Castro Neto Group Brings 'Tuneability' to Semiconductor

January 24, 2008

For the past several years, the one-atom-thick carbon material known as graphene has intrigued physicists. Its size, strength and conductivity make it a possible semiconductor alternative to silicon in modern technology.

An important property of a semiconductor is its energy gap, which can turn electrical currents on and off when receiving external voltage. Were this gap “tuneable,” the resulting semiconductor could bring with it new electronic devices.

Professor Antonio Castro Neto, as part of an international team, has created the first semiconductor with “tuneability.” In other words, the energy gap between the valence and conduction bands of the semiconductor’s graphene bilayer can be altered with external voltage. This development has possible applications in a variety of fields including laser technology.

Physicsworld.com recently published an article on Castro Neto’s research. To read it, click here.

If you do not have an IOP account, you can view the article here.