Large area quasi-free standing monolayer graphene on 3C-SiC(111)

Large scale, homogeneous quasi-free standing monolayer graphene is obtained on cubic silicon carbide, i.e., the 3C-SiC(111) surface, which represents an appealing and cost effective platform for graphene growth. The quasi-free monolayer is produced by intercalation of hydrogen under the interfacial, (6 root 3 x 6 root 3)R30 degrees-reconstructed carbon layer. After intercalation, angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy reveals sharp linear pi-bands. The decoupling of graphene from the substrate is identified by x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction. Atomic force microscopy and low energy electron microscopy demonstrate that homogeneous monolayer domains extend over areas of hundreds of square-micrometers. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3618674