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Journal ArticleDOI

The electronic properties of graphene

TL;DR: In this paper, the basic theoretical aspects of graphene, a one-atom-thick allotrope of carbon, with unusual two-dimensional Dirac-like electronic excitations, are discussed.
Abstract: This article reviews the basic theoretical aspects of graphene, a one-atom-thick allotrope of carbon, with unusual two-dimensional Dirac-like electronic excitations. The Dirac electrons can be controlled by application of external electric and magnetic fields, or by altering sample geometry and/or topology. The Dirac electrons behave in unusual ways in tunneling, confinement, and the integer quantum Hall effect. The electronic properties of graphene stacks are discussed and vary with stacking order and number of layers. Edge (surface) states in graphene depend on the edge termination (zigzag or armchair) and affect the physical properties of nanoribbons. Different types of disorder modify the Dirac equation leading to unusual spectroscopic and transport properties. The effects of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions in single layer and multilayer graphene are also presented.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The realization of a one-dimensional topological defect in graphene, containing octagonal and pentagonal sp(2)-hybridized carbon rings embedded in a perfect graphene sheet is reported, which acts as a quasi-one-dimensional metallic wire.
Abstract: Many proposed applications of graphene require the ability to tune its electronic structure at the nanoscale1,2. Although charge transfer3 and field-effect doping4 can be applied to manipulate charge carrier concentrations, using them to achieve nanoscale control remains a challenge. An alternative approach is ‘self-doping’5, in which extended defects are introduced into the graphene lattice. The controlled engineering of these defects represents a viable approach to creation and nanoscale control of one-dimensional charge distributions with widths of several atoms6. However, the only experimentally realized extended defects so far have been the edges of graphene nanoribbons7,8,9,10, which show dangling bonds that make them chemically unstable11,12,13. Here, we report the realization of a one-dimensional topological defect in graphene, containing octagonal and pentagonal sp2-hybridized carbon rings embedded in a perfect graphene sheet. By doping the surrounding graphene lattice, the defect acts as a quasi-one-dimensional metallic wire. Such wires may form building blocks for atomic-scale, all-carbon electronics. A stable extended defect in graphene consisting of octagonal and pentagonal rings produces one-dimensional charge localization, allowing it to act as a metallic wire embedded in an otherwise perfect graphene sheet.

916 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Graphene materials have been widely explored for the fabrication of gas sensors because of their atom-thick two-dimensional conjugated structures, high conductivity and large specific surface areas.
Abstract: Graphene materials have been widely explored for the fabrication of gas sensors because of their atom-thick two-dimensional conjugated structures, high conductivity and large specific surface areas. This feature article summarizes the recent advancements on the synthesis of graphene materials for this purpose and the techniques applied for fabricating gas sensors. The effects of the compositions, structural defects and morphologies of graphene-based sensing layers and the configurations of sensing devices on the performances of gas sensors will also be discussed.

912 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review recent progress in the understanding of effects of irradiation on various zero-dimensional and one-dimensional nanoscale systems, such as semiconductor and metal nanoclusters and nanowires, nanotubes, and fullerenes.
Abstract: A common misconception is that the irradiation of solids with energetic electrons and ions has exclusively detrimental effects on the properties of target materials. In addition to the well-known cases of doping of bulk semiconductors and ion beam nitriding of steels, recent experiments show that irradiation can also have beneficial effects on nanostructured systems. Electron or ion beams may serve as tools to synthesize nanoclusters and nanowires, change their morphology in a controllable manner, and tailor their mechanical, electronic, and even magnetic properties. Harnessing irradiation as a tool for modifying material properties at the nanoscale requires having the full microscopic picture of defect production and annealing in nanotargets. In this article, we review recent progress in the understanding of effects of irradiation on various zero-dimensional and one-dimensional nanoscale systems, such as semiconductor and metal nanoclusters and nanowires, nanotubes, and fullerenes. We also consider the t...

905 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The status of efforts to achieve long spin-relaxation times in graphene with its weak spin- orbit coupling, and to achieve large current-induced spin polarizations in topological-insulator surface states that have strong spin-orbit coupling are reviewed.
Abstract: Graphene and topological insulator two-dimensional electron systems are described by massless Dirac equations. Although the two systems have similar Hamiltonians, they are polar opposites in terms of spin–orbit coupling strength. The status of efforts to achieve long spin-relaxation times in weakly spin–orbit-coupled graphene, and large current-induced spin-polarizations in strongly spin–orbit-coupled topological insulator surface states are reviewed in this Progress Article.

904 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Graphene plasmons are rapidly emerging as a viable tool for fast electrical manipulation of light as mentioned in this paper, and the prospects for applications to electro-optical modulation, optical sensing, quantum plasmonics, light harvesting, spectral photometry, and tunable lighting at the nanoscale are further stimulated by the relatively low level of losses and high degree of spatial confinement that characterize these excitations compared with conventional plasmic materials.
Abstract: Graphene plasmons are rapidly emerging as a viable tool for fast electrical manipulation of light. The prospects for applications to electro-optical modulation, optical sensing, quantum plasmonics, light harvesting, spectral photometry, and tunable lighting at the nanoscale are further stimulated by the relatively low level of losses and high degree of spatial confinement that characterize these excitations compared with conventional plasmonic materials. We start with a general description of the plasmons in extended graphene, followed by analytical methods that lead to reasonably accurate estimates of both the plasmon energies and the strengths of coupling to external light in graphene nanostructures, including graphene ribbons. We discuss several possible strategies to extend these plasmons towards the visible and near infrared, including a reduction in the size of the graphene structures and an increase in the level of doping. Specifically, we discuss plasmons in narrow ribbons and molecular-size graphene structures. We further formulate prescriptions based on geometry to increase the level of electrostatic doping without causing electrical breakdown. Results are also presented for plasmons in highly-doped single-wall carbon nanotubes, which exhibit similar characteristics as narrow ribbons and show a relatively small dependence on the chirality of the tubes. We further discuss perfect light absorption by a single-atom carbon layer, which we illustrate by investigating arrays of ribbons using fully analytical expressions. Finally, we explore the possibility of exploiting optically pumped transient plasmons in graphene, whereby the optically heated graphene valence band can sustain collective plasmon oscillations similar to those of highly doped graphene, and well-defined during the picosecond time window over which the electron is at an elevated temperature.

900 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
22 Oct 2004-Science
TL;DR: Monocrystalline graphitic films are found to be a two-dimensional semimetal with a tiny overlap between valence and conductance bands and they exhibit a strong ambipolar electric field effect.
Abstract: We describe monocrystalline graphitic films, which are a few atoms thick but are nonetheless stable under ambient conditions, metallic, and of remarkably high quality. The films are found to be a two-dimensional semimetal with a tiny overlap between valence and conductance bands, and they exhibit a strong ambipolar electric field effect such that electrons and holes in concentrations up to 10 13 per square centimeter and with room-temperature mobilities of ∼10,000 square centimeters per volt-second can be induced by applying gate voltage.

55,532 citations


"The electronic properties of graphe..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Be ause the DC magnetotransport properties ofgraphene are normally measured with the possibilityof tuning its ele troni density by a gate potential(Novoselov et al., 2004), it is important to ompute the ondu tivity kernel, sin e this has dire t experimentalrelevan e....

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  • ...The same polarizability describes the screening of an external field perpendicular to the layers, like the one induced by a gate in electrically doped systems (Novoselov et al., 2004)....

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  • ...Because the DC magnetotransport properties of graphene are normally measured with the possibility of tuning its electronic density by a gate potential (Novoselov et al., 2004), it is important to compute the conductivity kernel, since this has direct experimental relevance....

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  • ...…studies of graphene sta ks have showed that, within reasing number of layers, the system be omes in reas-ingly metalli ( on entration of harge arriers at zero en-ergy gradually in reases), and there appear several typesof ele tron-and-hole-like arries (Morozov et al., 2005;Novoselov et al., 2004)....

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  • ...The same polarizabilitydes ribes the s reening of an external eld perpendi ularto the layers, like the one indu ed by a gate in ele tri- ally doped systems (Novoselov et al., 2004)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
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


"The electronic properties of graphe..." refers background in this paper

  • ...As the current status of the experiment and potential applications have recently been reviewed (Geim and Novoselov, 2007), in this article we mostly concentrate on the theory and more technical aspects of electronic properties of this exciting new material....

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  • ...As the urrent status of the experimentand potential appli ations have re ently been reviewed(Geim and Novoselov, 2007), in this arti le we mostly on entrate on the theory and more te hni al aspe ts ofele troni properties of this ex iting new material....

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  • ...It has also been suggested that Coulomb intera tionsare onsiderably enhan ed in smaller geometries, su has graphene quantum dots (Milton Pereira Junior et al.,2007), leading to unusual Coulomb blo kade e e ts 4(Geim and Novoselov, 2007) and perhaps to magneti phenomena su h as the Kondo e e t....

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  • ...…most versatile systems in ondensedmatter resear h.Besides the unusual basi properties, graphene hasthe potential for a large number of appli ations(Geim and Novoselov, 2007), from hemi al sensors(Chen et al., 2007 ; S hedin et al., 2007) to transistors(Nilsson et al., 2007b; Oostinga et al.,…...

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  • ...Besides the unusual basic properties, graphene has the potential for a large number of applications (Geim and Novoselov, 2007), from chemical sensors (Chen et al....

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Book
01 Jan 1934
TL;DR: The theory of the slipline field is used in this article to solve the problem of stable and non-stressed problems in plane strains in a plane-strain scenario.
Abstract: Chapter 1: Stresses and Strains Chapter 2: Foundations of Plasticity Chapter 3: Elasto-Plastic Bending and Torsion Chapter 4: Plastic Analysis of Beams and Frames Chapter 5: Further Solutions of Elasto-Plastic Problems Chapter 6: Theory of the Slipline Field Chapter 7: Steady Problems in Plane Strain Chapter 8: Non-Steady Problems in Plane Strain

20,724 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
10 Nov 2005-Nature
TL;DR: This study reports an experimental study of a condensed-matter system (graphene, a single atomic layer of carbon) in which electron transport is essentially governed by Dirac's (relativistic) equation and reveals a variety of unusual phenomena that are characteristic of two-dimensional Dirac fermions.
Abstract: Quantum electrodynamics (resulting from the merger of quantum mechanics and relativity theory) has provided a clear understanding of phenomena ranging from particle physics to cosmology and from astrophysics to quantum chemistry. The ideas underlying quantum electrodynamics also influence the theory of condensed matter, but quantum relativistic effects are usually minute in the known experimental systems that can be described accurately by the non-relativistic Schrodinger equation. Here we report an experimental study of a condensed-matter system (graphene, a single atomic layer of carbon) in which electron transport is essentially governed by Dirac's (relativistic) equation. The charge carriers in graphene mimic relativistic particles with zero rest mass and have an effective 'speed of light' c* approximately 10(6) m s(-1). Our study reveals a variety of unusual phenomena that are characteristic of two-dimensional Dirac fermions. In particular we have observed the following: first, graphene's conductivity never falls below a minimum value corresponding to the quantum unit of conductance, even when concentrations of charge carriers tend to zero; second, the integer quantum Hall effect in graphene is anomalous in that it occurs at half-integer filling factors; and third, the cyclotron mass m(c) of massless carriers in graphene is described by E = m(c)c*2. This two-dimensional system is not only interesting in itself but also allows access to the subtle and rich physics of quantum electrodynamics in a bench-top experiment.

18,958 citations


"The electronic properties of graphe..." refers background or methods in this paper

  • ...This amazing re-sult has been observed experimentally (Novoselov et al.,2005a; Zhang et al., 2005) as shown in Fig.20....

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  • ...Adapted from(Novoselov et al., 2005a)....

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  • ...Adapted from (Novoselov et al.,2005a).and hen e σxy,inc. = I/VH = ±4Ne2/h, whi h is thenaive expe tation....

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  • ...The period of os illations ∆n = 4B/Φ0,where B is the applied eld and Φ0 is the ux quantum(Novoselov et al., 2005a).or equivalently: (Oσ+ + O†σ−)φ = (2E/ωc)φ , (100)where σ± = σx ± iσy, and we have de ned the dimen-sionless length s ale: ξ = y ℓB − ℓBk , (101)and 1D harmoni os illator operators: O =…...

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  • ...…invery unusual ways when ompared to ordinary ele tronsif subje ted to magneti elds, leading to new physi alphenomena (Gusynin and Sharapov, 2005; Peres et al.,2006 ) su h as the anomalous integer quantum Hall ef-fe t (IQHE) measured experimentally (Novoselov et al.,2005a; Zhang et al., 2005)....

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Book
01 Jan 1939

14,299 citations