Using low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we map the local density of states of graphene quantum dots supported on Ir(111). Because of a band gap in the projected Ir band structure around the graphene K point, the electronic properties of the QDs are dominantly graphenelike. Indeed, we compare the results favorably with tight binding calculations on the honeycomb lattice based on parameters derived from density functional theory. We find that the interaction with the substrate near the edge of the island gradually opens a gap in the Dirac cone, which implies soft-wall confinement. Interestingly, this confinement results in highly symmetric wave functions. Further influences of the substrate are given by the known moire potential and a 10% penetration of an Ir surface resonance into the graphene layer.
Wave-Function Mapping of Graphene Quantum Dots with Soft Confinement / Subramaniam, D; Libisch, F; Li, Y; Pauly, C; Geringer, V; Reiter, R; Mashoff, T; Liebmann, M; Burgdorfer, J; Busse, C; Michely, T; Mazzarello, R; Pratzer, M; Morgenstern, M. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. - ISSN 0031-9007. - 108:4(2012). [10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.046801]
Wave-Function Mapping of Graphene Quantum Dots with Soft Confinement
Mazzarello R;
2012
Abstract
Using low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we map the local density of states of graphene quantum dots supported on Ir(111). Because of a band gap in the projected Ir band structure around the graphene K point, the electronic properties of the QDs are dominantly graphenelike. Indeed, we compare the results favorably with tight binding calculations on the honeycomb lattice based on parameters derived from density functional theory. We find that the interaction with the substrate near the edge of the island gradually opens a gap in the Dirac cone, which implies soft-wall confinement. Interestingly, this confinement results in highly symmetric wave functions. Further influences of the substrate are given by the known moire potential and a 10% penetration of an Ir surface resonance into the graphene layer.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.