Applications of graphene in nanotechnology : 1D diffusion, current drag and nanoelectrodes

Vrbica, S. (2018)

Doctoral Thesis

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are used as a current carrying substrate in investigation of current-induced forces in a low-temperature STM (chapter 2). We demonstrate induced migration of Co adatoms on GNRs and on Au(111) using voltage pulses from the STM tip and we argue that motion is due to thermal excitations rather than the wind force. In chapter 3 we show that voltage signal is induced in a graphene strip when a droplet of ionic liquid is moved across its surface. Here we show that even deionized water can induce voltage over charged graphene surface due to the polarizability of water molecules. In chapter 4 we present a method for fabrication of graphene nanoelectrodes which we further test electrically in a modified STM. For the first time we demonstrate that the gap between two graphene nanoelectrodes can be tuned with subnanometric precision

• Graphene
• Nanotechnology
• STM
• Electromigration
• Cobalt
• Ionic liquids
• Graphene nanoelectrodes

• All authors: Vrbica, S.
• Supervisor: Ruitenbeek, J.M. van
• Committee: Otte, A.E.; Repp, J.; Eliel, E.R.; Oosterkamp, T.H.; Schneider, G.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute of Physics (LION), Faculty of Science, Leiden University
• Date: 2018-12-12
• Title of host publication: Casimir PhD Series
• ISBN (print): 9789085933748
• Name: 2018-44
• Sponsorship: FOM, NWO