Defects and impurities in graphene-like materials

Graphene-like materials could be used in the fabrication of electronic and optoelectronic devices, gas sensors, biosensors, and batteries for energy storage. Since it is almost impossible to work with defect-free or impurity-free materials, it is essential to understand how defects and impurities alter the electronic and vibrational properties of these systems. Technologically speaking it is more important to distinguish between different types of defects (impurities) and determine if their presence is desirable or not. This review discusses these issues and provides an updated overview of the current characterization tools able to identify and detect defects in different forms of graphene.United States. Office of Naval Research. Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (ONR-MURI-N00014-09-1-1063

Unraveling the interlayer-related phonon self-energy renormalization in bilayer graphene

In this letter, we present a step towards understanding the bilayer graphene (2LG) interlayer (IL)-related phonon combination modes and overtones as well as their phonon self-energy renormalizations by using both gate-modulated and laser-energy dependent inelastic scattering spectroscopy. We show that although the IL interactions are weak, their respective phonon renormalization response is significant. Particularly special, the IL interactions are mediated by Van der Waals forces and are fundamental for understanding low-energy phenomena such as transport and infrared optics. Our approach opens up a new route to understanding fundamental properties of IL interactions which can be extended to any graphene-like material, such as MoS2, WSe2, oxides and hydroxides. Furthermore, we report a previously elusive crossing between IL-related phonon combination modes in 2LG, which might have important technological applications.United States. Office of Naval Research (ONR-MURI-N00014-09-1-1063)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil)Japan. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (grant No.20241023)Japan. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (grant No.23710118

Mass-related inversion symmetry breaking and phonon self-energy renormalization in isotopically labeled AB-stacked bilayer graphene

A mass-related symmetry breaking in isotopically labeled bilayer graphene (2LG) was investigated during in-situ electrochemical charging of AB stacked (AB-2LG) and turbostratic (t-2LG) layers. The overlap of the two approaches, isotopic labeling and electronic doping, is powerful tool and allows to tailor, independently and distinctly, the thermal-related and transport-related phenomena in materials, since one can impose different symmetries for electrons and phonons in these systems. Variations in the system's phonon self-energy renormalizations due to the charge distribution and doping changes could be analyzed separately for each individual layer. Symmetry arguments together with first-order Raman spectra show that the single layer graphene (1LG), which is directly contacted to the electrode, has a higher concentration of charge carriers than the second graphene layer, which is not contacted by the electrode. These different charge distributions are reflected and demonstrated by different phonon self-energy renormalizations of the G modes for AB-2LG and for t-2LG.Czech Republic. Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (LH-13022)Czech Science Foundation (P208-12-1062)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NFS-DMR 10-04147

G′ band in double- and triple-walled carbon nanotubes: A Raman study

Double- and triple-walled carbon nanotubes are studied in detail by laser energy-dependent Raman spectroscopy in order to get a deeper understanding about the second-order G[superscript '] band Raman process, general nanotube properties, such as electronic and vibrational properties, and the growth method itself. In this work, the inner nanotubes from the double- and triple-walled carbon nanotubes are produced through the encapsulation of fullerene peapods with high-temperature thermal treatments. We find that the spectral features of the G[superscript '] band, such as the intensity, frequency, linewidth, and line shape are highly sensitive to the annealing temperature variations. We also discuss the triple-peak structure of the G[superscript '] band observed in an individual triple-walled carbon nanotube taken at several laser energies connecting its Raman spectra with that for the G[superscript '] band spectra obtained for bundled triple-walled carbon nanotubes.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1004147

Direct transfer of graphene onto flexible substrates

In this paper we explore the direct transfer via lamination of chemical vapor deposition graphene onto different flexible substrates. The transfer method investigated here is fast, simple, and does not require an intermediate transfer membrane, such as polymethylmethacrylate, which needs to be removed afterward. Various substrates of general interest in research and industry were studied in this work, including polytetrafluoroethylene filter membranes, PVC, cellulose nitrate/cellulose acetate filter membranes, polycarbonate, paraffin, polyethylene terephthalate, paper, and cloth. By comparing the properties of these substrates, two critical factors to ensure a successful transfer on bare substrates were identified: the substrate’s hydrophobicity and good contact between the substrate and graphene. For substrates that do not satisfy those requirements, polymethylmethacrylate can be used as a surface modifier or glue to ensure successful transfer. Our results can be applied to facilitate current processes and open up directions for applications of chemical vapor deposition graphene on flexible substrates. A broad range of applications can be envisioned, including fabrication of graphene devices for opto/organic electronics, graphene membranes for gas/liquid separation, and ubiquitous electronics with graphene.Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers CenterMIT Energy InitiativeUnited States. Office of Naval Research. Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (N00014-09-1-1063