Intercalation of graphene on iridium with samarium atoms

Abstract

Intercalation of graphene on Ir (111) with Sm atoms is studied by methods of thermal desorption spectroscopy and thermionic emission. It is shown that adsorption of samarium at T = 300 K on graphene to concentrations of N ≤ 6 × 10¹⁴ atoms cm^–2 followed by heating of the substrate leads to practically complete escape of adsorbate underneath the graphene layer. At N > 6 × 10¹⁴ atoms cm^–2 and increasing temperature, a fraction of adsorbate remains on graphene in the form of two-dimensional “gas” and samarium islands and are desorbed in the range of temperatures of 1000–1200 K. Samarium remaining under the graphene is desorbed from the surface in the temperature range 1200–2150 K. Model conceptions for the samarium–graphene–iridium system in a wide temperature range are developed.