Atomic Structure and Physical Properties of Epitaxial Graphene Islands Embedded in SiC(0001) Surfaces

The atomic structures of graphene islands on SiC(0001) surfaces are studied theoretically together with their growth mechanism. Two types of embedded graphene island structure are proposed. It is shown that these structures actually act as the graphene island electronically, and that those with zigzag edges have the magnetoelectric effect. (C) 2010 The Japan Society of Applied Physics