Using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) we resolve the temperature-, time-, and flake size-dependent intercalation phases of oxygen underneath graphene on Ir(111) formed upon exposure to molecular oxygen. Through the applied pressure of molecular oxygen the atomic oxygen created on the bare Ir terraces is driven underneath graphene flakes. The importance of substrate steps and of the unbinding of graphene flake edges from the substrate for the intercalation is identified. With the use of CO titration to selectively remove oxygen from the bare Ir terraces the energetics of intercalation is uncovered. Cluster decoration techniques are used as an efficient tool to visualize intercalation processes in real space.

Layered cobalt oxides have been shown to be highly active catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER; half of the catalytic "water splitting" reaction), particularly when promoted with gold. However, the surface chemistry of cobalt oxides and in particular the nature of the synergistic effect of gold contact are only understood on a rudimentary level, which at present prevents further exploration. We have synthesized a model system of flat, layered cobalt oxide nanoislands supported on a single crystal gold (111) substrate. By using a combination of atom-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies and density functional theory calculations, we provide a detailed analysis of the relationship between the atomic-scale structure of the nanoislands, Co oxidation states and substrate induced charge transfer effects in response to the synthesis oxygen pressure. We reveal that conversion from Co(2+) to Co(3+) can occur by a facile incorporation of oxygen at the interface between the nanoisland and gold, changing the islands from a Co-O bilayer to an O-Co-O trilayer. The O-Co-O trilayer islands have the structure of a single layer of β-CoOOH, proposed to be the active phase for the OER, making this system a valuable model in understanding of the active sites for OER. The Co oxides adopt related island morphologies without significant structural reorganization, and our results directly demonstrate that nanosized Co oxide islands have a much higher structural flexibility than could be predicted from bulk properties. Furthermore, it is clear that the gold/nanoparticle interface has a profound effect on the structure of the nanoislands, suggesting a possible promotion mechanism.

Here we show that it is possible to intercalate CO under graphene grown on Ir(111) already at room temperature when CO pressures in the millibar regime are used. From the interplay of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy we conclude that the intercalated CO adsorption structure is similar to the (3√3 × 3√3)R30°) adsorption structure that is formed on Ir(111) upon exposure to ∼1 mbar of CO. Further, density functional theory calculations reveal that the structural and electronic properties of CO-intercalated graphene are similar to p-doped freestanding graphene. Finally we characterize nonintercalated stripes and islands that we always observe in the CO-intercalated graphene. We observe these nonintercalated areas predominately in HCP and FCC areas near step edges and suggest that stress release in graphene is the driving force for their formation, while the weak chemical bonds in HCP and FCC areas are the reason for their area selectivity.

To explore the catalytic properties of cobalt oxide at the atomic level, we have studied the interaction of CO and O 2 with well-ordered Co 3 O 4 (111) thin films using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HR-XPS), infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), and temperature-programmed desorption spectroscopy (TPD) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. At low coverage and temperature CO binds to surface Co 2+ ions on the (111) facets. At larger exposure a compressed phase is formed in which additional CO is located at sites in between the Co 2+ ions. In addition a bridging carbonate species forms which is associated with defects such as step edges of Co 3 O 4 (111) terraces or the side facets of the (111) oriented grains. Preadsorbed oxygen neither affects CO adsorption at low coverage nor the formation of the surface carbonate but it blocks formation of the high coverage CO phase. Desorption of the molecularly bound CO occurs up to 180 K, whereas the surface carbonate decomposes in a broad temperature range up to 400 K under the release of CO and, to a lesser extent, of CO 2 .Upon strong loss of crystalline oxygen the Co 3 O 4 grains eventually switch to the CoO rocksalt structure.

Band gap engineering in hydrogen functionalized graphene is demonstrated by changing the symmetry of the functionalization structures. Small differences in hydrogen adsorbate binding energies on graphene on Ir(111) allow tailoring of highly periodic functionalization structures favoring one distinct region of the moiré supercell. Scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements show that a highly periodic hydrogen functionalized graphene sheet can thus be prepared by controlling the sample temperature (T) during hydrogen functionalization. At deposition temperatures of T = 645 K and above, hydrogen adsorbs exclusively on the HCP regions of the graphene/Ir(111) moiré structure. This finding is rationalized in terms of a slight preference for hydrogen clusters in the HCP regions over the FCC regions, as found by density functional theory calculations. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements demonstrate that the preferential functionalization of just one region of the moiré supercell results in a band gap opening with very limited associated band broadening. Thus, hydrogenation at elevated sample temperatures provides a pathway to efficient band gap engineering in graphene via the selective functionalization of specific regions of the moiré structure.