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Transforming C60 molecules into graphene quantum dots

Nature Nanotechnology volume 6, pages 247–252 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

The fragmentation of fullerenes using ions, surface collisions or thermal effects is a complex process that typically leads to the formation of small carbon clusters of variable size. Here, we show that geometrically well-defined graphene quantum dots can be synthesized on a ruthenium surface using C60 molecules as a precursor. Scanning tunnelling microscopy imaging, supported by density functional theory calculations, suggests that the structures are formed through the ruthenium-catalysed cage-opening of C60. In this process, the strong C60–Ru interaction induces the formation of surface vacancies in the Ru single crystal and a subsequent embedding of C60 molecules in the surface. The fragmentation of the embedded molecules at elevated temperatures then produces carbon clusters that undergo diffusion and aggregation to form graphene quantum dots. The equilibrium shape of the graphene can be tailored by optimizing the annealing temperature and the density of the carbon clusters.

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Figure 1: STM images of GQDs formed by decomposition of 0.08 ML C60 on Ru(0001).
Figure 2: STM images of the C60-derived clusters after annealing a 0.03 ML film of C60 on Ru(0001).
Figure 3: Three-dimensional STM images of a carbon cluster derived from the decomposition of embedded C60 molecules on Ru(0001), and the simulated ‘on-top_vac’ configuration of a C60 molecule on Ru(0001).
Figure 4: Comparison of the growth mechanism of graphene nanoislands and quantum dots using C2H4 and C60.
Figure 5: Series of STM images monitoring the transformation of trapezium-shaped GQDs to triangular-shaped GQDs at 1,000 K.

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Acknowledgements

K.P.L acknowledges funding support from an NRF-CRP grant ‘Graphene related materials and devices’ (R-143-000-360-281) as well as MOE Tier 2 grant ‘Structure and dynamics of molecular self-assembled films’ (R-143-000-344-112).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, 117543, Singapore

    Jiong Lu, Pei Shan Emmeline Yeo & Kian Ping Loh

  2. Institute of High Performance Computing, 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis, 138632, Singapore

    Pei Shan Emmeline Yeo, Chee Kwan Gan & Ping Wu

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  1. Jiong Lu
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Contributions

J.L. and K.P.L. conceived and designed the experiments. J.L. performed the STM and STS measurement. P.S.E.Y. carried out theoretical calculations. C.K.G and W.P contributed analysis tools. K.P.L supervised the project. All authors discussed the results and analysed the data.

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Correspondence to Kian Ping Loh.

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Lu, J., Yeo, P., Gan, C. et al. Transforming C60 molecules into graphene quantum dots. Nature Nanotech 6, 247–252 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2011.30

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