Observation of zigzag and armchair edges of graphite using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy

Abstract

The presence of structure-dependent edge states of graphite is revealed by both ambient and ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy observations. On a hydrogenated zigzag (armchair) edge, bright spots are (are not) observed together with a $(\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3})R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ superlattice near the Fermi level (${V}_{S}\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{-}30\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mV}$ for a peak of the local density of states) under UHV, demonstrating that a zigzag edge is responsible for the edge states, although there is no appreciable difference between as-prepared zigzag and armchair edges in air. Even in the hydrogenated armchair edge, however, bright spots are observed at defect points, at which partial zigzag edges are created in the armchair edge.