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The composition and structure of the ubiquitous hydrocarbon contamination on van der Waals materials

Author

Listed:
  • András Pálinkás

    (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science)

  • György Kálvin

    (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science)

  • Péter Vancsó

    (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science)

  • Konrád Kandrai

    (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science)

  • Márton Szendrő

    (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science)

  • Gergely Németh

    (Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics)

  • Miklós Németh

    (Institute for Energy Security and Environmental Safety)

  • Áron Pekker

    (Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics)

  • József S. Pap

    (Institute for Energy Security and Environmental Safety)

  • Péter Petrik

    (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science
    University of Debrecen)

  • Katalin Kamarás

    (Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics)

  • Levente Tapasztó

    (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science)

  • Péter Nemes-Incze

    (Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science)

Abstract

The behavior of single layer van der Waals (vdW) materials is profoundly influenced by the immediate atomic environment at their surface, a prime example being the myriad of emergent properties in artificial heterostructures. Equally significant are adsorbates deposited onto their surface from ambient. While vdW interfaces are well understood, our knowledge regarding atmospheric contamination is severely limited. Here we show that the common ambient contamination on the surface of: graphene, graphite, hBN and MoS2 is composed of a self-organized molecular layer, which forms during a few days of ambient exposure. Using low-temperature STM measurements we image the atomic structure of this adlayer and in combination with infrared spectroscopy identify the contaminant molecules as normal alkanes with lengths of 20-26 carbon atoms. Through its ability to self-organize, the alkane layer displaces the manifold other airborne contaminant species, capping the surface of vdW materials and possibly dominating their interaction with the environment.

Suggested Citation

  • András Pálinkás & György Kálvin & Péter Vancsó & Konrád Kandrai & Márton Szendrő & Gergely Németh & Miklós Németh & Áron Pekker & József S. Pap & Péter Petrik & Katalin Kamarás & Levente Tapasztó & Pé, 2022. "The composition and structure of the ubiquitous hydrocarbon contamination on van der Waals materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34641-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34641-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patrick Gallagher & Menyoung Lee & Francois Amet & Petro Maksymovych & Jun Wang & Shuopei Wang & Xiaobo Lu & Guangyu Zhang & Kenji Watanabe & Takashi Taniguchi & David Goldhaber-Gordon, 2016. "Switchable friction enabled by nanoscale self-assembly on graphene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, April.
    2. E. Khestanova & F. Guinea & L. Fumagalli & A. K. Geim & I. V. Grigorieva, 2016. "Universal shape and pressure inside bubbles appearing in van der Waals heterostructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, November.
    3. C. R. Woods & F. Withers & M. J. Zhu & Y. Cao & G. Yu & A. Kozikov & M. Ben Shalom & S. V. Morozov & M. M. van Wijk & A. Fasolino & M. I. Katsnelson & K. Watanabe & T. Taniguchi & A. K. Geim & A. Mish, 2016. "Macroscopic self-reorientation of interacting two-dimensional crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-5, April.
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