Graphene field-effect-transistors with high on/off current ratio and large transport band gap at room temperature

Abstract: Graphene is considered to be a promising candidate for future nano-electronics due to its exceptional electronic properties. Unfortunately, the graphene field-effect-transistors (FETs) cannot be turned off effectively due to the absence of a bandgap, leading to an on/off current ratio typically around 5 in top-gated graphene FETs. On the other hand, theoretical investigations and optical measurements suggest that a bandgap up to a few hundred meV can be created by the perpendicular E-field in bi-layer graphenes. Although previous carrier transport measurements in bi-layer graphene transistors did indicate a gate-induced insulating state at temperature below 1 Kelvin, the electrical (or transport) bandgap was estimated to be a few meV, and the room temperature on/off current ratio in bi-layer graphene FETs remains similar to those in single-layer graphene FETs. Here, for the first time, we report an on/off current ratio of around 100 and 2000 at room temperature and 20 K, respectively in our dual-gate bi-layer graphene FETs. We also measured an electrical bandgap of >130 and 80 meV at average electric displacements of 2.2 and 1.3 V/nm, respectively. This demonstration reveals the great potential of bi-layer graphene in applications such as digital electronics, pseudospintronics, terahertz technology, and infrared nanophotonics.