Graphene on Metals: Interface Structure and Defects

The epitaxial growth of graphene on metal substrates is one of the major methods of graphene production for electronic applications. Therefore, the metal/graphene interface interactions as well as the graphene defects appeared during the growth affect in a substantial way the electronic properties of both graphene and graphene/metal contacts, which are both important for device applications. Structural and electronic properties of simple and complex graphene/metal as well as graphene/metal-alloy interfaces were investigated using first principles density functional theory. The point defect structures in graphene on metal substrate were studied and compared with those in free standing graphene.