Generation and control of hydrodynamic electron flow in advanced 2D graphene devices
In recent years, the study of the hydrodynamic regime in electronic devices has gained significant interest. Notably, charge carriers can mimic viscous fluids through a high degree of correlation between electrons, giving rise to various effects, such as superballistic conduction, where electrical resistance decreases below the ballistic limit. In a world where energy consumption due to IT is continuously increasing, controlling these effects could have a decisive impact on energy savings. In conventional semiconductors, scattering by phonons and impurities causes resistance and hinders the emergence of collective effects. However, the study of 2D materials, particularly graphene, has enabled high-quality devices where the hydrodynamic (Hydro) flow of electrons can persist up to room temperature. The aim of 2DHydroFlow is to engineer and explore hydrodynamic transport in a new generation of graphene-based devices. We will introduce an innovative design that not only allows hydrodynamic effects to emerge but also, for the first time, enables turning hydrodynamic effects on and off at will with a gate voltage. First, we will begin using micromechanically exfoliated graphene flakes to study the ultimate possibilities these devices offer. Secondly, we will expand our research to CVD-grown graphene crystals, with the aim of testing electric-field-tunable hydrodynamics on a scalable platform. Additionally, for the first time, we will explore this regime in twisted graphene multilayers, where the twist angle can profoundly alter the collective electron flow, thus serving as a new tool for tuning the hydrodynamic behaviour. This project has the potential to provide a novel platform for studying and understanding hydrodynamics – a phenomenology relevant to almost all areas of applied science and technology, from biology to transportation – and pave the way for its practical application in future room temperature 2D materials-based electronics.
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Imported from OpenAIRE Italy | Grant 101277324.
Open sourceOverview
Grant agreement 101277324 | 2DHydroFlow
Open sourceIn recent years, the study of the hydrodynamic regime in electronic devices has gained significant interest. Notably, charge carriers can mimic viscous fluids through a high degree of correlation between electrons, giving rise to various effects, such as superballistic conduction, where electrical resistance decreases below the ballistic limit. In a world where energy consumption due to IT is continuously increasing, controlling these effects could have a decisive impact on energy savings. In conventional semiconductors, scattering by phonons and impurities causes resistance and hinders the emergence of collective effects. However, the study of 2D materials, particularly graphene, has enabled high-quality devices where the hydrodynamic (Hydro) flow of electrons can persist up to room temperature. The aim of 2DHydroFlow is to engineer and explore hydrodynamic transport in a new generation of graphene-based devices. We will introduce an innovative design that not only allows hydrodynamic effects to emerge but also, for the first time, enables turning hydrodynamic effects on and off at will with a gate voltage. First, we will begin using micromechanically exfoliated graphene flakes to study the ultimate possibilities these devices offer. Secondly, we will expand our research to CVD-grown graphene crystals, with the aim of testing electric-field-tunable hydrodynamics on a scalable platform. Additionally, for the first time, we will explore this regime in twisted graphene multilayers, where the twist angle can profoundly alter the collective electron flow, thus serving as a new tool for tuning the hydrodynamic behaviour. This project has the potential to provide a novel platform for studying and understanding hydrodynamics – a phenomenology relevant to almost all areas of applied science and technology, from biology to transportation – and pave the way for its practical application in future room temperature 2D materials-based electronics.