Multi-state and non-volatile control of graphene conductivity with surface electric fields

Planar electrodes patterned on a ferroelectric substrate are shown to provide lateral control of the conductive state of a two-terminal graphene stripe. A multi-level and on-demand memory control of the graphene resistance state is demonstrated under low sub-coercive electric fields, with a susceptibility exceeding by more than two orders of magnitude those reported in a vertical gating geometry. Our example of reversible and low-power lateral control over 11 memory states in the graphene conductivity illustrates the possibility of multimemory and multifunctional applications, as top and bottom inputs remain accessible. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC