Disorder induced metallicity in amorphous graphene

TL;DR

This paper predicts that introducing sufficient disorder into graphene transforms it from a semiconductor to a metal, potentially enabling new applications like transparent conductors.

Contribution

It demonstrates a first-principles method to induce and analyze metallicity in amorphous graphene through disorder.

Findings

Disorder induces a transition to metallic behavior in graphene.

Amorphous graphene consists of nanopatches connected by disordered rings.

Minimal buckling observed due to averaging of in-plane stresses.

Abstract

We predict a transition to metallicity when a sufficient amount of disorder is induced in graphene. Calculations were performed by means of a first principles stochastic quench method. The resulting amorphous graphene can be seen as nanopatches of graphene that are connected by a network of disordered small and large carbon rings. The buckling is minimal and we believe that it is a result of averaging of counteracting random in-plane stress forces. The linear response conductance is obtained by a model theory as function of lattice distortions. Such metallic behaviour is a much desired property for functionalisation of graphene to realize a transparent conductor, e.g. suitable for touch-screen devices.