Optoelectronic properties of electron-acceptor molecules adsorbed on graphene/silicon carbide interfaces

Silicon carbide has emerged as an optimal semiconducting support for graphene growth. In previous studies, the formation of an interfacial graphene-like buffer layer covalently bonded to silicon carbide has been observed, revealing electronic properties distinct from ideal graphene. Despite extensiv...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Mansouri, Masoud, Díaz Oliva, Cristina, Martín García, Fernando
Format: article
Publication Date:2024
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Repository:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.uam.es:10486/716602
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10486/716602
https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43246-024-00549-6
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Buffer layers
electronic properties
graphene
ground state
infrared devices
interface states
molecules
perturbation techniques
stability
substrates
wide band gap semiconductors
Química
Description
Summary:Silicon carbide has emerged as an optimal semiconducting support for graphene growth. In previous studies, the formation of an interfacial graphene-like buffer layer covalently bonded to silicon carbide has been observed, revealing electronic properties distinct from ideal graphene. Despite extensive experimental efforts dedicated to this interface, theoretical investigations have been confined to its ground state. Here, we use many-body perturbation theory to study the electronic and optical characteristics of this interface and demonstrate its potential for optoelectronics. By adsorbing graphene, we show that the quasiparticle band structure exhibits a reduced bandgap, associated with an optical onset in the visible energy window. Furthermore, we reveal that the absorption of two prototypical electron-accepting molecules on this substrate results in a significant renormalization of the adsorbate gap, giving rise to distinct low-lying optically excited states in the near-infrared region. These states are well-separated from the substrate’s absorption bands, ensuring wavelength selectivity for molecular optoelectronic applications