Quantitative surface studies of moiré intercalated Pb structures under Gr/SiC

Chen, Shen; Kolmer, Marek; Wang, Linlin; Han, Yong; Blank, Michael; Evans, James W.; Tringides, Michael C.

doi:10.1103/8w8g-839s

Quantitative surface studies of moiré intercalated Pb structures under Gr/SiC

Journal Article · Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Physical Review. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/8w8g-839s· OSTI ID:2573063

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Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)

Quantitative growth studies using surface diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy are carried out to determine the intercalation conditions for Pb under Gr/SiC, with initial phase a mixture of buffer-layer and single-layer graphene. Intercalation is a kinetically complex, multistage process with intercalated Pb moving between different subsurface locations with annealing, eventually to the location of higher stability. The transfer is determined by monitoring the difference of a given spot intensity from its clean value, as a function of growth parameters. In addition, a broad, low-intensity (10×10)_gr moiré phase is observed exclusively originating from intercalated Pb. Well-defined growth conditions are identified for the moiré spot to be observed reversibly. The (10×10)_gr phase follows changes of the Pb(10) spot during growth and annealing experiments, instead of changes of the other Gr/SiC spots indicating preferred nucleation of Pb islands on the (10×10)_gr domains. These structural results are discussed in connection to different models proposed for the (10×10)_gr supercell and the subsurface Pb coverage. In conclusion, mass transport of subsurface Pb is unusually high, possibly because of the very high compression of the intercalated Pb, when compared to metallic Pb(111).

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11358

OSTI ID:: 2573063

Journal Information:: Physical Review. B, Journal Name: Physical Review. B Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 112; ISSN 2469-9950; ISSN 2469-9969

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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