Edge states of graphene wrinkles in single-layer graphene grown on Ni(111)

Abstract

As quasi-one-dimensional (1D) structures with characteristic widths of nanometer scale, graphene wrinkles (GWs) have been widely observed in graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition. Similar to conventional 1D graphene-based nanostructures, e.g., carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoribbons, 1D electron confinement has been observed in the GWs. However, it remains an open question whether the GWs have effective edges and exhibit corresponding edge states. Here, we report on the edge states of the GWs in single-layer graphene grown on Ni(111) by means of low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. We show that the GWs are decoupled from the substrate, while the surrounding planar graphene are strongly coupled with the substrate. The different graphene-substrate coupling leads to effective edges and 1D character of the GWs. The chiral edges of the GWs give rise to pronounced edge states around the Fermi level in the density of states.