First-principles study of nickel reactivity under two-dimensional cover: Ni2C formation at rotated graphene/Ni(111) interface

Recent experiments indicate that the reactivity of metal surfaces changes profoundly when they are covered with two-dimensional (2D) materials. Nickel, the widespread catalyst choice for graphene (G) growth, exhibits complex surface restructuring even after the G sheet is fully grown. In particular, due to excess carbon segregation from bulk nickel to surface upon cooling, a nickel carbide (${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{C}$) phase is detected under rotated graphene (RG) but not under epitaxial graphene (EG). Motivated by this experimental evidence, we construct different G/Ni(111) interface models accounting for the two types of G domains. Then, by applying density functional theory, we illuminate the microscopic mechanisms governing the structural changes of nickel surface induced by carbon segregation. A high concentration of subsurface carbon reduces the structural stability of Ni(111) surface and gives rise to the formation of thermodynamically advantageous ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{C}$ monolayer. We show the restructuring of the nickel surface under RG cover and reveal the essential role of G rotation in enabling high density of favorable C binding sites in the Ni(111) subsurface. As opposed to RG, the EG cover locks the majority of favorable C binding sites preventing the build-up of subsurface carbon density to a phase transition threshold. Therefore we confirm that the conversion of C-rich Ni surface to ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{C}$ takes place exclusively under RG cover, in line with the strong experimental evidence.