Discovery points to graphene base for microelectronics

According to a statement, the researchers have found that boron nitride influences how electrons flow through graphene, the one-atom-thick form of carbon that is regularly heralded as the next big thing in the quest for smaller and less power-hungry electronics.

‘If you want to make a transistor, for example, you need to be able to stop the flow of electrons,’ said Brian LeRoy, an assistant professor in the University of Arizona’s department of physics. ‘But in graphene, the electrons just keep going. It’s difficult to stop them.’

LeRoy’s group, which has published a paper on the research in the journal Nature Physics, found that mounting graphene on boron nitride prevents some of the electrons from passing through the material, a first step toward a more controlled electron flow.

The team also showed that in addition to providing mechanical support, boron nitride improves the electronic properties of graphene by smoothening out fluctuations in the electronic charges.