arXiv subjects

György Molnár

Publications and source records attributed to György Molnár.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Voltage-driven transition from steady-state fluctuations to phase-transition noise in nanoscale VO$_2$ devices

We investigate the electrically driven metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) in nanoscale vanadium dioxide (VO$_2$) Mott memristor through noise spectroscopy and two-dimensional resistor network simulations. Our experiments focus on both the insulating phase as the applied voltage approaches the threshold voltage (set transition) and the metallic phase as the voltage is reduced toward the reset voltage (reset transition). In both regimes, we observe an order of magnitude increase in relative current noise near the transition points. To analyze the origin of this noise enhancement, we use simulations that capture the stochastic dynamics of the phase transition. The simulations indicate that the increased noise stems from amplified phase fluctuations near the percolation threshold, where competing metallic and insulating domains lead to dynamic reconfiguration of the conduction paths. In addition, we show that the precursor current fluctuations observed near the switching threshold are consistent with the threshold voltage variability measured in repeated switching cycles, indicating that the noise sets a lower bound on the achievable variance. These findings offer key insights into the non-equilibrium processes governing phase transitions in nanoscale VO$_2$ devices under electrical stimuli.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Neural information processing and time-series prediction with only two dynamical memristors

Memristive devices are commonly benchmarked by the multi-level programmability of their resistance states. Neural networks utilizing memristor crossbar arrays as synaptic layers largely rely on this feature. However, the dynamical properties of memristors, such as the adaptive response times arising from the exponential voltage dependence of the resistive switching speed remain largely unexploited. Here, we propose an information processing scheme which fundamentally relies on the latter. We realize simple dynamical memristor circuits capable of complex temporal information processing tasks. We demonstrate an artificial neural circuit with one nonvolatile and one volatile memristor which can detect a neural spike pattern in a very noisy environment, fire a single voltage pulse upon successful detection and reset itself in an entirely autonomous manner. Furthermore, we implement a circuit with only two nonvolatile memristors which can learn the operation of an external dynamical system and perform the corresponding time-series prediction with high accuracy.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Vapour sensing properties of graphene-covered gold nanoparticles

We investigated the vapour sensing properties of different graphene-gold hybrid nanostructures. We observed the shifts in the optical spectra near the local surface plasmon resonance of the gold nanoparticles by changing the concentration and nature of the analytes (ethanol, 2-propanol, and toluene). The smaller, dome-like gold nanoparticles proved to be more sensitive to these vapours compared to slightly larger, flat nanoparticles. We investigated how the optical response of the gold nanoparticles can be tuned with a corrugated graphene overlayer. We showed that the presence of graphene increased the sensitivity to ethanol and 2-propanol, while it decreased it towards toluene exposure (at concentrations higher than 30%). The slope changes observed on the optical response curves were discussed in the framework of capillary condensation. These results can have potential impact on the development of new sensors based on graphene-gold hybrids.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2017

Novel graphene/Sn and graphene/SnOx hybrid nanostructures: Induced superconductivity and band gaps revealed by scanning probe measurements

The development of functional composite nanomaterials based on graphene and metal nanoparticles (NPs) is currently the subject of intense research interest. In this study we report the preparation of novel type of graphene/Sn and graphene/SnOx (1 < x < 2) hybrid nanostructures and their investigation by scanning probe methods. First, we prepare Sn NPs by evaporating 7 - 8 nm tin on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrates. Graphene/Sn nanostructures are obtained by transferring graphene on top of the tin NPs immediately after evaporation. We show by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) that tin NPs reduce significantly the environmental p-type doping of graphene. Furthermore, we demonstrate by low-temperature STM and STS measurements that superconductivity is induced in graphene, either directly supported by Sn NPs or suspended between them. Additionally, we prepare SnOx NPs by annealing the evaporated tin at 500 ${^o}$C. STS measurements performed on hybrid graphene/SnOx nanostructures reveal the electronic band gap of SnOx NPs. The results can open new avenues for the fabrication of novel hybrid superconducting nanomaterials with designed structures and morphologies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Determination of the STM tip-graphene repulsive forces by comparative STM and AFM measurements on suspended graphene

Graphene grown by chemical vapour deposition is transferred on top of flat gold nanoislands and characterized by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Graphene bubbles are formed with lateral dimensions determined by the size and shape of nanoislands. These graphene bubbles can be squeezed during STM imaging using bias voltages of less than 250 mV and tunnelling currents of 1 nA. Similarly, the graphene suspended over gold nanovoids is deflected 4 - 5 nm by the STM tip when imaging at low bias voltages (U = 30 mV). Nanoindentation measurements performed by AFM show that the squeezing of graphene bubbles occurs at repulsive forces of 20 - 35 nN, and such forces can result in deflections of several nanometres in suspended graphene parts, respectively. Comparing the AFM and STM results, this study reveals that mechanical forces of the order of 10e-8 N occur between the STM tip and graphene under ambient imaging conditions and typical tunnelling parameters.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Moiré superlattices in strained graphene-gold hybrid nanostructures

Graphene-metal nanoparticle hybrid materials potentially display not only the unique properties of metal nanoparticles and those of graphene, but also additional novel properties due to the interaction between graphene and nanoparticles. This study shows that gold nanoislands can be used to tailor the local electronic properties of graphene. Graphene on crystalline gold nanoislands exhibits moiré superlattices, which generate secondary Dirac points in the local density of states. Conversely, the graphene covered gold regions undergo a polycrystalline to Au(111) phase transition upon annealing. Moreover, the nanoscale coexistence of moiré superlattices with different moiré periodicities has also been revealed. Several of these moiré periodicities are anomalously large, which cannot be explained by the standard lattice mismatch between the graphene and the topmost Au(111) layers. Density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations show for the first time that in such cases the graphene and the interfacial metallic layer is strained, leading to distorted lattice constants, and consequently to reduced misfit. Room temperature charge localization induced by a large wavelength moiré pattern is also observed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy. These findings can open a route towards the strain engineering of graphene/metal interfaces with various moiré superlattices and tailored electronic properties for nanoscale information coding.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

The structure and properties of graphene supported on gold nanoparticles

Graphene covered metal nanoparticles constitute a novel type of hybrid materials, which provide a unique platform to study plasmonic effects, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and metal-graphene interactions at the nanoscale. Such a hybrid material is fabricated by transferring graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition onto closely spaced gold nanoparticles produced on a silica wafer. The morphology and physical properties of nanoparticle-supported graphene is investigated by atomic force microscopy, optical reflectance spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), and confocal Raman spectroscopy. This study shows that the graphene Raman peaks are enhanced by a factor which depends on the excitation wavelength, in accordance with the surface plasmon resonance of the gold nanoparticles, and also on the graphene-nanoparticle distance which is tuned by annealing at moderate temperatures. The observed SERS activity is correlated to the nanoscale corrugation of graphene. STM and STS measurements show that the local density of electronic states in graphene is modulated by the underlying gold nanoparticles.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Near-substrate composition depth profile of direct current-plated and pulse-plated Fe-Ni alloys

Composition depth profiles of d.c.-plated and pulseplated Fe-Ni alloys have been investigated with the reverse depth profile analysis method. When d.c. plating is applied, the mole fraction of iron near the substrate is higher than during steadystate deposition since iron is preferentially deposited beside nickel and the achievement of the steadystate deposition condition takes time. The steadystate composition was achieved typically after depositing a 90-nm-thick alloy layer. In the pulseplating mode, samples with nearly uniform composition could be obtained at a duty cycle of 0.2 or smaller, and a continuous change in the composition profile could be seen as a function of the duty cycle above this value. A constant sample composition was achieved with pulseplating in a wide peak current density interval. The composition depth profile was also measured for a wide range of Fe2+ concentration. The different characteristics of the composition depth profile as a function of the deposition mode can be explained mostly in terms of mass transport effects. The elucidation of the results is fully in accord with the kinetic models of anomalous codeposition and with the assumption of the superposition of a stationary and a pulsating diffusion layer. The results achieved help to identify the conditions for the deposition of ultrathin magnetic samples with uniform composition along the growth direction.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗