Factors controlling the CO intercalation of h-BN overlayers on Ru(0001).

The space between a two-dimensional (2D) material overlayer and a metal surface can be regarded as a nanoreactor, in which molecule adsorption and surface reaction may occur. In this work, we present CO intercalation under a hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) overlayer on Ru(0001) at room temperature, observed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy. Critical factors influencing the interfacial process have been investigated, including CO partial pressure, h-BN coverage, and oxygen pre-adsorption on the Ru surface. It has been identified that CO adsorption on the bare Ru surface region plays an important role in CO intercalation. Comparative studies of CO intercalation at h-BN/Ru(0001) and graphene/Ru(0001) interfaces indicate that CO starts to intercalate h-BN overlayers more easily than graphene. Temperature-programmed CO desorption experiments from h-BN/CO/Ru(0001) and graphene/CO/Ru(0001) surfaces reveal a similar confinement effect of the 2D cover on CO adsorption, which results in a more abrupt and quick CO desorption in comparison with the CO/Ru(0001) surface.