Atomic-scale identification of nitrogen dopants in graphene on Ir(111) and Ru(0001)

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) doped graphene materials have been synthesized using the sole precursor adenine on the Ir(111) and Ru(0001) surfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have been used to characterize the obtained N-doped graphene materials. Several graphitic and pyridinic N dopants have been identified on the atomic scale by combining STM measurements and STM simulations based on density functional theory calculations.