An epitaxial graphene platform for zero-energy edge state nanoelectronics

Abstract

Graphene’s original promise to succeed silicon faltered due to pervasive edge disorder in lithographically patterned deposited graphene and the lack of a new electronics paradigm. Here we demonstrate that the annealed edges in conventionally patterned graphene epitaxially grown on a silicon carbide substrate (epigraphene) are stabilized by the substrate and support a protected edge state. The edge state has a mean free path that is greater than 50 microns, 5000 times greater than the bulk states and involves a theoretically unexpected Majorana-like zero-energy non-degenerate quasiparticle that does not produce a Hall voltage. In seamless integrated structures, the edge state forms a zero-energy one-dimensional ballistic network with essentially dissipationless nodes at ribbon–ribbon junctions. Seamless device structures offer a variety of switching possibilities including quantum coherent devices at low temperatures. This makes epigraphene a technologically viable graphene nanoelectronics platform that has the potential to succeed silicon nanoelectronics.