Dual-Route Hydrogenation of the Graphene/Ni Interface.

Nanostructured architectures based on graphene/metal interfaces might be efficiently exploited in hydrogen storage due to the attractive capability to provide adsorption sites both at the top side of graphene and at the metal substrate after intercalation. We combined in situ high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy with theoretical calculations to determine the arrangement of hydrogen atoms at the graphene/Ni(111) interface at room temperature. Our results show that at low coverage H atoms predominantly adsorb as monomers and that chemisorption saturates when ∼25% of the surface is hydrogenated. In parallel, with a much lower rate, H atoms intercalate below graphene and bind to Ni surface sites. Intercalation progressively destabilizes the C-H bonds and triggers the release of the hydrogen chemisorbed on graphene. Valence band and near-edge absorption spectroscopy demonstrate that the graphene layer is fully lifted when the Ni surface is saturated with H. Thermal programmed desorption was used to determine the stability of the hydrogenated interface. Whereas the H atoms chemisorbed on graphene remain unperturbed over a wide temperature range, the intercalated phase abruptly desorbs 50-100 K above room temperature.

Enhanced Magnetic Hybridization of a Spinterface through Insertion of a Two-Dimensional Magnetic Oxide Layer.

Interfaces between organic semiconductors and ferromagnetic metals offer intriguing opportunities in the rapidly developing field of organic spintronics. Understanding and controlling the spin-polarized electronic states at the interface is the key toward a reliable exploitation of this kind of systems. Here we propose an approach consisting in the insertion of a two-dimensional magnetic oxide layer at the interface with the aim of both increasing the reproducibility of the interface preparation and offering a way for a further fine control over the electronic and magnetic properties. We have inserted a two-dimensional Cr4O5 layer at the C60/Fe(001) interface and have characterized the corresponding morphological, electronic, and magnetic properties. Scanning tunneling microscopy and electron diffraction show that the film grows well-ordered both in the monolayer and multilayer regimes. Electron spectroscopies confirm that hybridization of the electronic states occurs at the interface. Finally, magnetic dichroism in X-ray absorption shows an unprecedented spin-polarization of the hybridized fullerene states. The latter result is discussed also in light of an ab initio theoretical analysis.