a) Optical image of the sample and SEM image of graphene constriction before electroburning process. b) SEM image after electroburning. Note that the gap here is visible in the SEM, thereby it is about 50 nm wide. The gap size of the `good’ samples is 1-2 nanometers (estimated from the tunneling current IV fitting).

We are investigating graphene as a contact material for molecular electronics. As an alternative to metallic electrodes for molecular junctions, carbon based materials offer great potential to bridge the gap between the macro- and the nanoscale. The two dimensional structure of graphene and the potential to tune it’s charge carrier density, make it a promising material to gain new understanding and control of electronic and optical properties of molecules at room temperature. To achieve reliable and reproducible contacts between molecules and graphene electrodes, the production of nm-size gaps in high quality CVD monolayer graphene are of great interest.  We are working on more control of the fabrication of graphene electrode by electro-burning of patterned CVD graphene.

 

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