Temperature dependence of atomic vibrations in mono-layer graphene

We have measured the mean square amplitude of both in- and out-of-plane lattice vibrations for mono-layer graphene at temperatures ranging from ?100 K to 1300?K. The amplitude of lattice vibrations was calculated from data extracted from selected area electron diffraction patterns recorded across a known temperature range with over 80...

I-V characteristics of in-plane and out-of-plane strained edge-hydrogenated armchair graphene nanoribbons

The effects of tensile strain on the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of hydrogenated-edge armchair graphene nanoribbons are investigated by using DFT theory. The strain is introduced in two different ways related to the two types of systems studied in this work: in-plane strained systems (A) and out-of-plane strained systems due to bending...

Nanoscale mechanical resonators and oscillators

In this thesis the physics of nanoscale mechanical resonators and oscillators is studied. We discuss two types of resonators. First, a top-down fabricated doubly clamped beam resonator with an integrated piezoelectric actuator is introduced. The second type of resonators are based on layered two-dimensional materials, such as graphene and...

Confinement of charge carriers in bilayer graphene

In this thesis we investigate the fundamental properties of electronic transport in bilayer graphene. We do this by confining electrons to narrow constrictions and small islands. Our key result is the fabrication and measurement of nanoscale devices that permit confinement with electric fields in bilayer graphene for the first time on a...

Adiabatic quantum pumping via Dirac fermions

Josephson effects in carbon nanotube mechanical resonators and graphene

Formation and control of wrinkles in graphene by the wedging transfer method

We study the formation of wrinkles in graphene upon wet transfer onto a hydrophilic target substrate, whereby draining of water appears to play an important role. We are able to control the orientation of the wrinkles by tuning the surface morphology. Wrinkles are absent in flakes transferred to strongly hydrophobic substrates, a further...

Mechanical cleaning of graphene

Contamination of graphene due to residues from nanofabrication often introduces background doping and reduces electron mobility. For samples of high electronic quality, post-lithography cleaning treatments are therefore needed. We report that mechanical cleaning based on contact mode atomic force microscopy removes residues and significantly...

Solid-state nanopores for scanning single molecules and mimicking biology

Solid-state nanopores, nanometer-size holes in a thin synthetic membrane, are a versatile tool for the detection and manipulation of charged biomolecules. This thesis describes mostly experimental work on DNA translocation through solid-state nanopores, which we study at the single-molecule level. In particular, we demonstrate length-wise ...

Influence of carrier density on the electronic cooling channels of bilayer graphene

We study the electronic cooling dynamics in a single flake of bilayer graphene by femtosecond transient absorption probing the photon-energy range 0.25–1.3 eV. From the transients, we extract the carrier cooling curves for different initial temperatures and densities of the photoexcited electrons and holes. Two regimes of carrier cooling,...

Quantum Pumping and Adiabatic Transport in Nanostructures

This thesis consists of a theoretical exploration of quantum transport phenomena and quantum dynamics in nanostructures. Specifically, we investigate adiabatic quantum pumping of charge in several novel types of nanostructures involving open quantum dots or graphene. For a bilayer of graphene we find that at the Dirac point and for a wide...

Quantum pumping in graphene with a perpendicular magnetic field

We consider quantum pumping of Dirac fermions in a monolayer of graphene in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field in the central pumping region. The two external pump parameters are electrical voltages applied to the graphene sheet on either side of the pumping region. We analyze this pump within scattering matrix formalism and...

Quantum Dots and Andreev Reflections in Graphene

Graphene is an exceptionally thin semiconductor that consists of only one atomic layer of carbon atoms. The electrons in graphene live in a strictly two-dimensional (2D) world. In addition to this remarkable 2Dness, it is also peculiar that the behavior of the electrons in graphene is governed by the Dirac equation rather than the well known...

Optical constants of graphene measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry

A mechanically exfoliated graphene flake ( ? 150×380??m2) on a silicon wafer with 98 nm silicon dioxide on top was scanned with a spectroscopic ellipsometer with a focused spot ( ? 100×55??m2) at an angle of 55°. The spectroscopic ellipsometric data were analyzed with an optical model in which the optical constants were parameterized by B...

Quantum transport in graphene

After the experimental discovery of graphene -a single atomic layer of graphite- a scientific rush started to explore graphene’s electronic behaviour. Graphene is a fascinating two-dimensional electronic system, because its electrons behave as relativistic particles. Moreover, it is a promising material for future high-speed nano-electronic...

Mechanical systems at the nanoscale

This thesis describes experiments that were done with a wide range of nano(electro)mechanical systems (NEMS). These devices are promising candidates to study mechanics in the quantum regime. The experiments range from AFM measurements on few-layer graphene nanodrums, electrical detection of flexural modes of suspended carbon nanotubes both at...

Electrostatic sensing and electrochemistry with single carbon nanotubes

This thesis describes the experimental study of devices based on single carbon nanotubes in the context of (bio)sensing in aqueous solutions. Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical molecules of sp2- carbon, about one nanometer in diameter and typically several micrometers long, which have semiconducting or metallic electronic properties. Nanotube...

Quantum transport in molecular devices and graphene

As a result of progress in nanotechnology, smaller and smaller electronic circuits can be made. The stage of electrically contacting even a single molecule has now been reached. This stimulates both fundamental and applied research alike. Molecular electronics is hence a booming new field that draws a lot of attention. In this research project...