Wavefunction engineering in graphene systems

Electrons in graphene obey Dirac physics which manifests itself through unconventional quantum phenomena, e.g. Klein tunneling - where transmission normal to a potential barrier is close to unity. As a result, graphene systems present unique opportunities for engineering of the electron wavefunction. This would pave the way towards graphene devices and applications that are conceptually entirely new in condensed matter physics and nanoelectronics, such as lateral devices based on quantum interference, or configurable wiring and electron guides. In this presentation the author will focus on two routes for achieving such wavefunction tailoring: Through quantum interference phenomena at lateral interfaces and edges within multi-stacked graphene systems (providing different electron behavior at “hard” and “soft” edges, while interference patterns are controlled by the stacking sequence); and through controlling and modulating the surface potential of the graphene sheet at nanoscale/atomic level via interaction with the substrate and its nanostructures (naturally-occurring or bottom-up engineered). Experimental evidence is collected from scanning probe microscopy studies (Scanning Tunneling, non-contact Atomic Force and Kelvin Probe Microscopies), while theoretical support comes from both full ab-initio and semi-classical calculations. Further, the author will show that inorganic nanostructures provide routes for designing/controlling potentials, electronic superstructures and, ultimately, electron behavioral so in related systems, i.e., carbon nanotubes with encapsulated nanowires. Overall, these examples illustrate generic principles for nanoscale design of properties in graphene-based hybrid systems. - See more at: http://nanotechnology2014.conferenceseries.net/scientific-program.php?day=1&sid=403&date=2014-12-01#sthash.m04QnU8X.dpuf