Showing papers by "Kostya S. Novoselov published in 2007"
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TL;DR: Owing to its unusual electronic spectrum, graphene has led to the emergence of a new paradigm of 'relativistic' condensed-matter physics, where quantum relativistic phenomena can now be mimicked and tested in table-top experiments.
Abstract: Graphene is a rapidly rising star on the horizon of materials science and condensed-matter physics. This strictly two-dimensional material exhibits exceptionally high crystal and electronic quality, and, despite its short history, has already revealed a cornucopia of new physics and potential applications, which are briefly discussed here. Whereas one can be certain of the realness of applications only when commercial products appear, graphene no longer requires any further proof of its importance in terms of fundamental physics. Owing to its unusual electronic spectrum, graphene has led to the emergence of a new paradigm of 'relativistic' condensed-matter physics, where quantum relativistic phenomena, some of which are unobservable in high-energy physics, can now be mimicked and tested in table-top experiments. More generally, graphene represents a conceptually new class of materials that are only one atom thick, and, on this basis, offers new inroads into low-dimensional physics that has never ceased to surprise and continues to provide a fertile ground for applications.
35,293 citations
TL;DR: These studies by transmission electron microscopy reveal that individual graphene sheets freely suspended on a microfabricated scaffold in vacuum or air are not perfectly flat: they exhibit intrinsic microscopic roughening such that the surface normal varies by several degrees and out-of-plane deformations reach 1 nm.
Abstract: Graphene — a recently isolated one-atom-thick layered form of graphite — is a hot topic in the materials science and condensed matter physics communities, where it is proving to be a popular model system for investigation. An experiment involving individual graphene sheets suspended over a microscale scaffold has allowed structure determination using transmission electron microscopy and diffraction, perhaps paving the way towards an answer to the question of why graphene can exist at all. The 'two-dimensional' sheets, it seems, are not flat, but wavy. The undulations are less pronounced in a two-layer system, and disappear in multilayer samples. Learning more about this 'waviness' may reveal what makes these extremely thin carbon membranes so stable. Investigations of individual graphene sheets freely suspended on a microfabricated scaffold in vacuum or in air reveal that the membranes are not perfectly flat, but exhibit an intrinsic waviness, such that the surface normal varies by several degrees, and out-of-plane deformations reach 1 nm. The recent discovery of graphene has sparked much interest, thus far focused on the peculiar electronic structure of this material, in which charge carriers mimic massless relativistic particles1,2,3. However, the physical structure of graphene—a single layer of carbon atoms densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice—is also puzzling. On the one hand, graphene appears to be a strictly two-dimensional material, exhibiting such a high crystal quality that electrons can travel submicrometre distances without scattering. On the other hand, perfect two-dimensional crystals cannot exist in the free state, according to both theory and experiment4,5,6,7,8,9. This incompatibility can be avoided by arguing that all the graphene structures studied so far were an integral part of larger three-dimensional structures, either supported by a bulk substrate or embedded in a three-dimensional matrix1,2,3,9,10,11,12. Here we report on individual graphene sheets freely suspended on a microfabricated scaffold in vacuum or air. These membranes are only one atom thick, yet they still display long-range crystalline order. However, our studies by transmission electron microscopy also reveal that these suspended graphene sheets are not perfectly flat: they exhibit intrinsic microscopic roughening such that the surface normal varies by several degrees and out-of-plane deformations reach 1 nm. The atomically thin single-crystal membranes offer ample scope for fundamental research and new technologies, whereas the observed corrugations in the third dimension may provide subtle reasons for the stability of two-dimensional crystals13,14,15.
4,653 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that in a single atomic layer of carbon, the quantum Hall effect can be measured reliably even at room temperature, which makes possible QHE resistance standards becoming available to a broader community, outside a few national institutions.
Abstract: The quantum Hall effect (QHE), one example of a quantum phenomenon that occurs on a truly macroscopic scale, has attracted intense interest since its discovery in 1980 and has helped elucidate many important aspects of quantum physics. It has also led to the establishment of a new metrological standard, the resistance quantum. Disappointingly, however, the QHE has been observed only at liquid-helium temperatures. We show that in graphene, in a single atomic layer of carbon, the QHE can be measured reliably even at room temperature, which makes possible QHE resistance standards becoming available to a broader community, outside a few national institutions.
2,492 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is shown that in graphene, in a single atomic layer of carbon, the QHE can be measured reliably even at room temperature, which makes possible QHE resistance standards becoming available to a broader community, outside a few national institutions.
Abstract: The quantum Hall effect (QHE), one example of a quantum phenomenon that occurs on a truly macroscopic scale, has attracted intense interest since its discovery in 1980 and has helped elucidate many important aspects of quantum physics. It has also led to the establishment of a new metrological standard, the resistance quantum. Disappointingly, however, the QHE has been observed only at liquid-helium temperatures. We show that in graphene, in a single atomic layer of carbon, the QHE can be measured reliably even at room temperature, which makes possible QHE resistance standards becoming available to a broader community, outside a few national institutions.
2,404 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the electronic gap of a graphene bilayer can be controlled externally by applying a gate bias and can be changed from zero to midinfrared energies by using fields of less, approximately < 1 V/nm, below the electric breakdown of SiO2.
Abstract: We demonstrate that the electronic gap of a graphene bilayer can be controlled externally by applying a gate bias. From the magnetotransport data (Shubnikov-de Haas measurements of the cyclotron mass), and using a tight-binding model, we extract the value of the gap as a function of the electronic density. We show that the gap can be changed from zero to midinfrared energies by using fields of less, approximately < 1 V/nm, below the electric breakdown of SiO2. The opening of a gap is clearly seen in the quantum Hall regime.
1,557 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that ABO fails in graphene, a zero-bandgap semiconductor that becomes a metal if the Fermi energy is tuned applying a gate voltage, Vg, which induces a stiffening of the Raman G peak that cannot be described within ABO.
Abstract: The adiabatic Born-Oppenheimer approximation (ABO) has been the standard ansatz to describe the interaction between electrons and nuclei since the early days of quantum mechanics. ABO assumes that the lighter electrons adjust adiabatically to the motion of the heavier nuclei, remaining at any time in their instantaneous ground state. ABO is well justified when the energy gap between ground and excited electronic states is larger than the energy scale of the nuclear motion. In metals, the gap is zero and phenomena beyond ABO (such as phonon-mediated superconductivity or phonon-induced renormalization of the electronic properties) occur. The use of ABO to describe lattice motion in metals is, therefore, questionable. In spite of this, ABO has proved effective for the accurate determination of chemical reactions, molecular dynamics and phonon frequencies in a wide range of metallic systems. Here, we show that ABO fails in graphene. Graphene, recently discovered in the free state, is a zero-bandgap semiconductor that becomes a metal if the Fermi energy is tuned applying a gate voltage, Vg. This induces a stiffening of the Raman G peak that cannot be described within ABO.
1,276 citations
TL;DR: In this article, strong variations in the Raman spectra for different single-layer graphene samples obtained by micromechanical cleavage were reported, revealing the presence of excess charges even in the absence of intentional doping.
Abstract: We report strong variations in the Raman spectra for different single-layer graphene samples obtained by micromechanical cleavage. This reveals the presence of excess charges, even in the absence of intentional doping. Doping concentrations up to ∼1013cm−2 are estimated from the G peak shift and width and the variation of both position and relative intensity of the second order 2D peak. Asymmetric G peaks indicate charge inhomogeneity on a scale of less than 1μm.
855 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, strong variations in the Raman spectra for different single-layer graphene samples obtained by micromechanical cleavage are reported, revealing the presence of excess charges, even in the absence of intentional doping.
Abstract: We report strong variations in the Raman spectra for different single-layer graphene samples obtained by micromechanical cleavage, which reveals the presence of excess charges, even in the absence of intentional doping. Doping concentrations up to ~10^13 cm-2 are estimated from the G peak shift and width, and the variation of both position and relative intensity of the second order 2D peak. Asymmetric G peaks indicate charge inhomogeneity on the scale of less than 1 micron.
783 citations
TL;DR: Rayleigh imaging is a general, simple, and quick tool to identify graphene layers, which is readily combined with Raman scattering, that provides structural identification.
Abstract: We investigate graphene and graphene layers on different substrates by monochromatic and white-light confocal Rayleigh scattering microscopy. The image contrast depends sensitively on the dielectric properties of the sample as well as the substrate geometry and can be described quantitatively using the complex refractive index of bulk graphite. For a few layers (<6), the monochromatic contrast increases linearly with thickness. The data can be adequately understood by considering the samples behaving as a superposition of single sheets that act as independent two-dimensional electron gases. Thus, Rayleigh imaging is a general, simple, and quick tool to identify graphene layers, which is readily combined with Raman scattering, that provides structural identification.
651 citations
TL;DR: Graphene is the first example of truly two-dimensional crystals as mentioned in this paper, and it is a gapless semiconductor with unique electronic properties resulting from the fact that charge carriers in graphene demonstrate charge-conjugation symmetry between electrons and holes and possess an internal degree of freedom similar to "chirality" for ultrarelativistic elementary particles.
564 citations
TL;DR: Research now shows that interaction with silicon carbide substrate leads to the opening of a semiconductor gap in epitaxial graphene, an important first step towards bandgap engineering in this two-dimensional crystal, and its incorporation in electronic devices.
Abstract: Research now shows that interaction with silicon carbide substrate leads to the opening of a semiconductor gap in epitaxial graphene. This is an important first step towards bandgap engineering in this two-dimensional crystal, and its incorporation in electronic devices.
TL;DR: Graphene is the first example of truly two-dimensional crystals - it's just one layer of carbon atoms as mentioned in this paper and it turns out that graphene is a gapless semiconductor with unique electronic properties resulting from the fact that charge carriers in graphene obey linear dispersion relation.
Abstract: Graphene is the first example of truly two-dimensional crystals - it's just one layer of carbon atoms. It turns out that graphene is a gapless semiconductor with unique electronic properties resulting from the fact that charge carriers in graphene obey linear dispersion relation, thus mimicking massless relativistic particles. This results in the observation of a number of very peculiar electronic properties - from an anomalous quantum Hall effect to the absence of localization. It also provides a bridge between condensed matter physics and quantum electrodynamics and opens new perspectives for carbon-based electronics. (c) 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
TL;DR: In this paper, cyclotron resonance in monolayer graphene is detected using the photoconductive response of the sample for several different Landau level occupancies, leading to a difference in the electron and hole velocities of 5% by energies of 125 meV away from the Dirac point.
Abstract: We report studies of cyclotron resonance in monolayer graphene. Cyclotron resonance is detected using the photoconductive response of the sample for several different Landau level occupancies. The experiments measure an electron velocity at the K- (Dirac) point of $c_{K}^{*}$ = 1.093 x 10$^{6}$ ms$^{-1}$ and in addition detect a significant asymmetry between the electron and hole bands, leading to a difference in the electron and hole velocities of 5% by energies of 125 meV away from the Dirac point.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Graphene is an exceptionally low-noise material electronically, which makes it a promising candidate not only for chemical detectors but also for other applications where local probes sensitive to external charge, magnetic field or mechanical strain are required.
Abstract: The ultimate aim of any detection method is to achieve such a level of sensitivity that individual quanta of a measured entity can be resolved. In the case of chemical sensors, the quantum is one atom or molecule. Such resolution has so far been beyond the reach of any detection technique, including solid-state gas sensors hailed for their exceptional sensitivity. The fundamental reason limiting the resolution of such sensors is fluctuations due to thermal motion of charges and defects, which lead to intrinsic noise exceeding the sought-after signal from individual molecules, usually by many orders of magnitude. Here, we show that micrometre-size sensors made from graphene are capable of detecting individual events when a gas molecule attaches to or detaches from graphene's surface. The adsorbed molecules change the local carrier concentration in graphene one by one electron, which leads to step-like changes in resistance. The achieved sensitivity is due to the fact that graphene is an exceptionally low-noise material electronically, which makes it a promising candidate not only for chemical detectors but also for other applications where local probes sensitive to external charge, magnetic field or mechanical strain are required.
TL;DR: It is shown that electron transport in the integer quantum Hall effect (QHE) in graphene is dominated by counterpropagating edge states and the existence of gapless edge states puts stringent constraints on possible theoretical models of the nu=0 state.
Abstract: We report on the unusual nature of the nu=0 state in the integer quantum Hall effect (QHE) in graphene and show that electron transport in this regime is dominated by counterpropagating edge states. Such states, intrinsic to massless Dirac quasiparticles, manifest themselves in a large longitudinal resistivity rho(xx) > or approximately h/e(2), in striking contrast to rho(xx) behavior in the standard QHE. The nu=0 state in graphene is also predicted to exhibit pronounced fluctuations in rho(xy) and rho(xx) and a smeared zero Hall plateau in sigma(xy), in agreement with experiment. The existence of gapless edge states puts stringent constraints on possible theoretical models of the nu=0 state.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Meyer et al. as discussed by the authors described individual graphene sheets freely suspended on a microfabricated scaffold and revealed that suspended graphene sheets exhibit intrinsic microscopic roughening such that the surface normal varies by several degrees and out-of-plane deformations reach 1 nm.
Abstract: Submitted for the MAR07 Meeting of The American Physical Society The Structure of Suspended Graphene JANNIK MEYER, ANDRE GEIM, MIKHAIL KATSNELSON, KOSTYA NOVOSELOV, TIM BOOTH, SIEGMAR ROTH, University of Manchester — The recent discovery of graphene has sparked significant interest, which has so far been focused on the peculiar electronic structure of this material, in which charge carriers mimic massless relativistic particles. However, the structure of graphene is also puzzling. On one hand, graphene appears to be a strictly 2D material and exhibits such a high crystal quality that electrons can travel submicron distances without scattering. On the other hand, perfect 2D crystals cannot exist in the free state, according to both theory and experiment. This is often reconciled by the fact that all graphene structures studied so far were an integral part of larger 3D structures, either supported by a bulk substrate or embedded in a 3D matrix. We describe individual graphene sheets freely suspended on a microfabricated scaffold. These membranes are only one atom thick and still display a long-range crystalline order. However, our studies by transmission electron microscopy have revealed that suspended graphene sheets are not perfectly flat but exhibit intrinsic microscopic roughening such that the surface normal varies by several degrees and out-of-plane deformations reach 1 nm. The atomically-thin single-crystal membranes offer an ample scope for fundamental research and new technologies whereas the observed corrugations in the third dimension may shed light on subtle reasons behind the stability of 2D crystals. Andre Geim University of Manchester Date submitted: 01 Dec 2006 Electronic form version 1.4
TL;DR: In this paper, soft magnetic NiFe electrodes have been used to inject polarized spins into graphene and a 10% change in resistance has been observed as the electrodes switch from the parallel to the antiparallel state.
Abstract: Graphene - a single atomic layer of graphite - is a recently-found two-dimensional form of carbon, which exhibits high crystal quality and ballistic electron transport at room temperature. Soft magnetic NiFe electrodes have been used to inject polarized spins into graphene and a 10% change in resistance has been observed as the electrodes switch from the parallel to the antiparallel state. This coupled with the fact that a field effect electrode can modulate the conductivity of these graphene films makes them exciting potential candidates for spin electronic devices.
TL;DR: In this paper, a general relation between the doping strength and whether or not adsorbates have a magnetic moment was elucidated, and it was shown that the paramagnetic single NO2 molecule is a strong acceptor, whereas its diamagnetic dimer N2O4 causes only weak doping.
Abstract: Graphene, a one-atom thick zero gap semiconductor [1, 2], has been attracting an increasing interest due to its remarkable physical properties ranging from an electron spectrum resembling relativistic dynamics [3-12] to ballistic transport under ambient conditions [1-4]. The latter makes graphene a promising material for future electronics and the recently demonstrated possibility of chemical doping without significant change in mobility has improved graphene's prospects further [13]. However, to find optimal dopants and, more generally, to progress towards graphene-based electronics requires understanding the physical mechanism behind the chemical doping, which has been lacking so far. Here, we present the first joint experimental and theoretical investigation of adsorbates on graphene. We elucidate a general relation between the doping strength and whether or not adsorbates have a magnetic moment: The paramagnetic single NO2 molecule is found to be a strong acceptor, whereas its diamagnetic dimer N2O4 causes only weak doping. This effect is related to the peculiar density of states of graphene, which provides an ideal situation for model studies of doping effects in semiconductors. Furthermore, we explain recent results on its "chemical sensor" properties, in particular, the possibility to detect a single NO2 molecule [13].