arXiv subjects

R. Martel

Publications and source records attributed to R. Martel.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Forming 1D Periodic J-aggregates by Mechanical Bending of BNNTs: Evidence of Activated Molecular Diffusion

Driving molecular assembly into micrometer-scale patterns is key for defining advanced materials of interest in various fields, including life sciences, photovoltaics, and quantum photonics. However, the driving process competes with other forces, such as Brownian motion, ripening phenomena, capillary forces, and non-specific adsorption. Here we report on a guided diffusion mechanism of luminescent dye molecules encapsulated inside boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). Correlative measurements between BNNT bending and molecular position along the BNNT axis reveal an efficient and long-range migration of dyes from curved to straight regions of the nanotube. This curvature activated diffusion forms clusters of bright J-aggregates in periodic patterns of well-defined spacing and length. A phenomenological model of guided molecular transport in bended BNNTs is used to describe this directed 1D diffusion inside BNNT. It is shown to accurately predict the position and morphologies of a J-aggregate as a function of nanotube length. Coupling topological stimuli to 1D molecular diffusion at the nanoscale is here presented as an interesting tool capable of reconfiguring various emissive patterns of functional molecules at the mesoscopic scale.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Visible Out-of-plane Polarized Luminescence and Electronic Resonance from Black Phosphorus

Black Phosphorus (BP) is unique among layered materials owing to its homonuclear lattice and strong structural anisotropy. While recent investigations on few layers BP have extensively explored the in-plane (a,c) anisotropy, much less attention has been given to the out-of-plane direction (b). Here, the optical response from bulk BP is probed using polarization-resolved photoluminescence (PL), photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and resonant Raman scattering along the zigzag, out-of-plane, and armchair directions. PL reveals an unexpected b-polarized emission occurring in the visible at 1.75 eV, far above the fundamental gap (0.3 eV). PLE indicates that this emission is generated through b-polarized excitation at 2.3 eV. The same electronic resonance is observed in resonant Raman scans, where the scattering efficiency of both Ag phonon modes is enhanced. These experimental results are fully consistent with DFT calculations of the permittivity tensor elements and demonstrate the remarkable extent to which the anisotropy influences the optical properties and carrier dynamics in black phosphorus.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Highly Polarized Light Emission from 6T@BNNT Nanohybrids

The polarized fluorescence emission of organic fluorophores has been extensively studied in photonics and is increasingly exploited in single molecule scale bio-imaging. Expanding the polarization properties of compact molecular assemblies is, however, extremely challenging due to depolarization and quenching effects associated with the self-aggregation of molecules into the sub-nanometer scale. Here we demonstrate that Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) can act as a 1D host-template for the alignment of encapsulated a-sexithiophene (6T) inside BNNTs, leading to an optically active 6T@BNNT nanohybrid. We show that the fluorescence from the nanohybrid is strongly polarized with extinction ratios as high as 700 at room temperature. A statistical analysis of the 6T orientation inside BNNTs with inner diameter up to 1.5 nm shows that at least 80% of the encapsulated 6Ts exhibit a maximum deviation angle of less than 10° with respect to the BNNT axis. Despite a competition between molecule-molecule and molecule-BNNT adsorption in larger BNNTs, our results also show that more than 80% of the molecules display a preferential orientation along the BNNT axis with a deviation angle below 45°.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Large magnetoresistance by Pauli blockade in hydrogenated graphene

We report the observation of a giant positive magnetoresistance in millimetre scale hydrogenated graphene with magnetic field oriented in the plane of the graphene sheet. A positive magnetoresistance in excess of 200\% at a temperature of 300 mK was observed in this configuration, reverting to negative magnetoresistance with the magnetic field oriented normal to the graphene plane. We attribute the observed positive, in-plane, magnetoresistance to Pauli-blockade of hopping conduction induced by spin polarization. Our work shows that spin polarization in concert with electron-electron interaction can play a dominant role in magnetotransport within an atomic monolayer.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Suspended graphene variable capacitor

The tuning of electrical circuit resonance with a variable capacitor, or varactor, finds wide application with the most important being wireless telecommunication. We demonstrate an electromechanical graphene varactor, a variable capacitor wherein the capacitance is tuned by voltage controlled deflection of a dense array of suspended graphene membranes. The low flexural rigidity of graphene monolayers is exploited to achieve low actuation voltage in an ultra-thin structure. Large arrays comprising thousands of suspensions were fabricated to give a tunable capacitance of over 10 pF/mm$^2$, higher than that achieved by traditional micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technologies. A capacitance tuning of 55% was achieved with a 10 V actuating voltage, exceeding that of conventional MEMS parallel plate capacitors. Capacitor behavior was investigated experimentally, and described by a simple theoretical model. Mechanical properties of the graphene membranes were measured independently using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Increased graphene conductivity will enable the application of the compact graphene varactor to radio frequency systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Measurement of Topological Berry Phase in Highly Disordered Graphene

We have observed the quantum Hall effect (QHE) and Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations in highly disordered graphene at magnetic fields up to 65 T. Disorder was introduced by hydrogenation of graphene up to a ratio H/C $\approx 0.1\%$. The analysis of SdH oscillations and QHE indicates that the topological part of the Berry phase, proportional to the pseudo-spin winding number, is robust against introduction of disorder by hydrogenation in large scale graphene.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Two-Dimensional Magnetotransport in a Black Phosphorus Naked Quantum Well

Black phosphorus (bP) is the second known elemental allotrope with a layered crystal structure that can be mechanically exfoliated down to atomic layer thickness. We have fabricated bP naked quantum wells in a back-gated field effect transistor geometry with bP thicknesses ranging from $6\pm1$ nm to $47\pm1$ nm. Using an encapsulating polymer superstrate, we have suppressed bP oxidation and have observed field effect mobilities up to 600 cm$^2$/Vs and on/off current ratios exceeding $10^5$. Importantly, Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations observed in magnetotransport measurements up to 35 T reveal the presence of a 2-D hole gas with Schrödinger fermion character in an accumulation layer at the bP/oxide interface. Our work demonstrates that 2-D electronic structure and 2-D atomic structure are independent. 2-D carrier confinement can be achieved in layered semiconducting materials without necessarily approaching atomic layer thickness, advantageous for materials that become increasingly reactive in the few-layer limit such as bP.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Exfoliating pristine black phosphorus down to the monolayer: photo-oxidation and electronic confinement effects

Thin layers of black phosphorus have recently raised interest for their two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting properties, such as tunable direct bandgap and high carrier mobilities. This lamellar crystal of P atoms stacked together by weak van der Waals forces can be exfoliated down to the stratophosphane monolayer (also called phosphorene) using procedures similar to those used for graphene. Properties of this 2D material are however challenging to probe due to a fast and ubiquitous degradation upon exposure to ambient conditions. Herein, we investigate the crystal degradation using in-situ Raman and transmission electron spectroscopies and highlight a process involving a photo-induced oxidation reaction with adsorbed oxygen in water. The experimental conditions to prepare and preserve mono-, bi- and multilayers of stratophosphane in their pristine states were determined. Study on these 2D layers provides new insights on the effect of confinement on the chemical reactivity and the vibrational modes of black phosphorus.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Quantum Hall Effect in Hydrogenated Graphene

The quantum Hall effect is observed in a two-dimensional electron gas formed in millimeter-scale hydrogenated graphene, with a mobility less than 10 $\mathrm{cm^{2}/V\cdot s}$ and corresponding Ioffe-Regel disorder parameter $(k_{F}λ)^{-1}\gg1$. In zero magnetic field and low temperatures, the hydrogenated graphene is insulating with a two-point resistance of order of $250 h/e^2$. Application of a strong magnetic field generates a negative colossal magnetoresistance, with the two-point resistance saturating within 0.5% of $h/2e^{2}$ at 45T. Our observations are consistent with the opening of an impurity-induced gap in the density of states of graphene. The interplay between electron localization by defect scattering and magnetic confinement in two-dimensional atomic crystals is discussed.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

Carbon Nanotubes as Schottky Barrier Transistors

We show that carbon nanotube transistors operate as unconventional "Schottky barrier transistors", in which transistor action occurs primarily by varying the contact resistance rather than the channel conductance. Transistor characteristics are calculated for both idealized and realistic geometries, and scaling behavior is demonstrated. Our results explain a variety of experimental observations, including the quite different effects of doping and adsorbed gases. The electrode geometry is shown to be crucial for good device performance.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2000

Intertube coupling in ropes of single-wall carbon nanotubes

We investigate the coupling between individual tubes in a rope of single-wall carbon nanotubes using four probe resistance measurements. By introducing defects through the controlled sputtering of the rope we generate a strong non-monotonic temperature dependence of the four terminal resistance. This behavior reflects the interplay between localization in the intentionally damaged tubes and coupling to undamaged tubes in the same rope. Using a simple model we obtain the coherence length and the coupling resistance. The coupling mechanism is argued to involve direct tunneling between tubes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗