Robust zero-averaged wave-number gap inside gapped graphene superlattices

TL;DR

This study investigates the electronic band structure and transport properties of gapped graphene superlattices, revealing a zero wave-number gap that is robust against structural disorder, with potential implications for electronic device design.

Contribution

It analytically identifies the conditions for a zero wave-number gap in gapped graphene superlattices and studies its transport properties in detail.

Findings

Zero-$ar{k}$ gap forms inside gapped graphene superlattices.

Transport properties near the zero-$ar{k}$ gap are insensitive to disorder.

The zero-$ar{k}$ gap's properties are analytically characterized.

Abstract

In this paper, the electronic band structures and its transport properties in the gapped graphene superlattices, with one-dimensional (1D) periodic potentials of square barriers, are systematically investigated. It is found that a zero averaged wave-number (zero-$\overline{k}$ ) gap is formed inside the gapped graphene-based superlattices, and the condition for obtaining such a zero-$\overline{k}$ gap is analytically presented. The properties of this zero-$\overline{k}$ gap including its transmission, conductance and Fano factor are studied in detail. Finally it is revealed that the properties of the electronic transmission, conductance and Fano factor near the zero-$\overline{k}$ gap are very insensitive to the structural disorder for the finite graphene-based periodic-barrier systems.