Nitrogen-doped epitaxial graphene grown on SiC(000?1) was prepared by
exposing the surface to an atomic nitrogen flux. Using Scanning Tunneling
Microscopy (STM) and Spectroscopy (STS), supported by Density Functional Theory
(DFT) calculations, the simple substitution of carbon by nitrogen atoms has
been identified as the most common doping configuration. High-resolution images
reveal a reduction of local charge density on top of the nitrogen atoms,
indicating a charge transfer to the neighboring carbon atoms. For the first
time, local STS spectra clearly evidenced the energy levels associated with the
chemical doping by nitrogen, localized in the conduction band. Various other
nitrogen-related defects have been observed. The bias dependence of their
topographic signatures demonstrates the presence of structural configurations
more complex than substitution as well as hole-doping.Comment: 5 pages, accepted in PR
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