Current Transients in Graphene Electronics under Single-Particle Irradiation.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nanoscience

Background:

• Low-dimensional materials are crucial for advanced electronics.
• Device performance is vulnerable to environmental factors like irradiation.
• Graphene's susceptibility to irradiation necessitates understanding its electronic behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of single hydrogen irradiation on graphene electronics.
• To analyze the energy and site-dependent behavior of current transients.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving current changes and stopping power.

Main Methods:

• Development of real-time time-dependent density-functional theory (RT-TDDFT) for open systems.
• Application of Ehrenfest dynamics for ionic motion.
• Simulation of single-hydrogen irradiation on graphene.

Main Results:

• Peak current exhibits unique energy and site dependencies, differing from stopping power.
• Current transients are primarily driven by delocalized plasmonic excitation.
• Site dependence of current is influenced by local electron density and ionic charges.

Conclusions:

• Lattice discreteness and electronic structure significantly impact irradiation effects in graphene.
• Findings challenge previous theoretical models by highlighting overlooked material properties.
• Provides a foundation for designing graphene nanoelectronics for space environments.