer between the graphene nanoribbons and the gold substrate. Our results are corroborated with density functional theory calculations which verify that the maps reflect from the doping of nanoribbons. Our results help to understand the relation between atomic structures and electronic properties.