Electronic structures of graphene layers on a metal foil: The effect of atomic-scale defects

Here, we report a facile method to generate a high density of atomic-scale defects in graphene on metal foil and show how these defects affect the electronic structures of graphene layers. Our scanning tunneling microscope measurements, complemented by first-principles calculations, reveal that the atomic-scale defects result in both the intervalley and intravalley scattering of graphene. The Fermi velocity is reduced in the vicinity area of the defect due to the enhanced scattering.