Physics

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

A. Pálinkás, G. Kálvin, et al.

Explore how the surface environment transforms the behavior of single-layer van der Waals materials like graphene and MoS₂. This groundbreaking research showcases the formation of self-organized molecular layers of alkanes that reshape material interactions. Conducted by prominent researchers including András Pálinkás and György Kálvin.

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Playback language: English

Index

Abstract

The behavior of single-layer van der Waals (vdW) materials is significantly influenced by their surface environment, including adsorbates from ambient conditions. This study reveals that common ambient contamination on graphene, graphite, hBN, and MoS₂ consists of a self-organized molecular layer of normal alkanes (20–26 carbon atoms) forming within days of ambient exposure. Low-temperature STM imaging and infrared spectroscopy were used to identify the structure and composition of this adlayer, which displaces other airborne contaminants, potentially dominating the material's interaction with the environment.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Nov 09, 2022

Authors

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, Péter Nemes-Incze

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