A bilayer-graphene-flake-based terahertz switch

Abstract

In this work, we shall demonstrate theoretically that, for certain energy ranges, the electron‐transport properties of a bilayer‐graphene‐flake (BGF)‐based system may be strongly modified by small variations of the interlayer spacing. On the other hand, the interlayer spacing variation may be yielded by a vibrational mode in the terahertz region. Thus, a BGF‐based terahertz switch is proposed. Potential applications include terahertz pulse generators, digital electronics, and logic devices.

Tunneling conductance of telescopic contacts between graphene layers with and without dielectric spacer

“…Significant variations in the band gap of bilayer graphene nanoribbons upon atomic-scale in-plane relative displacement of their layers are found using density functional theory (DFT) calculations [11,12]. Quasi one-dimensional transport in systems consisting of two overlapping layers [13][14][15][16][17] or a layer with an adsorbed graphene flake [16,18,19], both with a central bilayer region, has been recently a subject of extensive research. The tunneling conductance of such systems based on nanoribbons is found to change by an order of magnitude upon atomic-scale in-plane relative displacement of the layers [13].…”