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Resonant tunnelling and negative differential conductance in graphene transistors

Author

Listed:
  • L. Britnell

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester)

  • R. V. Gorbachev

    (Manchester Centre for Mesoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Manchester)

  • A. K. Geim

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester
    Manchester Centre for Mesoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Manchester)

  • L. A. Ponomarenko

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester)

  • A. Mishchenko

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester)

  • M. T. Greenaway

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham)

  • T. M. Fromhold

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham)

  • K. S. Novoselov

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester)

  • L. Eaves

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham)

Abstract

The chemical stability of graphene and other free-standing two-dimensional crystals means that they can be stacked in different combinations to produce a new class of functional materials, designed for specific device applications. Here we report resonant tunnelling of Dirac fermions through a boron nitride barrier, a few atomic layers thick, sandwiched between two graphene electrodes. The resonance occurs when the electronic spectra of the two electrodes are aligned. The resulting negative differential conductance in the device characteristics persists up to room temperature and is gate voltage-tuneable due to graphene’s unique Dirac-like spectrum. Although conventional resonant tunnelling devices comprising a quantum well sandwiched between two tunnel barriers are tens of nanometres thick, the tunnelling carriers in our devices cross only a few atomic layers, offering the prospect of ultra-fast transit times. This feature, combined with the multi-valued form of the device characteristics, has potential for applications in high-frequency and logic devices.

Suggested Citation

  • L. Britnell & R. V. Gorbachev & A. K. Geim & L. A. Ponomarenko & A. Mishchenko & M. T. Greenaway & T. M. Fromhold & K. S. Novoselov & L. Eaves, 2013. "Resonant tunnelling and negative differential conductance in graphene transistors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-5, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2817
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2817
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