Graphene layer on Rh(111): combined DFT, STM, and NC-AFM studies

Abstract

The simultaneous combination of scanning probe methods (tunnelling and force microscopies, STM and AFM) is a unique way to get an information about crystallographic and electronic structure of the studied surface. Here we apply these methods accompanied by the state-of-the-art density functional theory (DFT) calculations to shed a light on the structure and electronic properties of the strongly-corrugated graphene/Rh(111) system. The atomically resolved images are obtained for both STM and AFM modes and compared with the DFT results showing good agreement between theory and experiment.