Understanding the connection of graphene with metal surfaces is a necessary step for developing atomically precise graphene-based technology. Combining high-resolution STM experiments and DFT calculations, we have unambiguously unveiled the atomic structure of the boundary between a graphene zigzag edge and a Pt(111) step. The graphene edges minimize their strain by inducing a 3-fold edge-reconstruction on the metal side. We show the existence of an unoccupied electronic state that is mostly localized on the C-edge atoms of one particular graphene sublattice, which could have implications in the design of graphene based devices.
Full text in this link: ACS Nano, 2014, 8 (4), pp 3590–3596
Sublattice Localized Electronic States in Atomically Resolved Graphene-Pt (111) Edge-Boundaries
P. Merino, L. Rodrigo, A.L. Pinardi, J. Méndez, M.F. López, P. Pou, R. Pérez y J.A. Martín-Gago