Monolayer Graphene Superlattices Research Articles

Correlation-induced valley topology in buckled graphene superlattices

Quasi-flat-bands emerging in buckled monolayer graphene superlattices have been recently shown to realize correlated states analogous to those observed in twisted graphene multilayers. Here, we demonstrate the emergence of valley topology driven by competing electronic correlations in buckled graphene superlattices. We show, both by means of atomistic models and a low-energy description, that the existence of long-range electronic correlations leads to a competition between antiferromagnetic and charge density wave instabilities, that can be controlled by means of screening engineering. Interestingly, we find that the emergent charge density wave has a topologically non-trivial electronic structure, leading to a coexistent quantum valley Hall insulating state. In a similar fashion, the antiferromagnetic phase realizes a spin-polarized quantum valley-Hall insulating state. Our results put forward buckled graphene superlattices as a new platform to realize interaction-induced topological matter.

Spin-dependent group delay time and Hartman effect in ferromagnetic bilayer graphene superlattice

We theoretically study the spin-dependent group delay time through ferromagnetic bilayer graphene superlattice in the absence and presence of the bandgap. It is found that the group delay time depends on the spin degree of freedom and exhibits an oscillatory behavior with respect to the Fermi energy and barrier width. Furthermore, in the absence of the bandgap, the superluminal or Hartman effect exists only for the normal angle of incidence. Moreover, when bandgap value is large enough [Formula: see text], the Hartman effect can be observed for all angles of incidence. These results are contrary to the observed behavior for monolayer graphene superlattice.

The bond charge current in the monolayer graphene superlattice with hopping beyond nearest neighbor

In this paper, we systematically investigate the transportation properties of the zigzag nano-ribbon graphene in a local potential barrier/well with electrons hopping between and beyond nearest neighbor. When the local potential is present, the conductance exhibits novel periodic oscillation plateaus around increasing quantized conductance. The oscillation plateau hops down with the quantized conductance until vanishes with increasing local potential barrier. Furthermore, when a small voltage is applied between the two terminals of the conductor, the local current presents periodic oscillation in the barrier region. In contrast, when a local potential well is applied, the conductance shows irregular oscillation, exhibiting incommensurate oscillations of local current inside and outside the well. Finally, similar phenomena persists when more local potentials are applied to the system. We expect our studies can facilitate the design of relevant electronic devices.

Shot noise in magnetic field modulated graphene superlattice

We investigate the shot noise properties in a monolayer graphene superlattice modulated by N parallel ferromagnets deposited on a dielectric layer. It is found that for the antiparallel magnetization configuration or when magnetic field is zero the new Dirac-like point appears in graphene superlattice. The transport is almost forbidden at this new Dirac-like point, and the Fano factor reaches its maximum value 1/3. In the parallel magnetization configuration as the number of magnetic barriers increases, the shot noise increases. In this case, the transmission can be blocked by the magnetic–electric barrier and the Fano factor approaches 1, which is dramatically distinguishable from that in antiparallel alignment. The results may be helpful to control the electron transport in graphene-based electronic devices.

Propiedades de transmisión de electrones de Dirac a través de superredes Cantor en grafeno

En este trabajo usamos el método de la matriz de transferencia para estudiar el tunelamiento de los electrones de Dirac a través de superredes aperiodicas en grafeno. Consideramos una hoja de grafeno depositada encima de bloques de sustratos de Óxido de Silicio (SiO2) y Carburo de Silicio (SiC), en los cuales aplicamos la serie de Cantor. Calculamos la transmitancia para diferentes parámetros fundamentales tales como: ancho de partida, energía de incidencia, ángulo de incidencia y número de generación de la serie de Cantor. En este caso, la transmitancia como función de la energía presenta rasgos autosimilares al variar el número de generación. También computamos la distribución angular de la transmitancia para energías fijas econtrando un patrón autosimilar entre generaciones. Por último, calculamos los factores de escala para algunos espectros de la transmitancia, los cuales efectivamente muestran escalabilidad.

Electrostatic and substrate-based monolayer graphene superlattices: Energy minibands and its relation with the characteristics of the conductance curves

We study the transmission, transport and electronic structure properties of monolayer Graphene Superlattices (GSLs). The transfer matrix method has been implemented to obtain the transmittance, linear-regime conductance and electronic structure. In particular, we have studied two types of GSLs: (1) Electrostatic GSLs (EGSLs), structures formed with electrostatic potentials and (2) Substrate GSLs (SGSLs), obtained by alternating substrates that can open and non-open, such as SiC and SiO2, an energy bandgap on graphene. We have found that the transmission properties can be modulated readily by changing the main parameters of the systems: well and barrier widths, energy and angle of the incident electrons and the number of periods of GSLs. In the case of the linear-regime conductance turns out that it diminishes by increasing the barrier width as well as the number of periods for SGSLs. On the contrary, Klein tunneling sustains the conductance in EGSLs. Calculating the electronic structure or miniband-structure formation we establish a direct connection between the conductance peaks and the start–end and degeneration (narrowing) of the energy minibands for EGSLs, and start–end, degeneration (narrowing) and closure in the case of SGSLs.

Quasi-one-dimensional graphene superlattices formed on high-index surfaces

We report preparation of large area quasi-one-dimensional (1D) monolayer graphene superlattices on a prototypical high-index surface Cu(410)-O and characterization by Raman spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, and scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The periodically stepped substrate gives a 1D modulation to graphene, forming a superlattice of the same superperiodicity. Consequently, the moir\'e pattern is also quasi-1D, with a different periodicity. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements revealed new Dirac points formed at the superlattice Brillouin zone boundary as predicted by theories.

Rashba spin-orbit effect on tunneling time in graphene superlattice

Based on transfer-matrix and stationary phase methods, we have investigated the tunneling time (group delay time) through monolayer graphene superlattice in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction. It is found that the tunneling time has an oscillatory behavior with respect to Rashba spin-orbit interaction strength. Furthermore, the tunneling time for normal incident angle is independent of spin state of electron, while for oblique incident angles, it depends on the spin state of electron. It is also shown that, for normal incident, the Hartman effect vanishes, while for oblique incident, the Hartman effect appears whenever the x (the growth direction of superlattice) component of the electron wave vector inside the barriers is imaginary.

Tunneling time and Hartman effect in a ferromagnetic graphene superlattice

Using transfer-matrix and stationary phase methods, we study the tunneling time (group delay time) in a ferromagnetic monolayer graphene superlattice. The system we peruse consists of a sequence of rectangular barriers and wells, which can be realized by putting a series of electronic gates on the top of ferromagnetic graphene. The magnetization in the two ferromagnetic layers is aligned parallel. We find out that the tunneling time for normal incident is independent of spin state of electron as well as the barrier height and electron Fermi energy while for the oblique incident angles the tunneling time depends on the spin state of electron and has an oscillatory behavior. Also the effect of barrier width on tunneling time is also investigated and shown that, for normal incident, the Hartman effect disappears in a ferromagnetic graphene superlattice but it appears for oblique incident angles when the x component of the electron wave vector in the barrier is imaginary.

Metallic phase of disordered graphene superlattices with long-range correlations

Using the transfer matrix method, we study the conductance of the chiral particles through a monolayer graphene superlattice with long-range correlated disorder distributed on the potential of the barriers. Even though the transmission of the particles through graphene superlattice with white noise potentials is suppressed, the transmission is revived in a wide range of angles when the potential heights are long-range correlated with a power spectrum $S(k)\sim1/k^{\beta}$. As a result, the conductance increases with increasing the correlation exponent values gives rise a metallic phase. We obtain a phase transition diagram in which a critical correlation exponent depends strongly on disorder strength and slightly on the energy of the incident particles. The phase transition, on the other hand, appears in all ranges of the energy from propagating to evanescent mode regimes.