Patterning, characterization, and chemical sensing applications of graphene nanoribbon arrays down to 5 nm using helium ion beam lithography.

Bandgap engineering of graphene is an essential step toward employing graphene in electronic and sensing applications. Recently, graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) were used to create a bandgap in graphene and function as a semiconducting switch. Although GNRs with widths of <10 nm have been achieved, problems like GNR alignment, width control, uniformity, high aspect ratios, and edge roughness must be resolved in order to introduce GNRs as a robust alternative technology. Here we report patterning, characterization, and superior chemical sensing of ultranarrow aligned GNR arrays down to 5 nm width using helium ion beam lithography (HIBL) for the first time. The patterned GNR arrays possess narrow and adjustable widths, high aspect ratios, and relatively high quality. Field-effect transistors were fabricated on such GNR arrays and temperature-dependent transport measurements show the thermally activated carrier transport in the GNR array structure. Furthermore, we have demonstrated exceptional NO2 gas sensitivity of the 5 nm GNR array devices down to parts per billion (ppb) levels. The results show the potential of HIBL fabricated GNRs for the electronic and sensing applications.