Functionalization of graphane with alkali and alkaline-earth metals: An insulator-to-metallic transition

Abstract

In view of interest in functionalized carbon nanostructures due to their potential applications in nanotechnology and nanoelectronics, we have performed a systematic and thorough density functional theory (DFT) study on the interaction of the elements in the first two groups of the periodic table with graphane (hydrogenated graphene) sheet. GGA approximation as employed in DFT has been used to study in detail the binding configuration, bond length, charge transfer and band gap of each of these adatoms doped graphane (CH) systems. To have a better understanding of the adatoms-CH interaction, different doping concentrations varying from 3.125% to 50% have been considered. A certain trend in binding strength, bond length and charge transfer has been found in the case of both alkali metal and alkaline-earth metal adatoms. In the case of alkali-metal adatoms at the low doping concentration of 3.125%, semiconductor behavior was found, whereas at doping higher than this the compound showed metallic behavior. In contrast, alkaline-earth metal-doped CH exhibited metallic behavior at all the doping concentrations.