Electronic Properties Of Graphene Heterostructures With Hexagonal Crystals

Electronic Properties of Graphene Heterostructures with Hexagonal Crystals

Electronic Properties of Graphene Heterostructures with Hexagonal Crystals

The last decade has witnessed the discovery of, and dramatic progress in understanding the physics of graphene and related two-dimensional materials. The development of methods for manufacturing and aligning high-quality two-dimensional crystals has facilitated the creation of a new generation of materials: the heterostructures of graphene with hexagonal crystals, in which the graphene electrons acquire new, qualitatively different properties. This thesis provides a comprehensive theoretical framework in which to understand these heterostructures, based on the tight binding model, perturbation theory, group theory and the concept of the moire superlattice (all of which are elucidated). It explains how graphene heterostructures provide new opportunities for tailoring band structure, such as creating additional Dirac points or opening band gaps and how they manifest themselves in transport measurements, optical absorption spectra and the fractal Hofstadter spectra. Also considered are the heterostructures of bilayer graphene and resonant tunneling in aligned graphene/insulator/graphene devices.

Optical and Electrical Properties of Nanoscale Materials

This book covers the optical and electrical properties of nanoscale materials with an emphasis on how new and unique material properties result from the special nature of their electronic band structure. Beginning with a review of the optical and solid state physics needed for understanding optical and electrical properties, the book then introduces the electronic band structure of solids and discusses the effect of spin orbit coupling on the valence band, which is critical for understanding the optical properties of most nanoscale materials. Excitonic effects and excitons are also presented along with their effect on optical absorption. 2D materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, are host to unique electrical properties resulting from the electronic band structure. This book devotes significant attention to the optical and electrical properties of 2D and topological materials with an emphasis on optical measurements, electrical characterization of carrier transport, and a discussion of the electronic band structures using a tight binding approach. This book succinctly compiles useful fundamental and practical information from one of the fastest growing research topics in materials science and is thus an essential compendium for both students and researchers in this rapidly moving field.