TROY, N.Y., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've found a way to control the conductive nature of graphene, possibly leading to mass production of graphene-based nanoelectronics.
Researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute say they have, for the first time, demonstrated the ability to control the conductivity of graphene -- a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon that is a potential heir to copper and silicon in nanoelectronics.
Associate Professor Saroj Nayak and postdoctoral researcher Philip Shemella said they determined the chemistry of the surface on which graphene is deposited plays a key role in shaping the material's conductive properties.
The results, based on large-scale quantum mechanical simulations, show that when deposited on a surface treated with oxygen, graphene exhibits semiconductor properties, the scientists said. When deposited on a material treated with hydrogen, however, graphene exhibits metallic properties.
"Depending on the chemistry of the surface, we can control the nature of the graphene to be metallic or semiconductor," Nayak said. "Essentially, we are 'tuning' the electrical properties of material to suit our needs."
The findings are detailed in the journal Applied Physics Letters.
