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Unconventional Atomic Structure of Graphene Sheets on Solid Substrates
Author(s) -
Zhang Jinjin,
Yang Yizhou,
Yang Shuo,
Song Jie,
Wang Ying,
Liu Xiaoguo,
Yang Qingqing,
Shen Yue,
Wang Shuo,
Yang Haijun,
Lü Junhong,
Li Bin,
Fang Haiping,
Lal Ratnesh,
Czajkowsky Daniel M.,
Hu Jun,
Shi Guosheng,
Zhang Yi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201902637
Subject(s) - graphene , orthorhombic crystal system , materials science , crystal structure , electric field , nanotechnology , graphene nanoribbons , lattice (music) , chemical physics , dipole , lattice constant , crystallography , diffraction , chemistry , physics , optics , quantum mechanics , organic chemistry , acoustics
The atomic structure of free‐standing graphene comprises flat hexagonal rings with a 2.5 Å period, which is conventionally considered the only atomic period and determines the unique properties of graphene. Here, an unexpected highly ordered orthorhombic structure of graphene is directly observed with a lattice constant of ≈5 Å, spontaneously formed on various substrates. First‐principles computations show that this unconventional structure can be attributed to the dipole between the graphene surface and substrates, which produces an interfacial electric field and induces atomic rearrangement on the graphene surface. Further, the formation of the orthorhombic structure can be controlled by an artificially generated interfacial electric field. Importantly, the 5 Å crystal can be manipulated and transformed in a continuous and reversible manner. Notably, the orthorhombic lattice can control the epitaxial self‐assembly of amyloids. The findings reveal new insights about the atomic structure of graphene, and open up new avenues to manipulate graphene lattices.