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Disorder-tuned conductivity in amorphous monolayer carbon.

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Researchers tuned the disorder (DOD) and electrical conductivity of amorphous monolayer carbon (AMC) films by controlling growth temperatures. This links atomic structure to material properties, enabling new 2D electronic devices.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Correlating atomic configurations (degree of disorder - DOD) with properties in amorphous solids is challenging due to difficulties in determining 3D atomic positions.
  • Two-dimensional (2D) systems offer a simpler approach for atomic imaging, aiding the study of amorphous materials.
  • Previous studies visualized atomic configurations in amorphous monolayer carbon (AMC) but lacked a direct link to macroscopic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a direct causal link between atomic-scale structures and macroscopic properties in amorphous monolayer carbon (AMC) films.
  • To demonstrate facile tuning of the degree of disorder (DOD) and electrical conductivity in AMC by controlling growth temperatures.
  • To develop a framework connecting microstructural parameters to electrical properties for 2D amorphous materials.

Main Methods:

  • Growth of amorphous monolayer carbon (AMC) films at varying temperatures using laser-assisted depositions.
  • Atomic-resolution electron microscopy to visualize atomic configurations, medium-range order (MRO), and nanocrystallite densities.
  • Numerical calculations to establish a conductivity diagram based on microstructural parameters.

Main Results:

  • Variable-range-hopping conductive AMC with medium-range order (MRO) was achieved at the pyrolysis threshold temperature.
  • Increasing growth temperature by 25°C led to loss of MRO, rendering AMC electrically insulating with a 10^9-fold increase in sheet resistance.
  • Two order parameters (presence/absence of MRO and nanocrystallite density) were identified to fully describe DOD.

Conclusions:

  • The study successfully links atomic-scale structure (degree of disorder, MRO, nanocrystallite density) to electrical conductivity in 2D amorphous materials.
  • Growth temperature is identified as a key parameter for tuning DOD and conductivity in AMC.
  • This work advances the understanding of structure-property relationships in amorphous materials and opens avenues for 2D amorphous electronic devices.