Growth and Characterization of Ultrathin Vanadium Oxide Films on HOPG

Integration of graphene into various electronic devices requires an ultrathin oxide layer on top of graphene. However, direct thin film growth of oxide on graphene is not evident because of the low surface energy of graphene promoting three-dimensional island growth. In this study, we demonstrate the growth of ultrathin vanadium oxide films on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface, which mimics the graphene surface, using (oxygen-assisted) molecular beam epitaxy, followed by a post-annealing. The structural properties, surface morphology, and chemical composition of the films have been systematically investigated by in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction during the growth and by ex situ techniques, such as atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Crystalline monolayer vanadium oxide can be achieved on HOPG by systematically tuning the deposition time of V atoms and by subsequent annealing at 450 degrees C in controlled atmospheres. Increasing the partial pressure of O-2 during the deposition seems to decrease the mobility of V atoms on the graphitic surface of HOPG and promote the formation of a two-dimensional (2D) vanadium oxide. The obtained oxide layers are found to be polycrystalline with an average grain size of 15 nm and to have a mixed-valence state with mainly V5+ and V4+. Moreover, XPS valence band measurements indicate that the vanadium oxide is insulating. These results demonstrate that a 2D insulating vanadium oxide can be grown directly on HOPG and suggest vanadium oxide as a promising candidate for graphene/oxide heterostructures.

Automated summary

The research demonstrates the growth of insulating two-dimensional vanadium oxide directly on the HOPG surface, suggesting vanadium oxide as a promising candidate for graphene/oxide heterostructures. The obtained oxide layers are polycrystalline with mixed-valence states, mainly V5+ and V4+, and exhibit insulating properties. These findings open up potential applications for graphene-based electronic devices.