Quantized electron transport through graphene nanoconstrictions

Abstract

Here, the quantization of Dirac fermions in lithographically defined grapheme nanoconstrictions is studied. Quantized conductance is observed in single nanoconstrictions fabricated on top of a thin hexamethyldisilazane layer over a Si/SiO₂ wafer. This nanofabrication method allows to obtain well defined edges in the nanoconstrictions, thus reducing the effects of edge roughness on the conductance. The occurrence of ballistic transport is proved and several size quantization plateaus are identified in the conductance at low temperature. Experimental data and numerical simulations show good agreement, demonstrating that the smoothening of the plateaus is not related to edge roughness but to quantum interference effects.