Research at Graphene Lab

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Carbon Electronics

Carbon electronics is an emerging field attempting to replace silicon based electronic devices and conventional geometries. In the graphene laboratory at University of Florida, we are using carbon allotropes mostly graphene, few-layer graphene and multi-layer graphene to make devices beyond the conventional Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). Graphene is an excellent candiate due to tunability of its work function, chemical robustness and extraordinary electrical and optical properties. Our research is mostly focused on incorporating graphene into silicon, gallium arsenite, silicon carbide and Gallium Nitride semiconductors, graphene based Schottky diodes, high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) using GaN,and metal-semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs). We are currently protected by one filed U.S patent and various SCI-index publications.
(Principal investigators: Dr. S. Tongay and Prof. Dr. A .F. Hebard; Collaborators: Prof. Dr. B.R. Appleton, Max Lemaitre, Xiaochang Miao, and Kara Berke)

Chemical Doping in graphene and graphene derivatives

Graphene, a single layer of sp2 bonded carbon atoms, has attracted a lot of attention due
to its superior thermal and chemical robustness and physical properties. To this end, we are chemically decorating graphene sheets to achive high conductivities and high optical transparency in attempt to incorporate graphene into display screens and using
graphene sheets actively in solar cells.

(Principal investigators: Dr. S. Tongay, Prof. Dr. A.F. Hebard, and Prof.
Dr. B.R. Appleton; Collaborators: Kara Berke and Max Lemaitre)

Gas/Bio Sensing-detection

Due to high chemical sensitivity of graphene, and hence tunability of it's Fermi level, we are currently using graphene and other carbon allotropes in various device geometries for specific gas and bio sensing applications to achieve ultra-sensitivity necessary for detection of molecules, DNAs and proteins.

(Principal investigators: Dr. S. Tongay, Prof. Dr. A.F. Hebard and Prof. Dr. B.R. Appleton; Collaborators: Xiaochang Miao, Sima Saeidi)

Solar Cells and Organic Semiconductors

We are actively studying photo-current effects in graphene based Schottky diodes and graphene based solar cells. Also, we are attempting to combine organic semiconductors and graphene sheets for flexiable displays, solar cells and devices. To this end, we are interested in the current processes at the graphene/organic semiconductor junctions.

(Principal investigators: Dr. S. Tongay, Prof. Dr. A.F. Hebard. Kara Berke; Collaborators: Xiaochang Miao)

Graphene Growth

Recently, graphene growth onto various metal foils / thin films and silicon carbide substrates has attracted a lot of attention. Physical mechanisms governing the graphene growth on these surfaces are still not very clear and there is an intensive attempt to understand the parameters effecting the successful graphene growth. We are currently conducting research copper and SiC substrates to find new cutting edge techniques allowing us to grow high quality graphene and selective graphene growth. This project is protected with one filed U.S patent.

(Principal investigators: Prof. Dr. B.R. Appleton, Prof. Dr. B. Gila, Max Lemaitre and Dr. S. Tongay; Collaborators: Prof. Dr. A.F. Hebard)

Magnetization

We are interested in magnetization properties of graphites, graphene, modified graphene and carbon alloptropes in the thin film limit.

( Principal investigators: Dr. S. Tongay, Prof. Dr. A.F. Hebard, Xiaochang Miao and Siddhardtha Ghosh; Collaborators: Prof. Dr. S. Ciraci, Dr. H. Sahin)

Quantum Effects in Graphene

We are currently conducting fundamental research on various quantum
interaction effects at temperatures lower than 5Kelvin in magnetic fields
up to 7 Tesla.

(Principal investigators: Prof. Dr. A. F. Hebard, Xiaochang Miao and
Dr. S. Tongay)

Optical Properties of Graphene and Modified Graphene

Graphene possess extraordinary optical properties from visible to near infrared region. We are actively studying fundamental effects in graphene using optical measurement techniques on pristine and modified (via flourination, hydrogenation and chemical doping) graphene.

(Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. A.F. Hebard and S. Tongay; Collaborators: Dr. D. Tanner, Zahra Nasrollahi, Sima Saeidi and Dr. D. Kaukis)