Atomic-scale charge distribution mapping of single substitutional p- and n-type dopants in graphene

Tuning the chemical properties of graphene by controlled doping is a widely investigated strategy. The effect of substitutional single dopant on graphene local reactivity is much less explored. To improve understanding of the role of p- and n-type dopants in graphene’s local chemical activity and quantification of its interaction with single molecules we report an atomic-scale investigation of single boron (B) and nitrogen (N) dopants in graphene and their interaction with a CO molecule by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) experiments and theoretical calculations. We report an atomic-scale investigation of single boron (B) and nitrogen (N) dopants in graphene and their interaction with a CO molecule by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) experiments and theoretical calculations. We infer that N/B doping significantly increases/lowers the chemical interaction of graphene with individual CO molecule as a result of weak elect...