Understanding surfactant/graphene interactions using a graphene field effect transistor: relating molecular structure to hysteresis and carrier mobility

Performance analysis of solution-processed nanosheet strain sensors-a systematic review of graphene and MXene wearable devices

Nanotechnology has led to the realisation of many potentialInternet of Thingsdevices that can be transformative with regards to future healthcare development. However, there is an over saturation of wearable sensor review articles that essentially quote paper abstracts without critically assessing the works. Reported metrics in many cases cannot be taken at face value, with researchers overly fixated on large gauge factors. These facts hurt the usefulness of such articles and the very nature of the research area, unintentionally misleading those hoping to progress the field. Graphene and MXenes are arguably the most exciting organic and inorganic nanomaterials for polymer nanocomposite strain sensing applications respectively. Due to their combination of cost-efficient, scalable production and device performances, their potential commercial usage is very promising. Here, we explain the methods for colloidal nanosheets suspension creation and the mechanisms, metrics and models which govern the electromechanical properties of the polymer-based nanocomposites they form. Furthermore, the many fabrication procedures applied to make these nanosheet-based sensing devices are discussed. With the performances of 70 different nanocomposite systems from recent (post 2020) publications critically assessed. From the evaluation of these works using universal modelling, the prospects of the field are considered. Finally, we argue that the realisation of commercial nanocomposite devices may in fact have a negative effect on the global climate crisis if current research trends do not change.

Effects of Inorganic Substitutions and Different Metal Electrode Materials on Electronic Transport Properties of Organic Molecular Devices

Incorporating inorganic components into organic molecular devices offers one novel alternative to address challenges existing in the fabrication and integration of nanoscale devices. In this study, using a theoretical method of density functional theory combined with the nonequilibrium Green's function, a series of benzene-based molecules with group III and V substitutions, including borazine molecule and X_nB_3-nN₃H₆ (X = Al or Ga, n = 1-3) molecules/clusters, are constructed and investigated. An analysis of electronic structures reveals that the introduction of inorganic components effectively reduces the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, albeit at the cost of reduced aromaticity in these molecules/clusters. Simulated electronic transport characteristics demonstrate that X_nB_3-nN₃H₆ molecules/clusters coupled between metal electrodes exhibit lower conductance compared to prototypical benzene molecule. Additionally, the choice of metal electrode materials significantly impacts the electronic transport properties, with platinum electrode devices displaying distinct behavior compared to silver, copper, and gold electrode devices. This distinction arises from the amount of transferred charge, which modulates the alignment between molecular orbitals and the Fermi level of the metal electrodes by shifting the molecular orbitals in energy. These findings provide valuable theoretical insights for the future design of molecular devices incorporating inorganic substitutions.

Grafting Ink for Direct Writing: Solvation Activated Covalent Functionalization of Graphene

Covalent functionalization of graphene (CFG) has shown attractive advantages in tuning the electronic, mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of graphene. However, facile, large-scale, controllable, and highly efficient CFG remains challenging and often involves highly reactive and volatile compounds, requiring complex control of the reaction conditions. Here, a diazonium-based grafting ink consisting of only two components, i.e., an aryl diazonium salt and the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is presented. The efficient functionalization is attributed to the combination of the solvation of the diazonium cations by DMSO and n-doping of graphene by DMSO, thereby promoting electron transfer (ET) from graphene to the diazonium cations, resulting in the generation of aryl radicals which subsequently react with the graphene. The grafting density of CFG is controlled by the reaction time and very high levels of functionalization, up to the failing of the Tuinstra-Koenig (T-K) relation, while the functionalization layer remains at monolayer height. The grafting ink, effective for days at room temperature, can be used at ambient conditions and renders the patterning CFG by direct writing as easy as writing on paper. In combination with thermal sample treatment, reversible functionalization is possible by subsequent writing/erasing cycles.

Solution-processed two-dimensional materials for next-generation photovoltaics

In the ever-increasing energy demand scenario, the development of novel photovoltaic (PV) technologies is considered to be one of the key solutions to fulfil the energy request. In this context, graphene and related two-dimensional (2D) materials (GRMs), including nonlayered 2D materials and 2D perovskites, as well as their hybrid systems, are emerging as promising candidates to drive innovation in PV technologies. The mechanical, thermal, and optoelectronic properties of GRMs can be exploited in different active components of solar cells to design next-generation devices. These components include front (transparent) and back conductive electrodes, charge transporting layers, and interconnecting/recombination layers, as well as photoactive layers. The production and processing of GRMs in the liquid phase, coupled with the ability to "on-demand" tune their optoelectronic properties exploiting wet-chemical functionalization, enable their effective integration in advanced PV devices through scalable, reliable, and inexpensive printing/coating processes. Herein, we review the progresses in the use of solution-processed 2D materials in organic solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells, quantum dot solar cells, and organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells, as well as in tandem systems. We first provide a brief introduction on the properties of 2D materials and their production methods by solution-processing routes. Then, we discuss the functionality of 2D materials for electrodes, photoactive layer components/additives, charge transporting layers, and interconnecting layers through figures of merit, which allow the performance of solar cells to be determined and compared with the state-of-the-art values. We finally outline the roadmap for the further exploitation of solution-processed 2D materials to boost the performance of PV devices.

A versatile route to edge-specific modifications to pristine graphene by electrophilic aromatic substitution

Electrophilic aromatic substitution produces edge-specific modifications to CVD graphene and graphene nanoplatelets that are suitable for specific attachment of biomolecules.

Effect of Octadecylamine Surfactant on DNA Interactions with Graphene Surfaces

Understanding of how to integrate DNA molecules with graphene materials is important for the development of biosensors and biomolecular logic circuits. For some of these applications, controlling DNA structural conformation on the graphene substrate is critically important and can be achieved through the use of self-assembled monolayers. Here, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to understand how various 1-octadecylamine (ODA) coatings of the graphene surface affect the conformation of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) on the surface. The simulation results demonstrated that dsDNA structures become more stable as ODA concentration increases due to the formation of DNA-ODA hydrogen bonds and reduction of DNA-surface interactions, which aid in retaining internal DNA interactions. Specifically, the interaction of ODA molecules with DNA prevents nucleobases from forming π-π stacking interactions with the surface. Some dsDNA conformations, such as sharp kinks or unwinding, can occur more frequently in DNA with A-T sequences due to weaker pairing interactions than with G-C sequences. Furthermore, our results conclude that both DNA sequence and ODA concentration play an essential role in experimentally observed conformational changes of DNA on the graphene surface.

Fabrication of pyramidal (111) MAPbBr3 film with low surface defect density using homogeneous quantum-dot seeds

Nucleation and seeding of organometal halide perovskite (OHP) films have been extensively investigated for forming high-density, large-crystalline, and low-defect films. In this study, CH3NH3PbBr3 (MAPbBr3) films with a low defect density are synthesized via a molecular exchange mechanism using MAPbBr3 quantum dots as seeds. The synthesized films exhibit a pyramidal morphology with a (111) crystal plane. The distribution of the (111) plane is controlled by adjusting the seed concentration. The pyramidal MAPbBr3 films exhibit improved photoluminescence intensity and uniformity compared with films produced using seedless toluene. When the seeds are employed, the surface trap density is reduced by a factor of 3.5, suppressing the photocurrent hysteresis and nonsaturated response of photodetectors. Additionally, the films formed using the seeds have improved stability owing to the chain decomposition reaction induced by electron beam heating.

Selective Detection of Lysozyme Biomarker Utilizing Large Area Chemical Vapor Deposition-Grown Graphene-Based Field-Effect Transistor

Selective and rapid detection of biomarkers is of utmost importance in modern day health care for early stage diagnosis to prevent fatal diseases and infections. Among several protein biomarkers, the role of lysozyme has been found to be especially important in human immune system to prevent several bacterial infections and other chronic disease such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Thus, real-time monitoring of lysozyme concentration in a human body can pave a facile route for early warning for potential bacterial infections. Here, we present for the first time a label-free lysozyme protein sensor that is rapid and selective based on a graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) functionalized with selectively designed single-stranded probe DNA (pDNA) with high binding affinity toward lysozyme molecules. When the target lysozyme molecules bind to the surface-immobilized pDNAs, the resulting shift of the charge neutrality points of the GFET device, also known as the Dirac voltage, varied systematically with the concentration of target lysozyme molecules. The experimental results show that the GFET-based biosensor is capable of detecting lysozyme molecules in the concentration range from 10 nM to 1 µM.

Current and future directions in electron transfer chemistry of graphene

The participation of graphene in electron transfer chemistry, where an electron is transferred between graphene and other species, encompasses many important processes that have shown versatility and potential for use in important applications.

Bioelectronic interfaces by spontaneously organized peptides on 2D atomic single layer materials

Self-assembly of biological molecules on solid materials is central to the “bottom-up” approach to directly integrate biology with electronics. Inspired by biology, exquisite biomolecular nanoarchitectures have been formed on solid surfaces. We demonstrate that a combinatorially-selected dodecapeptide and its variants self-assemble into peptide nanowires on two-dimensional nanosheets, single-layer graphene and MoS₂. The abrupt boundaries of nanowires create electronic junctions via spatial biomolecular doping of graphene and manifest themselves as a self-assembled electronic network. Furthermore, designed peptides form nanowires on single-layer MoS₂ modifying both its electric conductivity and photoluminescence. The biomolecular doping of nanosheets defined by peptide nanostructures may represent the crucial first step in integrating biology with nano-electronics towards realizing fully self-assembled bionanoelectronic devices.

Structure and electronic properties of C2N/graphene predicted by first-principles calculations

Graphene band gap opening is achieved when integrated with C₂N. C₂N/graphene heterostructures are promising materials for FETs and water splitting.

Quantum Hall conductance of graphene combined with charge-trap memory operation

The combination of quantum Hall conductance and charge-trap memory operation was qualitatively examined using a graphene field-effect transistor. The characteristics of two terminal quantum Hall conductance appeared clearly on the background of a huge conductance hysteresis during a gate-voltage sweep for a device using monolayer graphene as a channel,hexagonal boron-nitride flakes as a tunneling dielectric and defective silicon oxide as the charge storage node. Even though there was a giant shift of the charge neutrality point, the deviation of quantized resistance value at the state of filling factor 2 was less than 1.6% from half of the von Klitzing constant. At high Landau level indices, the behaviors of quantum conductance oscillation between the increasing and the decreasing electron densities were identical in spite ofa huge memory window exceeding 100 V. Our results indicate that the two physical phenomena, two-terminal quantum Hall conductance and charge-trap memory operation, can be integrated into one device without affecting each other.

Highly air stable passivation of graphene based field effect devices

The sensitivity of graphene based devices to surface adsorbates and charge traps at the graphene/dielectric interface requires proper device passivation in order to operate them reproducibly under ambient conditions. Here we report on the use of atomic layer deposited aluminum oxide as passivation layer on graphene field effect devices (GFETs). We show that successful passivation produce hysteresis free DC characteristics, low doping level GFETs stable over weeks though operated and stored in ambient atmosphere. This is achieved by selecting proper seed layer prior to deposition of encapsulation layer. The passivated devices are also demonstrated to be robust towards the exposure to chemicals and heat treatments, typically used during device fabrication. Additionally, the passivation of high stability and reproducible characteristics is also shown for functional devices like integrated graphene based inverters.

Metal-etching-free direct delamination and transfer of single-layer graphene with a high degree of freedom

A method of graphene transfer without metal etching is developed to minimize the contamination of graphene in the transfer process and to endow the transfer process with a greater degree of freedom. The method involves direct delamination of single-layer graphene from a growth substrate, resulting in transferred graphene with nearly zero Dirac voltage due to the absence of residues that would originate from metal etching. Several demonstrations are also presented to show the high degree of freedom and the resulting versatility of this transfer method.

Graphene veils: A versatile surface chemistry for sensors

Thin spun-coat films (∼4 nm thick) of graphene oxide (GO) constitute a versatile surface chemistry compatible with a broad range of technologically important sensor materials. Countless publications are dedicated to the nuances of surface chemistries that have been developed for sensors, with almost every material having unique characteristics. There would be enormous value in a surface chemistry that could be applied generally with functionalization and passivation already optimized regardless of the sensor material it covered. Such a film would need to be thin, conformal, and allow for multiple routes toward covalent linkages. It is also vital that the film permit the underlying sensor to transduce. Here we show that GO films can be applied over a diverse set of sensor surfaces, can link biomolecules through multiple reaction pathways, and can support cell growth. Application of a graphene veil atop a magnetic sensor array is demonstrated with an immunoassay. We also present biosensing and material characterization data for these graphene veils.

Tunable adsorbate-adsorbate interactions on graphene

We propose a mechanism to control the interaction between adsorbates on graphene. The interaction between a pair of adsorbates--the change in adsorption energy of one adsorbate in the presence of another--is dominated by the interaction mediated by graphene's π electrons and has two distinct regimes. Ab initio density functional, numerical tight-binding, and analytical calculations are used to develop the theory. We demonstrate that the interaction can be tuned in a wide range by adjusting the adsorbate-graphene bonding or the chemical potential.

Disorder imposed limits of mono- and bilayer graphene electronic modification using covalent chemistry

A central question in graphene chemistry is to what extent chemical modification can control an electronically accessible band gap in monolayer and bilayer graphene (MLG and BLG). Density functional theory predicts gaps in covalently functionalized graphene as high as 2 eV, while this approach neglects the fact that lattice symmetry breaking occurs over only a prescribed radius of nanometer dimension, which we label the S-region. Therefore, high chemical conversion is central to observing this band gap in transport. We use an electrochemical approach involving phenyl-diazonium salts to systematically probe electronic modification in MLG and BLG with increasing functionalization for the first time, obtaining the highest conversion values to date. We find that both MLG and BLG retain their relatively high conductivity after functionalization even at high conversion, as mobility losses are offset by increases in carrier concentration. For MLG, we find that band gap opening as measured during transport is linearly increased with respect to the I(D)/I(G) ratio but remains below 0.1 meV in magnitude for SiO(2) supported graphene. The largest transport band gap obtained in a suspended, highly functionalized (I(D)/I(G) = 4.5) graphene is about 1 meV, lower than our theoretical predictions considering the quantum interference effect between two neighboring S-regions and attributed to its population with midgap states. On the other hand, heavily functionalized BLG (I(D)/I(G) = 1.8) still retains its signature dual-gated band gap opening due to electric-field symmetry breaking. We find a notable asymmetric deflection of the charge neutrality point (CNP) under positive bias which increases the apparent on/off current ratio by 50%, suggesting that synergy between symmetry breaking, disorder, and quantum interference may allow the observation of new transistor phenomena. These important observations set definitive limits on the extent to which chemical modification can control graphene electronically.

Photoconductivity and enhanced memory effects in hybrid C60-graphene transistors

We describe the observation of photoconductivity and enhanced memory effects in graphene devices functionalized with clusters of alkylated C(60) molecules. The alkylated C(60) clusters were adsorbed on chemical vapor deposition-grown graphene devices from an aprotic medium. The resulting alkylated C(60)-graphene hybrid devices showed reproducible photoconductive behavior originating from the electron-accepting nature of the C(60) molecules. Significantly enhanced gate hysteresis was observed upon illumination with visible light, thereby enabling the use of C(60)-graphene hybrid devices in three-terminal photo-memory applications.