Enhancing gas induced charge doping in graphene field effect transistors by non-covalent functionalization with polyethyleneimine

Abstract

We demonstrate that large-area, graphene field effect transistors with a passive parylene substrate and a polyethyleneimine functional layer have enhanced sensitivity to CO2 gas exposure. The electron doping of graphene, caused by protonated amine groups within the polyethyleneimine, is modulated by the formation of negatively charged species generated by CO2 adsorption. The charge doping mechanism is general, and quantitative doping density changes can be determined from the graphene field effect transistor characteristics.