Comparison of electronic structure and template function of single-layer graphene and a hexagonal boron nitride nanomesh on Ru(0001)

Abstract

The structure of a single-layer graphene on Ru(0001) is compared with that of a single-layer hexagonal boron nitride nanomesh on Ru(0001). Both are corrugated $s{p}^{2}$ hybridized networks and display a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ band gap at the $\overline{\text{K}}$ point of their $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1$ Brillouin zone. In contrast to $h\text{-BN}/\text{Ru}(0001)$, $g/\text{Ru}(0001)$ has a distinct Fermi surface. Together with the band structure measurements this indicates that $0.1e$ per $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1$ unit cell are transferred from the Ru substrate to the graphene. Photoemission from adsorbed xenon on $g/\text{Ru}(0001)$ identifies two $\text{Xe}\text{ }5{p}_{1/2}$ lines, separated by 240 meV, which reveals a corrugated electrostatic potential energy surface like on $h\text{-BN}/\text{Rh}(111)$. These two Xe species are related to the topography of the template and have different desorption energies.