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Published on: July 24, 2015
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Imaging resonant dissipation from individual atomic defects in graphene.
Dorri Halbertal1, Moshe Ben Shalom2, Aviram Uri3
1Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel. dorri.halbertal@weizmann.ac.il moshebs@tauex.tau.ac.il eli.zeldov@weizmann.ac.il.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|December 9, 2017
Summary
Scientists visualized and controlled heat dissipation from atomic defects in graphene using advanced nanothermometry. This discovery reveals how individual defects emit phonons, offering insights for nanoscale electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Electrical energy dissipation into heat occurs at the nanoscale via microscopic processes.
- Direct observation of individual energy dissipation mediators has been challenging.
- Understanding these processes is crucial for materials science and electronics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To visualize and control phonon emission from individual atomic-scale defects in graphene.
- To investigate the electron-phonon interactions at these defects.
- To understand the dominant dissipation mechanisms in graphene.
Main Methods:
- Utilized scanning nanothermometry with submicrokelvin sensitivity.
- Measured phonon emission from individual atomic-scale defects.
- Inferred the electron-phonon cooling power spectrum.
Main Results:
- Successfully visualized and controlled phonon emission from individual atomic defects in graphene.
- Observed sharp peaks in the cooling power spectrum when the Fermi level resonated with electronic quasi-bound states.
- Identified atomic-scale phonon emitters, particularly at graphene edges, as dominant dissipation mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Atomic-scale defects in graphene act as switchable phonon emitters, controlling heat dissipation.
- This provides fundamental insights into nanoscale energy dissipation.
- Enables potential control over dissipation for advanced electronic materials and devices.
