Configurable laterally stacked 2D layered fullerene C60-graphene system with precise spatialization

Abstract

All-carbon laterally stacked 2D fullerene C60-graphene hybrid (LFG) systems with strong interfacial coupling at the specified region and configuration are in great demand for micro/nanoelectronics due to their distinct hybridized optoelectronic properties. Such a system with patternable and tunable features at the sub-micron scale is exceptionally challenging to synthesis. Herein, based on the photoactivity of the molecule containing stable 5 and 6 bicyclic carbon rings and the power profile of a Gaussian beam, a unique hybrid system consisting of 2D layered fullerene C60-graphene nanostructure is developed with high spatialization. The formation of C60 clusters and their subsequent linkage, coupled with graphene have emerged in the polymer composite at the defined region as a result of laser-induced photochemical evolution/coupling and photolysis processes. This hybrid system can be freely micropatterned to various intricate designs with a tunable bandgap in the range of 1.85–0.86 eV by simply modulating the irradiation power. Further, the newly designed LFG microarray pattern device offers significant photoresponsivity as high as 1.51 x104 A/W at a very low power of light in a wide spectrum (405–1550 nm). The unique hybrid 2D C60-graphene-2D C60 lateral heterostructure with large interfacial coupling and depletion domain offers optimal photocarrier generation/separation, remarkably enhancing the device's performance. Concerning the benefits of this study, featuring a user-friendly patterning technique, cost-effective instrument, alterable material proportion and high spatialization/interface coupling, allow for the feasible deployment of newly customised functional materials and devices.