High mobility dry-transferred CVD bilayer graphene

We report on the fabrication and characterization of high-quality chemical vapor-deposited (CVD) bilayer graphene (BLG). In particular, we demonstrate that CVD-grown BLG can mechanically be detached from the copper foil by an hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) crystal after oxidation of the copper-to-BLG interface. Confocal Raman spectroscopy reveals an AB-stacking order of the BLG crystals and a high structural quality. From transport measurements on fully encapsulated hBN/BLG/hBN Hall bar devices we extract charge carrier mobilities up to 180,000 cm$^2$/(Vs) at 2 K and up to 40,000 cm$^2$/(Vs) at 300 K, outperforming state-of-the-art CVD bilayer graphene devices. Moreover, we show an on-off ration of more than 10,000 and a band gap opening with values of up to 15 meV for a displacement field of 0.2 V/nm in such CVD grown BLG.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Tunable capacitive inter-dot coupling in a bilayer graphene double quantum dot

We report on a double quantum dot which is formed in a width-modulated etched bilayer graphene nanoribbon. A number of lateral graphene gates enable us to tune the quantum dot energy levels and the tunneling barriers of the device over a wide energy range. Charge stability diagrams and in particular individual triple point pairs allow to study the tunable capacitive inter-dot coupling energy as well as the spectrum of the electronic excited states on a number of individual triple points. We extract a mutual capacitive inter-dot coupling in the range of 2 - 6 meV and an inter-dot tunnel coupling on the order of 1.5 {\mu}eV.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Probing relaxation times in graphene quantum dots

Graphene quantum dots are attractive candidates for solid-state quantum bits. In fact, the predicted weak spin-orbit and hyperfine interaction promise spin qubits with long coherence times. Graphene quantum dot devices have been extensively investigated with respect to their excitation spectrum, spin-filling sequence, and electron-hole crossover. However their relaxation dynamics remain largely unexplored. This is mainly due to challenges in device fabrication, in particular regarding the control of carrier confinement and the tunability of the tunnelling barriers, both crucial to experimentally investigate decoherence times. Here, we report on pulsed-gate transient spectroscopy and relaxation time measurements of excited states in graphene quantum dots. This is achieved by an advanced device design, allowing to tune the tunnelling barriers individually down to the low MHz regime and to monitor their asymmetry with integrated charge sensors. Measuring the transient currents through electronic excited states, we estimate lower limit of charge relaxation times on the order of 60-100 ns.Comment: To be published in Nature Communications. The first two authors contributed equally to this work. Main article: 10 pages, 4 figures. Supplementary information: 4 pages, 4 figure

Random strain fluctuations as dominant disorder source for high-quality on-substrate graphene devices

We have performed systematic investigations of transport through graphene on hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) substrates, together with confocal Raman measurements and a targeted theoretical analysis, to identify the dominant source of disorder in this system. Low-temperature transport measurements on many devices reveal a clear correlation between the carrier mobility $\mu$ and the width $n^*$ of the resistance peak around charge neutrality, demonstrating that charge scattering and density inhomogeneities originate from the same microscopic mechanism. The study of weak-localization unambiguously shows that this mechanism is associated to a long-ranged disorder potential, and provides clear indications that random pseudo-magnetic fields due to strain are the dominant scattering source. Spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy measurements confirm the role of local strain fluctuations, since the line-width of the Raman 2D-peak --containing information of local strain fluctuations present in graphene-- correlates with the value of maximum observed mobility. The importance of strain is corroborated by a theoretical analysis of the relation between $\mu$ and $n^*$ that shows how local strain fluctuations reproduce the experimental data at a quantitative level, with $n^*$ being determined by the scalar deformation potential and $\mu$ by the random pseudo-magnetic field (consistently with the conclusion drawn from the analysis of weak-localization). Throughout our study, we compare the behavior of devices on hBN substrates to that of devices on SiO$_2$ and SrTiO$_3$, and find that all conclusions drawn for the case of hBN are compatible with the observations made on these other materials. These observations suggest that random strain fluctuations are the dominant source of disorder for high-quality graphene on many different substrates, and not only on hexagonal boron nitride.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, To appear in Physical Review

Modulation of the Naked-Eye and Fluorescence Color of a Protonated Boron-Doped Thiazolothiazole by Anion-Dependent Hydrogen Bonding

The reaction of a cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene (CAAC)-stabilized thiazaborolo[5,4-d]thiazaborole (TzbTzb) with strong Brønsted acids, such as HCl, HOTf (Tf=O2SCF3) and [H(OEt2)2][BArF4] (ArF=3,5-(CF3)2C6H3), results in the protonation of both TzbTzb nitrogen atoms. In each case X-ray crystallographic data show coordination of the counteranions (Cl−, OTf−, BArF4−) or solvent molecules (OEt2) to the doubly protonated fused heterocycle via hydrogen-bonding interactions, the strength of which strongly influences the 1H NMR shift of the NH protons, enabling tuning of both the visible (yellow to red) and fluorescence (green to red) colors of these salts. DFT calculations reveal that the hydrogen bonding of the counteranion or solvent to the protonated nitrogen centers affects the intramolecular TzbTzb-to-CAAC charge transfer character involved in the S0→S1 transition, ultimately enabling fine-tuning of their absorption and emission spectral features

Search for eta-mesic 4He in the dd->3He n pi0 and dd->3He p pi- reactions with the WASA-at-COSY facility

The search for 4He-eta bound states was performed with the WASA-at-COSY facility via the measurement of the excitation function for the dd->3He n pi0 and dd->3He p pi- processes. The beam momentum was varied continuously between 2.127 GeV/c and 2.422 GeV/c, corresponding to the excess energy for the dd->4He eta reaction ranging from Q=-70 MeV to Q=30 MeV. The luminosity was determined based on the dd->3He n reaction and quasi-free proton-proton scattering via dd->pp n_spectator n_spectator reactions. The excitation functions determined independently for the measured reactions do not reveal a structure which could be interpreted as a narrow mesic nucleus. Therefore, the upper limits of the total cross sections for the bound state production and decay in dd->(4He-eta)_bound->3He n pi0 and dd->(4He-eta)_bound->3He p pi- processes were determined taking into account the isospin relation between both the channels considered. The results of the analysis depend on the assumptions of the N* momentum distribution in the anticipated mesic-4He. Assuming as in the previous works, that this is identical with the distribution of nucleons bound with 20 MeV in 4He, we determined that (for the mesic bound state width in the range from 5 MeV to 50 MeV) the upper limits at 90% confidence level are about 3 nb and about 6 nb for npi0 and ppi- channels, respectively. However, based on the recent theoretical findings of the N*(1535) momentum distribution in the N*-3He nucleus bound by 3.6 MeV, we find that the WASA-at-COSY detector acceptance decreases and hence the corresponding upper limits are 5 nb and 10 nb for npi0 and ppi- channels respectively.Comment: This article will be submitted to JHE

Targeting the TCA cycle can ameliorate widespread axonal energy deficiency in neuroinflammatory lesions

Inflammation in the central nervous system can impair the function of neuronal mitochondria and contributes to axon degeneration in the common neuroinflammatory disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we combine cell-type-specific mitochondrial proteomics with in vivo biosensor imaging to dissect how inflammation alters the molecular composition and functional capacity of neuronal mitochondria. We show that neuroinflammatory lesions in the mouse spinal cord cause widespread and persisting axonal ATP deficiency, which precedes mitochondrial oxidation and calcium overload. This axonal energy deficiency is associated with impaired electron transport chain function, but also an upstream imbalance of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes, with several, including key rate-limiting, enzymes being depleted in neuronal mitochondria in experimental models and in MS lesions. Notably, viral overexpression of individual TCA enzymes can ameliorate the axonal energy deficits in neuroinflammatory lesions, suggesting that TCA cycle dysfunction in MS may be amendable to therapy

Targeting the TCA cycle can ameliorate widespread axonal energy deficiency in neuroinflammatory lesions

In this study, Tai et al. provide insights into the metabolic and bioenergetic responses in the axonal compartment in the context of multiple sclerosis. Moreover, they show how upregulating the tricarboxylic acid cycle confers protection against neuroinflammation-induced energy deprivation. Inflammation in the central nervous system can impair the function of neuronal mitochondria and contributes to axon degeneration in the common neuroinflammatory disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we combine cell-type-specific mitochondrial proteomics with in vivo biosensor imaging to dissect how inflammation alters the molecular composition and functional capacity of neuronal mitochondria. We show that neuroinflammatory lesions in the mouse spinal cord cause widespread and persisting axonal ATP deficiency, which precedes mitochondrial oxidation and calcium overload. This axonal energy deficiency is associated with impaired electron transport chain function, but also an upstream imbalance of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes, with several, including key rate-limiting, enzymes being depleted in neuronal mitochondria in experimental models and in MS lesions. Notably, viral overexpression of individual TCA enzymes can ameliorate the axonal energy deficits in neuroinflammatory lesions, suggesting that TCA cycle dysfunction in MS may be amendable to therapy

Charge Symmetry Breaking in dd->4He{\pi}0 with WASA-at-COSY

Charge symmetry breaking (CSB) observables are a suitable experimental tool to examine effects induced by quark masses on the nuclear level. Previous high precision data from TRIUMF and IUCF are currently used to develop a consistent description of CSB within the framework of chiral perturbation theory. In this work the experimental studies on the reaction dd->4He{\pi}0 have been extended towards higher excess energies in order to provide information on the contribution of p-waves in the final state. For this, an exclusive measurement has been carried out at a beam momentum of p=1.2 GeV/c using the WASA-at-COSY facility. The total cross section amounts to sigma(tot) = (118 +- 18(stat) +- 13(sys) +- 8(ext)) pb and first data on the differential cross section are consistent with s-wave pion production.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure