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Electronic structure of few-layer graphene: experimental demonstration of strong dependence on stacking sequence.

TitleElectronic structure of few-layer graphene: experimental demonstration of strong dependence on stacking sequence.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsMak, KFai, Shan, J, Heinz, TF
JournalPhys Rev Lett
Volume104
Issue17
Pagination176404
Date Published2010 Apr 30
ISSN1079-7114
KeywordsAbsorption, Crystallization, Electrons, Graphite, Models, Chemical, Molecular Structure, Nanostructures, Photons, Spectrophotometry, Infrared
Abstract

The electronic structure of few-layer graphene (FLG) samples with crystalline order was investigated experimentally by infrared absorption spectroscopy for photon energies ranging from 0.2-1 eV. Distinct optical conductivity spectra were observed for different samples having precisely the same number of layers. The different spectra arise from the existence of two stable polytypes of FLG, namely, Bernal (AB) stacking and rhombohedral (ABC) stacking. The observed absorption features, reflecting the underlying symmetry of the two polytypes and the nature of the associated van Hone singularities, were reproduced by explicit calculations within a tight-binding model. The findings demonstrate the pronounced effect of stacking order on the electronic structure of FLG.

DOI10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.176404
Alternate JournalPhys. Rev. Lett.
PubMed ID20482122
Grant ListP41-EB-01979 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States