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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
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Fabrication of Gate-tunable Graphene Devices for Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies with Coulomb Impurities
Published on: July 24, 2015
Molecular doping of graphene.
T O Wehling1, K S Novoselov, S V Morozov
11st Institute for Theoretical Physics, Hamburg University, Jungiusstrasse 9, D-20355 Hamburg, Germany.
Nano Letters
|December 19, 2007
Summary
Graphene
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Graphene exhibits high electron mobility and atomic thickness, making it a promising material for post-silicon electronics.
- Experimental evidence suggests graphene's potential for chemical doping and sensing applications.
- A microscopic understanding of adsorbate-induced doping effects in graphene is currently lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a joint experimental and theoretical investigation of adsorbate-induced doping in graphene.
- To establish a relationship between adsorbate electronic structure (open- vs. closed-shell) and doping strength.
- To elucidate the role of graphene's unique density of states (DOS) in chemical sensing.
Main Methods:
- Combined experimental measurements and theoretical modeling.
- Investigation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and its dimer (N2O4) as adsorbates.
- Analysis of graphene's electronic structure and density of states.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that open-shell NO2 molecules are strong p-type dopants in graphene.
- Showed that closed-shell N2O4 molecules induce only weak doping.
- Confirmed that graphene's specific DOS enhances adsorbate-induced doping effects.
Conclusions:
- Graphene's electronic properties are significantly influenced by the electronic structure of adsorbed molecules.
- The findings provide a microscopic basis for graphene's use as a chemical sensor.
- This study explains the sensitive detection of single NO2 molecules on graphene surfaces.
