The composition and structure of the ubiquitous hydrocarbon contamination on van der Waals materials

András Pálinkás (), György Kálvin, Péter Vancsó, Konrád Kandrai, Márton Szendrő, Gergely Németh, Miklós Németh, Áron Pekker, József S. Pap, Péter Petrik, Katalin Kamarás, Levente Tapasztó and Péter Nemes-Incze ()
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András Pálinkás: Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science
György Kálvin: Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science
Péter Vancsó: Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science
Konrád Kandrai: Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science
Márton Szendrő: Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science
Gergely Németh: Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics
Miklós Németh: Institute for Energy Security and Environmental Safety
Áron Pekker: Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics
József S. Pap: Institute for Energy Security and Environmental Safety
Péter Petrik: Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science
Katalin Kamarás: Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics
Levente Tapasztó: Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science
Péter Nemes-Incze: Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The behavior of single layer van der Waals (vdW) materials is profoundly influenced by the immediate atomic environment at their surface, a prime example being the myriad of emergent properties in artificial heterostructures. Equally significant are adsorbates deposited onto their surface from ambient. While vdW interfaces are well understood, our knowledge regarding atmospheric contamination is severely limited. Here we show that the common ambient contamination on the surface of: graphene, graphite, hBN and MoS2 is composed of a self-organized molecular layer, which forms during a few days of ambient exposure. Using low-temperature STM measurements we image the atomic structure of this adlayer and in combination with infrared spectroscopy identify the contaminant molecules as normal alkanes with lengths of 20-26 carbon atoms. Through its ability to self-organize, the alkane layer displaces the manifold other airborne contaminant species, capping the surface of vdW materials and possibly dominating their interaction with the environment.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34641-7

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