Spectroscopic and scanning probe analysis on large-area epitaxial graphene grown under pressure of 4 mbar on 4H-SiC (0001) substrates

We produced epitaxial graphene under a moderate pressure of 4 mbar (about 400 Pa) at temperature 1600 °C. Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy were used to confirm that epitaxial graphene has taken shape continually with slight thickness variations and regularly with a centimeter order of magnitude on 4H-SiC (0001) substrates. Then using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy, we analyzed the chemical compositions and estimated the layer number of epitaxial graphene. Finally, an atomic force microscope and a scanning force microscope were used to characterize the morphological structure. Our results showed that under 4-mbar pressure, epitaxial graphene could be produced on a SiC substrate with a large area, uniform thickness but a limited morphological property. We hope our work will be of benefit to understanding the formation process of epitaxial graphene on SiC substrate in detail. (condensed matter: structural, mechanical, and thermal properties)