"Current trends in scanning probe microscopy at Argonne National laboratory"

Abstract:

The Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM) at Argonne National Laboratory is one of five nanocenters supported by the DOE’s Nanoscale Science Research Center (NSRC) program. The CNM along with the other NSRCs are very unique in the fact that these centers are 100% user facilities that are supported by principal investigators. In other words, the DOE has created an environment that gives external users access to world class facilities and laboratories. This talk will introduce the efforts and capabilities of the Scanning Probe Microscopy Group within the CNM, primarily focused on scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The general nature in the title of this talk is reflective of a group that roughly

12 months old. However, actual results for numerous systems will be briefly discussed and range from semiconductors and organics to spin-polarized imaging and thin magnetic films. The majority of this talk will focus on the atomic-scale investigation of graphene epitaxially grown on 6H:SiC(0001). Graphene is a very unique and nearly ideal 2-dimensional material. It is a single sheet of carbon atoms that are hexagonally packed forming a "honeycomb" structure. Until recently, it was primarily investigated theoretically, serving as a building block for graphite (graphene sheets stacked together) and carbon nanotubes (a single sheet of graphene rolled into a tube). The high electron mobility reported has motivated the use of graphene as a potential replacement of silicon-based devices. The atomic-scale investigation of growth, defects, electron scattering, and attempts to chemically/electronically modify graphene with atomic hydrogen will be discussed.

Thursday, March 12 2:00 PM

MEC Room 205