Hybridization effects on the out-of-plane electron tunneling properties of monolayers: is h-BN more conductive than graphene?

Author(s)

Zhong, Xiaoliang ; Amorim, Rodrigo G. ; Rocha, Alexandre R. ; Pandey, Ravindra

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Nanotechnology; v. 25, n. 34, p. 7-pg., 2014-08-29.

Abstract

Electron transport properties through multilayers of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) sandwiched between gold electrodes is investigated by density functional theory together with the non-equilibrium Green's function method. The calculated results find that despite graphene being a gapless semimetal and h-BN two-dimensional layer being an insulator, the transmission function perpendicular to the atomic layer plane in both systems is nearly identical. The out-of-plane tunnel current is found to be strongly dependent on the interaction at the interface of the device. As a consequence, single layer h-BN coupled with atomically flat weakly interacting metals such as gold may not work as a good dielectric material, but the absence of sharp resonances would probably lead to more stable out-of-plane electronic transport properties compared to graphene. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/07095-1 - Gas sensor ab initio simulation in carbon nanotubes bundles.
• Grantee: Rodrigo Garcia Amorim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral