Silicon intercalation into the graphene-SiC interface

In this work we use low-energy electron microscopy, x-ray photoemission electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study how the excess Si at the graphene-vacuum interface reorders itself at high temperatures. We show that silicon deposited at room temperature onto multilayer graphene films grown on the SiC(000 (1) over bar) rapidly diffuses to the graphene-SiC interface when heated to temperatures above 1020 degrees C. In a sequence of depositions, we have been able to intercalate similar to 6 ML of Si into the graphene-SiC interface.