Experimental and computational investigation of graphene/SAMs/n-Si Schottky diodes


Aydin H., Bacaksiz C., Yagmurcukardes N., Karakaya C., Mermer O., Can M., ...More

Applied Surface Science, vol.428, pp.1010-1017, 2018 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 428
  • Publication Date: 2018
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.09.204
  • Journal Name: Applied Surface Science
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1010-1017
  • Keywords: Graphene, Schottky diode, Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)
  • Manisa Celal Bayar University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of two different self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on electrical characteristics of bilayer graphene (BLG)/n-Si Schottky diodes. Novel 4″bis(diphenylamino)-1, 1′:3″-terphenyl-5′ carboxylic acids (TPA) and 4,4-di-9H-carbazol-9-yl-1,1′:3′1′-terphenyl-5′ carboxylic acid (CAR) aromatic SAMs have been used to modify n-Si surfaces. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) results have been evaluated to verify the modification of n-Si surface. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of bare and SAMs modified devices show rectification behaviour verifying a Schottky junction at the interface. The ideality factors (n) from ln(I)–V dependences were determined as 2.13, 1.96 and 2.07 for BLG/n-Si, BLG/TPA/n-Si and BLG/CAR/n-Si Schottky diodes, respectively. In addition, Schottky barrier height (SBH) and series resistance (R s ) of SAMs modified diodes were decreased compared to bare diode due to the formation of a compatible interface between graphene and Si as well as π–π interaction between aromatic SAMs and graphene. The CAR-based device exhibits better diode characteristic compared to the TPA-based device. Computational simulations show that the BLG/CAR system exhibits smaller energy-level-differences than the BLG/TPA, which supports the experimental findings of a lower Schottky barrier and series resistance in BLG/CAR diode.