FIELD DESORPTION OF INTERCALATED CAESIUM ATOMS FROM GRAPHENE ON THE (100) IRIDIUM FACE

Abstract

The desorption of caesium atoms from the quasi-spherical carbonized surface of an iridium single crystal was studied using the field desorption microscopy. Field electron and desorption images of the surface during the formation of graphene on the (100) iridium face are obtained. The field electron images of the emitter surface before intercalation and after intercalation of graphene with caesium atoms do not change. The electric field stimulates the desorption of caesium atoms from the intercalated state, due to the breaking of the bonds of the extreme carbon atoms with the surface of the face (100) of iridium. Using frame-by-frame recording, the possibility is shown of observing the localization of graphene layer defects on the surface of the field emitter. It is also shown that the field desorption of caesium atoms from the intercalated state begins with graphene defects located along the perimeter of the graphene island. It is found that desorption centers can be located not only along the perimeter of the graphene island, but also in its central part in the case of the disordered graphene formation.

Keywords

• field desorption microscopy
• graphene
• field emitter
• alkali metals
• intercalation