Electrochemical doping of graphene

TL;DR

This paper investigates how toluene doping affects graphene's electrical properties, revealing a complex electrochemical interaction influenced by electric fields that modify its conductivity.

Contribution

It demonstrates that toluene acts as an electron donor to graphene and that doping levels depend on electric field polarity and magnitude, highlighting electrochemical mechanisms.

Findings

Toluene donates electrons to graphene, altering its electrical properties.

Doping levels depend on electric field polarity and strength.

Electrochemical reactions mediate the doping process.

Abstract

The electrical properties of graphene are known to be modified by chemical species that interact with it. We investigate the effect of doping of graphene-based devices by toluene (C6H5CH3). We show that this effect has a complicated character. Toluene is seen to act as a donor, transferring electrons to the graphene. However, the degree of doping is seen to depend on the magnitude and polarity of an electric field applied between the graphene and a nearby electrode. This can be understood in terms of an electrochemical reaction mediated by the graphene crystal.