One-step formation of a single atomic-layer transistor by the selective fluorination of a graphene film

Kuan I. Ho, Jia Hong Liao, Chi Hsien Huang, Chang Lung Hsu, Wenjing Zhang, Ang Yu Lu, Lain Jong Li, Chao Sung Lai*, Ching Yuan Su

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, the scalable and one-step fabrication of single atomic-layer transistors is demonstrated by the selective fluorination of graphene using a low-damage CF4 plasma treatment, where the generated F-radicals preferentially fluorinated the graphene at low temperature (<200 °C) while defect formation was suppressed by screening out the effect of ion damage. The chemical structure of the C-F bonds is well correlated with their optical and electrical properties in fluorinated graphene, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and optical and electrical characterizations. The electrical conductivity of the resultant fluorinated graphene (F-graphene) was demonstrated to be in the range between 1.6 kΩ/sq and 1 MΩ/sq by adjusting the stoichiometric ratio of C/F in the range between 27.4 and 5.6, respectively. Moreover, a unique heterojunction structure of semi-metal/semiconductor/insulator can be directly formed in a single layer of graphene using a one-step fluorination process by introducing a Au thin-film as a buffer layer. With this heterojunction structure, it would be possible to fabricate transistors in a single graphene film via a one-step fluorination process, in which pristine graphene, partial F-graphene, and highly F-graphene serve as the source/drain contacts, the channel, and the channel isolation in a transistor, respectively. The demonstrated graphene transistor exhibits an on-off ratio above 10, which is 3-fold higher than that of devices made from pristine graphene. This efficient transistor fabrication method produces electrical heterojunctions of graphene over a large area and with selective patterning, providing the potential for the integration of electronics down to the single atomic-layer scale.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)989-997
Number of pages9
JournalSmall
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 12 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • CF plasma
  • fluorinated graphene
  • graphene
  • transistors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • General Materials Science
  • Biomaterials

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