Abstract
With the goal of studying 2D materials and layered heterostructures composed of 2D materials, the primary experimental tool I employ is the low-energy electron microscope (LEEM). In the following sections, I describe the apparatus and various modes of operation as they pertain to investigations of 2D materials. Whereas the imaging and diffraction modes described in Sects. 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 are relatively commonplace amongst users of LEEM, the spectroscopic techniques introduced in Sects. 2.1.3 and 2.2 are less commonly known, and a portion of the work described in this thesis involves advancing these methods as needed for applications to 2D surface science. The development of low-energy electron reflectivity as a method for probing 2D materials is a high priority in our group, and as such it is also an area in which we have collectively attained a level of expertise. There are not many LEEM systems, globally; partly due to the high cost of commercial systems (and the even greater challenge of designing and building one), and partly due to lack of awareness regarding the advantages of LEEM for studying 2D materials, not to mention surfaces in general. Therefore it is an additional goal of this thesis, in a small way, to advertise the qualities of LEEM for studying 2D heterostructures to the broader community.
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de la Barrera, S.C. (2017). Experimental Methods. In: Layered Two-Dimensional Heterostructures and Their Tunneling Characteristics. Springer Theses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69257-9_2
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