The Structure and Stability of Magic Carbon Clusters Observed in Graphene Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth on Ru(0001) and Rh(111) Surfaces

Abstract

To improve the atomically controlled growth of graphene by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), understanding the evolution from various carbon species to a graphene nucleus on various catalyst surfaces is essential. Experimentally, an ultrastable carbon cluster on Ru(0001) and Rh(111) surfaces was observed, while its structure and formation process were still under debate. Using ab initio calculations and kinetic analyses, we disclose a specific type of carbon cluster, composed of a C-21 core and a few dangling C atoms, which is exceptional stable in a size range from 21 to 27 C atoms. The most stable one of them, an isomer of C-24 characterized by three dangling C atoms attached to the C-21 core (denoted as C-21-3C), is the most promising candidate of the experimental observation. The ultrastability of C-21-3C originates from both the stable core and the appropriate passivation of the dangling carbon atoms by the catalyst surface.