Serkovic of Instituto Balseiro, UNCuyo, Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología CNEA-CONICET

Two-dimensional materials have shown a huge potential for a variety of  technological applications. In particular, two-dimensional antimony exhibits high 
applicability in electronics, sensors and batteries. Two-dimensional antimony,  commonly known as antimonene, exhibits two stable phases: 𝛼 (rectangle lattice) and 𝛽 (hexagonal lattice). The formation of these phases depends on the substrate on which Sb is grown. In this study, we investigated the growth of few-layer antimony on graphene, forming an Sb/graphene heterostructure. Graphene was fabricated by chemical vapor deposition on copper foil. To demonstrate the importance of graphene in the synthesis of antimony, we also studied the growth of antimony on a copper foil without graphene. Few antimony layers exhibit the 𝛽-phase structure when grown on a graphene monolayer, but not when deposited on a copper foil.

In addition, we investigated the stability of the heterostructure in contact with air. Upon exposure to air, antimony oxidizes. However, after annealing at 160 °C in ultra-high vacuum (UHV), 50% of the metallic antimony is recovered, and the oxidized antimony disappears when grown on graphene. In contrast, almost none of the oxidized antimony is removed, and only 30% is recovered when grown on copper, highlighting the importance of graphene as a substrate.

(This talk will be given in Spanich)

Biography:

Dr. Laura Serkovic Loli

Instituto Balseiro, UNCuyo,

Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología

CNEA-CONICET. Argentina

Address:Argentina