Formation of monolayer graphite at the WB2(0001) surface

The formation of monolayer graphite on the WB2(0001) surface has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). STM observation shows that two kinds of terrace exist, which correspond to those with planar and puckered boron in the third layer. Monolayer graphite (MG) was formed on the WB2(0001) surface, but the two surface regions exhibit different abilities for MG formation. The ab initio cluster calculations suggest that MG prefers to be formed on the terrace with puckered boron in the third layer.