Magic carbon clusters in the chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene

Qinghong Yuan, Junfeng Gao, Haibo Shu, Jijun Zhao, Xiaoshuang Chen, Feng Ding

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

145 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ground-state structures of supported C clusters, C N (N = 16,⋯, 26), on four selected transition metal surfaces [Rh(111), Ru(0001), Ni(111), and Cu(111)] are systematically explored by ab initio calculations. It is found that the core-shell structured C 21, which is a fraction of C 60 possessing three isolated pentagons and C 3v symmetry, is a very stable magic cluster on all these metal surfaces. Comparison with experimental scanning tunneling microscopy images, dI/dV curves, and cluster heights proves that C 21 is the experimentally observed dominating C precursor in graphene chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth. The exceptional stability of the C 21 cluster is attributed to its high symmetry, core-shell geometry, and strong binding between edge C atoms and the metal surfaces. Besides, the high barrier of two C 21 clusters dimerization explains its temperature-dependent behavior in graphene CVD growth.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2970-2975
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume134
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Feb 2012
Externally publishedYes

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